It’s really hard to say. They looked pretty good sweeping 14th seed Utah on Thursday Night, slightly more dominant than the Gophers sweep of Georgia Tech. But then how good is Utah? The PAC 10 has not been impressive in the early rounds (see below).
Pittsburgh finished 3rd in the ACC, at 14 & 4, just a hair above the Gophers’ most recent conquest Georgia Tech (13 & 4). But two of Pittsburgh’s losses came in September, and two in October; they haven’t lost a match in 2021! They also hadn’t played anyone any good, until Utah. Pittsburgh is 1 & 1 versus this year’s Sweet 16 Teams (an October split with Louisville in Pittsburgh). The Gophers are 5 & 2.
The Panthers are led by right-side hitter Ndee (#5) and left-side hitter Lund (#23). One of their middles (#11), and their other left-side hitter (#2) looked decent. But I didn’t see the raw power that Samedy, Pittman, Rollins & Landfair can bring.
But I was very impressed by their “floor-game,” i.e. digging and scrambling. I lost track of the number of times that Utah pounded the ball off an attempted Pittsburgh block and it looked like a Utah point – but Pittsburgh saved the it and went on to win the point. When I was coaching, I told my hitters, “Pound the ball, and if they dig it up, pound it again. And keep pounding it until they don’t dig it up.” But great digging can frustrate a hitter.
The other interesting thing about the Panthers is that they play a 6-2, apparently have all season. When Shaffmaster couldn’t play vs Wisconsin, and also last season (2019) when Miller was hurt, the Gophs were forced to play a 6-2 because our back-up setter, McMenimen, can’t block. I kind of like the 6-2, because it gives you 3 front-row hitters in every rotation, but most coaches prefer the 5-1 because it provides more consistent setting. Illinois played a 6-2 against the Gophs last month, so it isn’t something the Gophers haven’t seen.
The Panthers won’t be a pushover, but I like the Gophers’ chances, mostly because of their greater experience in tough matches and against tough teams. Sunday at noon on ESPN U.
There are 8 Sweet 16 matches on Sunday, 6 of the 8 featuring Big Ten Teams; we should know by the end of the day how strong the Big Ten really is. Here’s how the “power conferences” are doing: > The Big Ten had 6 teams in the 48 team tournament, and all 6 made it to the Sweet 16. > The PAC Ten had 5 teams in the 48 team tournament, and 2 made it to the Sweet 16. > The Big 12 had 3 teams in the 48 team tournament, and 2 made it to the Sweet 16. (Rice was a covid no-show.) > The SEC had 3 teams in the 48 team tournament, and 2 made it to the Sweet 16. > The ACC had 4 teams in the 48 team tournament, and 2 (Including Pittsburgh) made it to the Sweet 16.
BYU & W. Kentucky are also in the Sweet 16.