PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In Pitt’s first game, it couldn’t have been a more obvious two-man show. Femi Odukale and John Hugley combined for 47 of the 63 points. The sophomores shot 18 of 34 from the floor 1-4 from three. The rest of the team, 5-26 shooting overall, 1 of 12 from three. Odukale and Hugley even had four of the six steals.
Now with Jamarius Burton back and some youth gaining traction, Pitt is developing some depth.
Sophomore center Noah Collier had career highs in nine categories and played in the crucial minutes down the stretch on Friday night.
“I thought Noah Collier was outstanding,” said head coach Jeff Capel. “As good as I thought he was in real time, which is why he played nearly the entire second half. I went back and watched it on tape, it stood out even more. It jumped off the screen, his energy, he played with force. All the things we talked about with him, he was able to execute at a very high level.”
Collier finished with seven points, but it was as much the presence of the 6’8” second year player from the Westown School in West Chester. He played with emotion, played through contact, played above the rim and defended.
He’s carrying over what the coaches have seen in practice.
“We need his energy,” Capel said. “We need his athleticism. He did that at a very, very high level. What I talked about with him the other day is that is the standard. You’ve shown this is what it looks like and this is what you were doing earlier. This is what is required all the time.”
Capel also had a Pitt-high 29 minutes from Jamarius Burton, the senior transfer finished with 11 points. He’s as valuable just being able to handle the basketball and give Odukale a break. It was Burton at point guard for the stretch run against Towson.
It was also a fourth consecutive start from the only freshman on the roster, Nate Santos. At first, and probably still some, more about the inability of others to play as to why he starts. However, he’s growing from his opportunities.
“He’s been thrust into this position, that I’m not saying he wasn’t ready for, but it’s different than we thought it would be or even he thought it would be,” Capel said. “We knew he would play, but playing the number of minutes, starting. It’s different from the role that we thought he would have. He’s getting better each game.”
“His stuff jumped off the screen too, from the standpoint it was the best defensive game he’s played. It’s the best he’s done at being physical.”
“It’s definitely been crazy,” Santos said. “It’s not what I would have imagined my freshman year, first couple of games would be. Everybody’s been a great help with trying to get me adjusted. Just trying to work hard in practice and get better every day.”
Capel had Santos on the bench for only three minutes of the Towson game. He rewarded his coach with team-highs in points (14), rebounds (8) and made three’s (4). The Loomis Chaffee School grad also had one turnover in 37 minutes.
The Panthers still have a long way to go, but after a bleak beginning, some encouraging signs.
Pitt hosts Vanderbilt Wednesday night at 9p with Panthers pregame at 8:30p on 93.7 The Fan.