PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Panthers won its 30th consecutive exhibition game at the Petersen Events center with a sometimes sloppy, sometimes impressive 89-64 decision over Division II Gannon.
Pitt shot 43% from the floor hitting 7 of 23 three pointers. Panthers were a plus 15 in rebounds, plus 13 in second chance points and committed only seven turnovers.
"We got better as the game went on and do some things as they were able to relax and calm down," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. "Which is to be expected which is why games like these are good for us."
"We just have to keep building. This gives us 40 minutes of tape to look at and evaluate. Now we have some stuff on film against other people, look, this is what we are talking about. This is good for us. We will learn from it, get better and back to work."
Returning starter Femi Odukale had a game-high 20 points on 6 of 10 shooting with seven rebounds and three assists.
"I think he's matured a lot," Capel said of Odukale. "When he plays with energy, talking, animated. He is a lot better and we are a lot better, his energy is infectious. We need that from him all the time."
"I could see him being a team captain, if I'm being honest," said graduate student transfer Mouhamadou Gueye. "He really looks out for everybody. He's one of our biggest leaders."
Gueye had a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
"We thought with his length and versatility, especially defensively he would be able to really help our team," Capel said of adding the 6'10" Gueye. "When we got him, once we started to work with him. He is a little better offensively than what we thought. He's a good player and we need him to continue to get better for us."
Ithiel Horton dropped 16 points with five rebounds and three assists.
"I thought he was terrific," Capel said. "Three assists, no turnovers. He made some really good passes, some really good reads. Didn't force anything. He's a talented guy and he can shoot. He took seven threes, I told him in front of the team that he could take 15 threes as long as they are good shots. I feel very confident he will make more than he misses."
"I loved the way that he played overall. I thought he did a good job defensively. He's really grown up, especially over the last two-three weeks."
John Hugley played 22 minutes in his first game since his suspension with eight points (6-11 free throws) and nine rebounds. William Jeffress had eight points and five rebounds against his hometown college.
"We just have to keep building," Capel said. "This gives us 40 minutes of tape to look at and evaluate. Now we have some stuff on film against other people, look, this is what we are talking about. This is good for us. We will learn from it, get better and back to work."
"The real work starts now," Horton said. "We have The Citadel on the 9th. They are a good basketball team. We are going to get our minds back locked in and geared up and ready to beat them."
Early Injury
Senior starting guard Nike Sibande hobbled off the court in the first half and didn't return. Sibande banged knees with a Golden Knights player. Capel said he wasn't sure what his status would be.
"He went knee-to-knee with someone," Capel said. "He tried to play through it. When he went to receive a pass, he came to a jump stop and his knee gave out."
Senior transfer Jamarius Burton from Texas Tech had a knee procedure in early October and is likely to return sometime this month. Capel hopes Burton starts back to individual workouts on Tuesday.
Roster Turnover
It's the first opportunity for a Panthers team with five new players to face an opponent on Monday night. While losing Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney to in-season transfers, Pitt now without 1st Team All-ACC forward Justin Champagnie-signing with the NBA Toronto Raptors, senior shot blocker Terrell Brown. Plus 20-game starter, forward Abdoul Karim Coulibaly and guard Gerald Drumgoole each to the transfer portal.
Panthers do not return a double-digit scorer from last season with Horton (8.9p, 43-3s), Sibande (6.9p) and Odukale (6.6p).
Burton (Wichita State/Texas Tech), Dan Oladapo (Oakland) and Gueye (Stony Brook) are Division 1 transfers. Junior Chris Payton comes from a community college and Nate Santos is the lone freshman.
Starting 5
The Pitt first starting five of the season featured a trio of transfers.
Guards-Odukale (sophomore), Horton (junior), Sibande (senior)
Forwards-Hugley (sophomore), Gueye (graduate student)
Sophomore 6'8" forward Noah Collier was the first substitution with Jeffress close behind.
Season Opener
Season begins Tuesday, November 9 hosting The Citadel at 7p. Panthers pregame at 6:30p on 93.7 The Fan with The Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove and Pitt 1,000-point scorer Curtis Aiken.
