Pitt Basketball Season Preview: Panthers Aim to Exceed Expectations with Toughness
The Pitt men's basketball team, guided by head coach Jeff Capel in his eighth season, is focused on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season, marking only their second appearance under Capel's leadership. The Panthers bring back three key players from last year but have undergone a significant roster transformation with numerous transfers and freshmen.
While this squad may not boast the highest talent level on paper, it stands out for its increased size, toughness, and physicality. These qualities are expected to help the team compete nightly in the challenging ACC.
“We can’t be a team that thinks we can just show up. There is a certain way that we have to show up. We aren’t one of these teams that is just going to out-talent you. We have talent but we don’t have the type of talent that some of these teams do. But if we are tough, and we are together, and we play with an edge, then we can be a really good team.” — Jeff Capel
Key Returning Players and Roles
- Guard Brandin Cummings and forward Cam Cohren, both important contributors last season, are expected to secure starting positions.
- Forward Papa Kante will be a significant part of the rotation.
- Cummings played in 31 games as a freshman last year, starting four times.
Despite the talent challenges, Pitt aims to leverage its collective toughness and unity to compete strongly throughout the season.
Summary: Pittsburgh basketball, led by coach Jeff Capel, embraces toughness and team unity to overcome talent gaps and push for an NCAA Tournament return in 2025-26.