PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s the only warm-up before starting the season Monday against North Carolina A&T Monday night, Pitt beat Pitt-Johnstown 96-60 Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center.
“Obviously pleased with the outcome of this game,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. “It was good to play with the lights on, with people here and see how we would be in this type of environment. I thought we did some really good things and saw some things we need to work on. We are excited about that process of working on them and getting better.”
Leading stats
· 11 different Panthers scored led by Blake Hinson and freshman Carlton Carrington with 13 points
· Transfer guard Ishmael Leggett had 12
· Jorge Diaz Graham with 10
· Will Jeffress and Guillermo Diaz Graham with eight rebounds, Carrington with seven
· Carrington led in assists with six.
“It’s really just repping it out in practice,” Carrington said of having six assists. “You get to know your teammates when you play with them every day. I know where they like the ball. The plays we run, when to get off of it, when to stay on the ball. Repping it out with them every day.”
“I trust them, I know we are all elite shooters. Really, they make my job easier. I just get it to them.”
Starting lineup
Panthers had a starting lineup with two returners from last year, a true freshman and two transfers
F-Blake Hinson
F-Federiko Federiko
F-Zach Austin
G-Ishmael Leggett
G-Carlton Carrington
Highlights
· Federiko scored first points on a layup
· 1st three-pointer by Carrington
· Hinson 1st three pointer gave Pitt a 14-point lead
· Hinson alley-oop to Guillermo Diaz Graham who scored on a one-handed dunk
· Will Jeffress played in a Pitt game for the first time in 20 months had a fast-break dunk on a feed from Leggett
· Martin drove the lane for a running, one-handed dunk
· Jeffress follow up slam off a Hinson miss
· Austin had a dunk off an offensive rebound
· Austin with sweet inside pass to Guillermo Diaz Graham cutting in the lane for a dunk
· Jeffress finds a cutting Jorge Diaz Graham for a two-handed dunk
· Michael Hueitt hit back-to-back three-pointers
Remembering Bobby Knight
Before talking about the game, Jeff Capel wanted to send thoughts and prayers to the family of Bobby Knight after his passing. He also sent thoughts to the Indiana, Texas Tech and Army basketball programs.
“Coach Knight has meant so much to the game of basketball,” Capel said. “He was one of the greatest coaches ever, in any sport. He was a brilliant basketball mind and touched the lives of the players that played for him and made them better men.”
“We lost a giant in the game of basketball today.”