PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He only played in one game this week, but it was such a great performance it earned Pitt’s Justin Champagnie the ACC Co-Player of the Week honors.
The sophomore from Brooklyn returned from missing a month with a knee injury to record his fourth double-double in a win over Syracuse. Champagnie finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds (18 points and 10 rebounds in the second half) and several highlight reel dunks.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” said guard and fellow Brooklyn native Femi Odukale. “He is mentally always ready in the game. He iss always focused. He always talked about when he gets back on the court he was going to give 110%. I know what Justin is capable of. So I was expecting that performance.”
“The shots that he makes, especially some of those left-handed shots,” said head coach Jeff Capel. “You just shake your head. He’s got really good touch around the basket. He’s got a long way to go to become the player we think he can be but he’s on the right path to doing it. I think he’s hungry and he wants to do it.”
Champagnie is the first Pitt player to earn multiple ACC Player of the Week honors since Michael Young four years ago.
Tied for fourth in the ACC at 3-1 in conference play, the Panthers host Duke at 9 Tuesday night. Panthers pregame with Paul Zeise and former Panthers great Julius Page begins at 8p on 93.7 The Fan.