Pitt Basketball Season Preview: Panthers Aim to Exceed Expectations with Toughness
The Pitt men’s basketball program, led by head coach Jeff Capel in his eighth season, is focused on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022-23, marking only the second tournament appearance under Capel. Despite significant roster changes with many transfers and freshmen, the team returns three key players from last year’s squad.
This season’s team is considered one of Capel’s less talented on paper, but it brings a renewed emphasis on size, physicality, and toughness. These qualities are expected to help the Panthers compete in the challenging Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
“We can’t be a team that thinks we can just show up,” Capel said after the team’s second exhibition. “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.”
Key Returning Players
- Brandin Cummings, guard, appeared in 31 games last season as a freshman and earned four starts. He is expected to be a starting guard this year.
- Cam Cohren, forward, another important contributor from last season aiming to secure a starting position.
- Papa Kante, forward, expected to play a significant role in the rotation.
The Panthers hope that by combining their renewed toughness and cohesion, they can overcome the talent gap and perform strongly in the ACC during the 2025-26 season.
Author’s summary: Pitt’s basketball team aims to leverage toughness and team unity over raw talent to make a strong return to the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26 under Coach Jeff Capel.
More News
- The AI Trade Has Powered Wall Street Through Bitcoin’s Wobble. It Sets Up a December Rally.
- Ranked: rock's 21 most iconic frontwomen
- Gobble Wobble 5K Draws 468
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor reveals ‘mad’ chat with consultant that led to major ‘wobble’ during her fifth pregnancy
- Piers Morgan Realizes UK Turbulence
- Sky News halts show for major breaking Piers Morgan …
- Piers Morgan raising more than £20m to expand Uncensored brand
- Piers Morgan Uncensored Update
- Stevie Nicks Concert Review: Classics Don’t ‘Get Older’
- The one singer Stevie Nicks felt the world