PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Last year picked last and played in the NCAA Tournament, this year the Pitt men's basketball team picked to finish ninth in the ACC and Blake Hinson picked preseason second team all-conference.
Hinson was named Second Team All-ACC in his first season with the Panthers in 2022-23. The forward helped lead the Panthers to a pair of NCAA wins with 15.3 points and six rebounds a game. He also made 97 three-pointers, leading the ACC.
North Carolina freshman Elliot Cadeau was far and away the pick for Preseason Rookie of the Year, however Panthers 6'5" freshman guard Carlton 'Bub' Carrington got a vote. The Baltimore native should get a lot of opportunities with the loss of guards Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott and Nike Sibande.
Duke got 44 of the 51 first-place votes with Miami (five), as the Hurricanes were picked second. North Carolina got a vote and picked third with Virginia getting the remaining first-place vote and picked to finish fourth. Clemson is fifth, then Wake Forest, NC State and Virginia Tech before Pitt, although the Hokies were just 10 votes ahead of the Panthers.
"I don't really have a reaction because a lot of the people that voted, they don't know," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network. "If you look at the guys returning from each program, I understand why Duke gets the headline, they have almost all of their guys back. Miami went to the Final Four. North Carolina is interesting because I think they should be really good, but everyone thought that last year."
"I try not to pay attention to it. What we have to do every day is just like last year have a bunch of guys that's about we, not me. That they genuinely care about each other, When you have that, a chance to create a winning culture, hopefully we take another step in that this year."
Panthers play an exhibition game at home on Wednesday, November 1 against Pitt-Johnstown and then open the season Monday, November 6 against North Carolina A&T.
