PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Each year has been an improvement from 8 to 14 to 16 wins, now Pitt opens its third year under Jeff Capel Wednesday night hosting St. Francis-PA.
So what does this team have to keep the meter moving in the right direction?
"Talent and competitive spirit," said junior AuDiese Toney. "Everybody on the team is really, really competitive, nobody wants to lose. Everybody is coming with the same mission to win."
"Experience," said junior Xavier Johnson. "Going through the last few years, I've been through a lot. Played different roles on different teams. This year I think I'm a leader, a point-guard who makes plays for others, plays defense, really does it all."
There are losses already for this team. A part of Johnson and Toney's recruiting class, guard Trey McGowens transferred to Nebraska after averaging 11.6ppg and 2.6 assists over his two years. Leading three-point shooter, guard Ryan Murphy left. Forward Eric Hamilton started 21 games and was third on the team in rebounding in his only year at Pitt.
In are six freshman, a transfer guard and potentially another transfer guard that will make up a roster that is over half-new.
The half dozen freshmen were part of a top 30 recruiting class for Capel that includes a pair of four-star recruits, both grew up around Lake Erie.
John Hughley out of Cleveland had offers from West Virginia, Xavier, Miami, Florida State, Florida, NC State, Iowa, Cincinnati and others. The 6'9".
240 pound forward should play early and help immediately with inside presence.
Erie McDowell's William Jeffress is a key member of the recruiting class, not only because of his scoring skills and that Baylor, Notre Dame and Penn State really wanted him, but he is a key in-state prospect who stayed home. The 6'7" Jeffress could still be growing into his body as he graduated high school a year early and just turned 17.
Sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules, Delaware guard Ithiel Horton practiced all last year with the team. Head coach Jeff Capel says the sophomore is a hard worker and he's expecting him to help with their shooting woes from 2019-20.
"I just told him to be ready to catch and shoot," Johnson said. "I know a lot of defenses like to help off me. So I told him to be ready to catch and shoot cause that will open up the floor for the whole team, not just for me."
The unknown is 6'4" graduate senior Nike Sibande. While almost every transfer this year has been granted immediate eligibility, Pitt is still waiting on approval, with no timetable for a decision, for the Miami of Ohio guard. Sibande could be an impact player after averaging 15.1ppg and 5.1 rebounds last year with the Red Hawks.
Pitt returns its leading scorer and rebounder, Justin Champagnie, and the assist-leading Johnson. Also returning is swing forward Au'Diese Toney and forwards Gerald Drumgoole and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly played valuable minutes as freshmen.
Terrell Brown is the only senior currently on the active roster and the 6'10" center is fourth in Pitt history with 156 career blocked shots.
Champagnie, Johnson, Toney all likely will be a part of the starting lineup and Capel is working through the rest. His rotation will be determined after they face a few different jerseys.
"I think we have a little bit of an idea," Capel said. "I think we have some guys that are starting to separate themselves a little bit. It's still up in the air as far as how many guys will play. The different rotations and things like that."
"It's difficult right now because you don't see it against anyone else. This whole time we have just been against us. That's where the exhibitions and/or scrimmages are sorely, sorely missed."
The lack of exhibitions and scrimmages also limits knowledge of the opponent. Although its a team Pittsburgh basketball fans may be familiar with, St. Francis-PA. The Red Flash were in the NEC championship game last year against Robert Morris and Capel praised their coaching staff.
Rob Krimmel is in his 9th year in Loretto and his teams have played in the post-season in three of the last four years, going 58-38 over the last three seasons.
"It's a team that knows how to win, they return their frontcourt and their sixth man off the bench is back, another frontcourt player," Capel said. "They have experience and they have experience winning. They know how to win. They expect to win and that's huge for a program."
How much improvement has Pitt made? We may start to tell on Wednesday, but Johnson believes it's a lot different now.
"Talent and competitive spirit," Johnson said of the changes. "Everybody on the team is really, really competitive, nobody wants to lose. Everybody is coming with the same mission to win."
Especially their point-guard and leader.
"I'm known for losing," Johnson said. "I don't want to be known for that, I want to be known for winning."
Hear the Panthers season opener with pregame starting at 6:30p on Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan.
