PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It's a group of seniors and graduate students, most of whom haven't been at Pitt long, but what an impact. Not long ago winless in the ACC to top three all year. Saturday is their final game at the Petersen Events Center.
Starters Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings and Greg Elliott, sixth man Nike Sibande and forward Aiden Fish all will be recognized during Senior Day against Syracuse at 5p on 93.7 The Fan.
"These guys have been unbelievable," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel.
More of what the coach and a few teammates said about each of them.
Jamarius Burton
15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, .497 FG, .844 FT
· Capel credits his leadership as a key part of this team. When the game is on the line, Burton has the ball in his hands.
· "JB he's been a great help for me," Elliott said during The Jeff Capel Show. "Everyone sees him passing me the ball for shots, off the court I get to pick his brain about the game."
· 31 points (14-17 FG) at North Carolina
· 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists vs. Miami
· 24 points (9-14 FG) at NC State
Nelly Cummings
10.9 points, 4.7 assists (career-high), 2.8 rebounds, .416 FG, .896 FT
· Capel said he's a great teammate, brought winning and positivity with experience and leadership.
· "It is my last game at the Pete," Cummings said. "We've done a lot of good stuff here. I'm happy we've made it this far and looking forward to the game Saturday."
· "It felt good when I was growing up to see the winning and everyone feeling a part of it," Cummings said. "This year is something that we brought back was everybody feeling like they were a part of it again."
· 17 points (6-8 FG), 6 assists at Northwestern
· 22 points (6 made 3's) at Syracuse
· 22 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds vs.Georgia Tech
Greg Elliott
10.9 points (career-high), 4.1 rebounds (career-high), 1.4 assists, .454 FG, .863 FT
· Capel said similar things about being a great teammate, brought winning, positivity, experience and leadership. His clutch three-point shooting has been key this season.
· "It's a great feeling to have a Senior Night with a big-time opponent like Syracuse," Elliott said on The Jeff Capel Show. "It just goes to show the hard work that you put in to get to this moment."
· At least one three in every ACC game, 65 made threes this season
· 18 points (6-9 from 3) vs. Wake Forest
· 23 points (9-12 FG) at Louisville
Aiden Fisch
· "Fisch was a manager first and then earning a spot as a walk-on (now a scholarship player). His voice is really important for us and he's earned that," Capel said.
· "He always has been that positive voice, no matter what is going on," Elliott said. "I could miss my last three shots, he would be the one to tell me 'you know that fourth one is going in'. He's always there to lift us up."
· Fisch grew up going to Pitt basketball camps, fought through injuries in high school, ended up making an impact on a turnaround Panthers team.
Nike Sibande
7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, .414 FG, .841 FT
· Capel noted what he's overcome-having to sit, granted eligibility 56 minutes before playing his first game at Miami. Then the next year tearing his ACL in an exhibition game and sitting out. He's accepted and excelled as the first guy off the bench.
· "Nike is that spark, you never know when that is going to be needed," Elliott said. "We always let him know his role is very important to this team. You are a sixth starter because he does so much for our team."
· Pitt is 11-1 when he scores in double figures
· 21 points, 6 rebounds at Georgia Tech
· 16 points (5-8 FG), 6 rebounds vs. Virginia
"I hope people will look at them as guys that came in that were unbelievable teammates," Capel said. "That fought and persevered and believed in this place. Believed in what they could do to help change that and were a big part of it."
"They mean the world to me," Cummings said of the other four. "In this short time, they are my brothers for life now.
We bonded around a lot of adversity. We are really like brothers, real brothers. It's going to mean a lot to us to walk across the court one last time and give our all one last time together."
