<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2ysS7H_0wEYgTqO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2ysS7H_0wEYgTqO00" width="2048" height="1365" ></figure>On Saturday afternoon, Pitt held an open practice for members of the media, the Oakland Zoo, and Alliance 412. After the practice, Pitt wing Zack Austin caught up with the media in a press conference.Check out the full conference below.<div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kXQLJKc0tc8?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div>Austin has been vocal about his goal to shoot 40% from three-point range this season.Austin has hit 60+ threes in two separate college seasons with High Point. Although it is a lower level of college basketball (and Jeff Capel has spoken numerous times about that adjustment for his transfers, including Austin, specifically early last season), Austin has still shot threes at a high volume before. Now, it’s about getting those percentages up.As a freshman at High Point, he shot 32% from three, hitting 67 of 208. That year, he hit 24 of his 61 (39.3%) unguarded catch-and-shoot threes, and just 28 of his 116 guarded attempts (24.1%).As a sophomore, Austin was 62 of 186, a 33% mark. He was 20 for 48 (41.7%) on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes, and 34 for 102 (33.3%) on guarded attempts.Then, in his first year at Pitt, Austin hit just 28 of 95 three-point attempts, a 29.5% mark from deep. However, looking a bit deeper into his shot types, there is surely hope for a bounce-back year, shooting-wise, for Austin. On guarded catch-and-shoot opportunities last year, Austin was 15 for 42 on three pointers — hitting 35.7% of his attempts. That is a strong number. Check out some video below of his guarded makes on catch-and-shoot opportunities.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Quick Film | Zack Austin | <a href="https://twitter.com/ZackAust11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZackAust11</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pitt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pitt</a>‘s Zack Austin shot a higher percentage on three-point attempts with a hand in his face compared to his unguarded attempts last season (catch-and-shoot).👀👇 <a href="https://t.co/yExDNb7qVP">pic.twitter.com/yExDNb7qVP</a>— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichalowskiCBB/status/1825549885350740159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Where he struggled was on unguarded opportunities. Austin attempted 52 three pointers that were categorized as “unguarded” by Synergy last year. He made just 14. Austin was shooting just 26.9% from three on unguarded shot attempts.Check out some of his misses in that category below.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Quick Film | Zack Austin | <a href="https://twitter.com/ZackAust11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZackAust11</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pitt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pitt</a>‘s Zack Austin shot a higher percentage on three-point attempts with a hand in his face compared to his unguarded attempts last season (catch-and-shoot).👀👇 <a href="https://t.co/yExDNb7qVP">pic.twitter.com/yExDNb7qVP</a>— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichalowskiCBB/status/1825549885350740159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>With work, comes results. Obviously, Austin is going to be in the gym all offseason working on his shot. But the tools seem to already be in place. If he can improve those unguarded, open shooting numbers and consistently hit the three with a man in his face, he can have a strong shooting year for Pitt.<h2>SUMMARY</h2>FRESHMAN SEASON (HIGH POINT)Unguarded catch-and-shoot threes: 24 for 61 (39.3%)Guarded catch-and-shoot threes: 28 for 116 (24.1%)SOPHOMORE SEASON (HIGH POINT)Unguarded catch-and-shoot threes: 20 for 48 (41.7%)Guarded catch-and-shoot threes: 34 for 102 (33.3%)JUNIOR SEASON (PITT)Unguarded catch-and-shoot threes: 14 for 52 (26.9%)Guarded catch-and-shoot threes: 15 for 42 (35.7%)With all of this being said, Austin is much more than a catch-and-shoot three-point guy. His athleticism and defensive skills prove to be valuable on the other end of the ball game in and game out. In addition, he has shown excellent examples of cutting to the basket, putting-back offensive rebounds, and creating offense in other ways.</div></body>

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Zack Austin Previews Season, Talks Pitt Wing Group

On Saturday afternoon, Pitt held an open practice for members of the media, the Oakland Zoo, and Alliance 412. After the practice, Pitt wing Zack Austin caught up with the media in a press conference. Check out the full conference below. Austin has been vocal about his goal to shoot...