FEMI ODUKALE NEWS

Odukale scores 28 points in Pitt's 64-55 victory

Femi Odukale scored 17 of his career-high-tying 28 points in the second half when Pittsburgh pulled way to beat Jacksonville 64-55

DECEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Solid effort off bench Sunday Odukale finished Sunday's 56-52 loss to Monmouth with 14 points (3-9 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 7-8 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal over 28 minutes.

Impact Odukale wasn't the sharpest shooter out there and it'd be fair to say his outing was salvaged by the fact that he generated half of his scoring output from the charity stripe, but that was enough to end up as one of the Panthers' best scoring threats. The sophomore has scored in double digits in five of his nine appearances to date, though it's worth noting he has come off the bench in each of his last two.

DECEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in return Odukale (ankle) finished with just three points (0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-8 FT), three assists, a rebound and a block over 22 minutes in his return to action against Colgate.

Impact Odukale's struggles were apparent in this one, though it's unclear if the ankle issue that caused him to miss the previous game were a factor in his performance. the sophomore will aim to get back on track in the games ahead before ACC play fires back up Dec. 28 versus Notre Dame.

DECEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting in return Odukale is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Colgate, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact The initial assumption was that Odukale would return to the starting five after missing one game due to an ankle injury, however, the 6-5 guard will come off the bench for the first time this season while he's been active. The team will continue to roll with Onyebuchi Ezeakudo at the point, meaning Odukale could still be limited despite suiting up.

DECEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Available Thursday Odukale (ankle) is available for Thursday's game against Colgate, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Odukalewill will ultimately miss just one game because of the ankle issue and seems likely to rejoin the starting five. The sophomore has gotten off to a hot start to open 2021-22, averaging 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a steal through his first seven games played.

DECEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Friday Odukale has been ruled out for Friday's game aginst Virginia due to an ankle injury.

Impact Odukale has served as the floor general for the Panthers early in the season, so his absence will certainly result in major changes to the movement of the offense. Jamarius Burton has seen the most time on the ball besides Odukale and figures to take over the lead role in that regard, while John Hugley may be looked to for more scoring Friday.

DECEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Efficient performance in loss Odukale provided 14 points (3-5 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 7-7 FT), one rebound, two assists and one block in 32 minutes during Wednesday's 68-52 loss to Vanderbilt.

Impact Odukale scored half of his points from the charity stripe, but he remains a key contributor offensively for the Panthers. He has notched 10 or more points in three of his five appearances and while the consistency has been lacking at times, he is still putting up 12.0 points per game -- a notable rise compared to the 6.6 points per game he averaged in 2020-21.

NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stuffs stat sheet in win Odukale logged 15 points (5-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 5-9 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 34 minutes during Tuesday's 59-51 victory over UNCW.

Impact Odukale was one of Pittsburgh's best players once again and while his shooting numbers weren't really encouraging, he still found a way to end up as one of the Panthers' best players. He has scored at least 15 points in two of his appearances and has settled well into the starting role with averages of 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game to date.

NOVEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Goes for 20 points in loss Odukale racked up 20 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-9 FT), four rebounds, four assists and three steals over 36 minutes during Tuesday's 78-63 loss to Citadel.

Impact Odukale led the team in minutes, assists and steals while also ending as just one of two players that scored in double digits in what was a woeful offensive effort for the Panthers. Odukale is expected to step up into a bigger role this season, and his opening-night numbers do not but back that up.

NOVEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies 20 in exhibition Odukale had 20 points (6-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 7-9 FT), seven rebounds and three assists across 28 minutes in Monday's 89-64 exhibition victory over Gannon.

Impact The big story here is that backcourt teammate Nike Sibande -- who was projected to be one of the team's leading scorers -- went down with a knee injury that was later announced to be season-ending. This leaves Odukale as the team's second-leading returning scorer at 6.6 ppg last season, just behind Ithiel Horton (8.9 ppg). The second-year guard will effectively see more scoring opportunities, but Sibande was a key piece that the team might have a hard time staying out of the ACC cellar without.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Breaking down Pitt's 2020-21 season, player by player In the 10 days that have followed its first-round ACC tournament loss, Pitt’s 2020-21 season has been dissected in a slew of ways. With a 10...

MARCH 18, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Not in starting five Odukale won't start Saturday's game against Clemson, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Odukale has seen major minutes over the last two games as the starting point guard but will apparently be shifted to a bench role in favor of Onyebuchi Ezeakudo for Saturday's regular-season finale. Ezeakudo could receive a few extra minutes as a result, but Odukale figures to still see a hefty workload.

MARCH 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt mailbag: What's going on with the Panthers? Each week through the end of the 2020-21 season, Craig Meyer, the Post-Gazette’s Pitt basketball writer, will answer reader questions about...

MARCH 2, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Impresses as starter Odukale notched 18 points (6-11 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 5-7 FT), five rebounds, five assists and a steal across 38 minutes in Sunday's loss at NC State.

Impact Odukale has started three of Pittsburgh's last six games, but he hadn't recorded a performance as good as Sunday's one in the entire season. Odukale scored a season-high 18 points while also notching his second-best game of the season in terms of both rebounds and assists. Odukale is averaging 9.7 points per game in three starts this season.

MARCH 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Sunday Odukale is in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against NC State, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Odukale will enter the starting five after the recent departures of Au'Diese Toney (concussion) and Xavier Johnson. Toney and Johnson simultaneously decided to enter their names into the transfer portal and are no longer with the program which has opened up a spot for Odukale to join the starting rotation. The 6-5 freshman has averaged 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and two assists in 17.1 minutes per game and will have a chance to improve on those measures in his new starting role.

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Logs 23 minutes off the bench Odukale (leg) had eight points (3-5 FG, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes during Saturday's 79-72 loss against Florida State.

Impact Odukale came off the bench despite starting in Wednesday's game against NC State and had one of his better games as of late. He scored his most points since Jan. 23 and his 23 minutes on the floor were the most he's seen since Jan. 6. It seems he's found himself in a pretty consistent role and will need to continue to pick up some of the slack in the scoring department with Au'Diese Toney currently sidelined with a concussion.

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Odukale (leg) isn't among the starters for Satursday's game against Florida State.

Impact Odukale started the previous game but was displaying a noticeable limp late in the game. There is no indication that he will miss Saturday's tilt altogether, but his exclusion could be a sign that he's not 100 percent. Xavier Johnson retakes his spot in the starting group in Odukale's place.

FEBRUARY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

'Nothing I've said has worked': How technical fouls doomed Pitt against N.C. State In a one-point loss, there are any number of moments on which a team can dwell, torturing itself by wondering how an otherwise forgettable o...

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Suffers apparent injury Odukale left the floor in pain during Wednesday's game versus N.C. State, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Per Meyer, Odukale has since returned from the locker room but appears to be sporting a noticeable limp. If he can't return, the freshman would finish the night with four points, two assists and a rebound.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back in starting lineup Odukale will start Wednesday's game against N.C. State.

Impact Odukale has one previous start under his belt but it appears he will get another Wednesday in place of Xavier Johnson on the ball. Even so, Odukale didn't really see his role expand in his only other start.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt's freshmen have had an understated role this season. What does that mean for the Panthers? Heading into the 2020-21 season, Pitt’s men’s basketball team was something of a mystery. Picked to finish 13th in the 15-team ACC in the le...

FEBRUARY 13, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Strong performance off bench Odukale posted 16 points (7-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 0-4 FT), three rebounds, three steals and an assist in 30 minutes off the bench during Tuesday's 64-54 loss against Louisville.

Impact Odukale scored 13 combined points over his first six appearances off the bench and only reached the 20-minute mark once in that span, but he posted season-high marks in minutes, points and steals while also tying his season-best mark for rebounds in this one. The injury sustained by Au'Diese Toney (ankle) might have led to a bigger role for Odukale, and that might continue ahead of the Dec. 29 contest at Duke if Toney can't play in that matchup.

DECEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

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DECEMBER 14, 2020 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Returns to practice Odukale (arm) has been full-go during practice for the last month, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Odukale suffered a broken arm in a moped accident in August, but he's been practicing for the past month as Pittsburgh prepares for Wednesday's season opener. Given his usage in practice, the freshman should be available when the Panthers begin game action.

NOVEMBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE