Pittsburgh @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 12, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 57, Boston College 66

Boston College made some noise in the ACC tournament last season before bowing out and hopes to have another long run this time around, beginning with a first-round matchup against No. 14 seed Pittsburgh on Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C. The 11th-seeded Eagles, who lost their last three games of the regular season, won a pair of contests in last season's tourney as a No. 12 seed before a loss to Clemson in the quarterfinals.

In order to duplicate that run, the current unit will need to be much better than it was Saturday at home against North Carolina State, which steamrolled its way to a 73-47 triumph. "I thought it was the worst effort we've put in all year long," Boston College coach Jim Christian told reporters. "We played with no passion on Senior Day, which is sad." The Panthers dropped 13 games in a row before a 56-53 victory against Notre Dame on Saturday to avoid finishing alone in last place. The winner plays No. 6 seed Syracuse on Wednesday in the second round.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (13-18): The Panthers are led by guard Xavier Johnson, who averages 15.6 points and 4.5 assists - both team highs. Fellow freshman Trey McGowens, who scored at least 30 points twice in ACC play, had a team-high 16 points against the Fighting Irish, which gave the struggling program a little life entering postseason play. "It was big for us, for this team and for what we're trying to do going forward as we build the program to put a period on the end of it," coach Jeff Capel told reporters.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (14-16): Junior guard Ky Bowman finished the regular season ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring (19.2), eighth in assists (4.0) and 10th in rebounding (7.6), but the North Carolina native struggled down the stretch, averaging 16 points on 31.5 percent shooting over his last eight games. Fellow guard Jordan Chatman (13.1) has also been off the mark with a 5-for-31 showing from the floor over the last two games. Sophomore forward Steffon Mitchell had nine points and 12 rebounds against the Wolfpack and leads the team with eight boards per game.

TIP-INS

1. Eagles freshman F Jairus Hamilton was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and finished with 11 points in the 66-57 victory over the Panthers at home Feb. 12.

2. Pitt senior G Jared Wilson-Frame ranked second in the ACC in made 3-pointers (87) during the regular season, including 10 over the final two games.

3. Bowman averaged 24.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the 2018 ACC tournament.

PREDICTION: Boston College 68, Pittsburgh 61