PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Minus three guards they were counting on, Pitt basketball starts it's season, ready or not, tonight at the Petersen Events Center.
Panthers have had one opportunity to play against another team, a relatively easy win over Division II Gannon. However in that exhibition game they lost senior Nike Sibande for the season with an ACL tear and Ithiel Horton has been suspended indefinitely for an off-campus incident.
Likely we will see Will Jeffress, a swing forward playing at guard, with walk-on Onyebuchi Ezeakudo likely getting significant reps at point or the two-guard. Femi Okudale is the only available scholarship guard.
"Guys are excited," said head coach Jeff Capel. "Had a good couple of days of practice. Obviously we were able to build on some things from the exhibition game last week. I think we've gotten a little bit better. Excited about the journey we are on."
It starts with The Citadel tonight, a team with a winning record last year that returns three starters in their point guard, starting center and forward Hayden Brown. The Southern Conference preseason player of the year averaging a double-double last season.
"He's an elite level rebounder, an elite level competitor," Capel said of Brown. "He scores it. He pushes it in transition. He's a really, really good player."
It's also a team that will push. For those who remember Pitt playing Marshall a few years ago, a style somewhat like that as they won't hold onto the ball long and shoot from distance.
"They play one of the fastest paces," Capel said. "They shoot a lot of threes. Last year they were one of the top teams in tempo and threes attempted. Their four and five are really good passers."
Capel said it's hard to simulate what the Bulldogs run because they don't see it often and they don't have the healthy bodies to run like that right now. However Pitt's head coach believes they are prepared and ready to get it started.
"We have to be very smart with what we do," Capel said. "We have to value the basketball. Transition defense is imperative for us. We have to be smart offensively."
The Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove calls the game with Panthers great Curtis Aiken, pregame at 6:30p and tip at 7p on 93.7 The Fan.
