PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He said it multiple times on Wednesday afternoon addressing reporters, senior Blake Hinson came back to lead his team to a championship. The Panthers have started practice following up winning a couple of NCAA Tournament games last year.
"I feel like we are the best team in the ACC," Hinson said Wednesday. "We respect the league, but we feel like we can win it."
Hinson said he was told there is a publication that picked them to finish 13th in the ACC. He said they will remember that and for insight into how Hinson works he said people know what gets him going and they told him that prediction. It's fired him up, a guy always looking for motivation
Last year he was the leading scorer on a team filled with veteran leadership, it's now Hinson providing the leadership as well for this young group. He said the best way for him to lead is just keep providing energy to the group. Hinson said it's important for the team to go through tough situations in practice, come together and create a good bond.
"We've had a lot of talks," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. "We've spent a lot of time together. I think he's ready to grow in that aspect of his game, but he can't do it by himself."
Capel said Federiko Federiko, William Jeffress, KJ Marshall and the Diaz-Graham twins have to assist in leading. They were around the team last year, they know what it takes. As Capel said they know what winning looks like, sounds like and feels like.
"It can't just be one guy just like last year wasn't just one guy," Capel said. "Blake is a guy that's primed to step up. He's studied some things leadership-wise. I've gotten him involved in some things that will really help him."
"The main thing is he's helped himself by getting in really good shape. He's a better play now than he was last year. We are excited about his continued growth both on and off the court."
Capel said Hinson lost around 25 pounds from last year and the senior said he's still losing weight. Asked how he did it, Hinson deadpanned he worked out more and ate less. It sounds so simple, but there are other areas Capel where he wants Hinson to improve, most notably what he chooses to do on the court.
"He's going to be a guy that gets a lot of attention this year," Capel said. "We understand that. His decision-making where he's not just running people over. We need him to rebound better. We've challenged him defensively to be better on that side of the ball."
"He's our best player. When you are the best player there is a responsibility that comes with that. I think he's embraced that. That responsibility is to show up every day at a very high level."
"I always try to go as hard as I possibly can for the student-body, this city and my team and coaches," Hinson said. "This last season definitely is going to be for them. Everything I can do for them because they've done everything for me."
