Pitt Hoops Remaining Season Outlook

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Roger l. McNamara

Recent History.   University of Pittsburgh Men’s basketball patrons are enduring a rough passage.  A string of winning seasons over the last Quarter Century came to an abrupt stoppage following 2015-16, a season producing a 21-12 record, an AP rank as high as 20, and an invitation to the NCAA “March Madness” sweepstakes.  The 10th seed Panthers were eliminated in the opening round, and have not posted a winning campaign since.  Strength of Schedule most certainly stands atop the many hurdles faced by Head Coach Jeff Capel, who assumed the helm in 2018.  The University competes in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference, whose entrants include such perennial workhorses as Virginia, Duke, NC State, Notre Dame and North Carolina. 

Fluid Rosters.  No group in competitive athletics changes over its roster as regularly and thoroughly as Collegiate Men’s basketball.  Transfers, behavioral driven suspensions, early outs for NBA draft eligibility --- and even an occasional graduation --- all contribute.   So it was that heading into this season Pitt basketball waved good-bye to 10 members from last year, a host of underclassmen and a single graduation.  It welcomed in four transfers from other programs, including 6’11” power forward Fede Federiko, originally out of Helsinki, Finland and to Pitt by way of Oklahoma State.  A trio of incoming Freshmen made up the recruits, but among them only 6’7” point guard Dior Johnson from Lakewood, CA was accorded Star worthy attention, and the overall talent input graded out to only 27 on ESPN’s 100 point scale.  Challenges facing Capel and his assistants remain formidable.

This Year’s Lineup --- Season to Date.   The three freshmen will be joined by 10 others on the team roster.  Panther Men brought a 5-3 record--- including a road win at Northwestern ---to the onset of Conference play on Friday December 2.  Another road game, this time courtesy of host North Carolina State on its Raleigh, NC PNC home floor.  Despite the odds Pittsburgh flashed true grit and proud colors in leaving town with a 68-60 triumph in hand.   Veteran Senior Guards Burton Jamarius and Blake Hinson led the starters last night with a combined 64 minutes of court time, good for four assists, a dozen rebounds and 37 points.  Also among Panther starters were Greg Elliot and Nelly Cummings, 11 boards and 13 points between them.   Baseline duties were assigned to Federiko.   A credit to Capel and staff is that Pitt was whistled for a total of only 17 personal fouls, no single player incurring more than three.   N.B.  After all the hype and lofty expectations, Dior Johnson is now under suspension from the Panthers while facing criminal assault charges.   

Immediately Ahead.  Next up is a December 7 date at Vanderbilt University down in Tennessee, then back home with Sacred Heart University on December 10 for a tipoff at Panther hardwood home named Petersen Events Center.  A long season still lies ahead with much to be determined.  On the strength of its showing last night the Panthers have given their faithful solid grounds for at least a guarded optimism.