Pitt basketball comes into this season with a point to prove after feeling snubbed from last season’s NCAA Tournament.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Pitt basketball.
Jeff Capel has continued to turn this Panthers program around, and he’s found a way to take steps forward year by year. Despite the non-conference schedule being on the weaker side last year, he led Pitt to its first road win against a Top-10 team for the first time since 2013 and led the Panthers to their first road win against Duke since 1979.
This season will be challenging for Capel, but it’s one he believes he’s ready for. He lost some big-name players, so he’s tasked with finding their replacements. Freshman phenom Jaland Lowe is expected to take on a much stronger role in 2024-25.
The two big names Pitt pulled from the portal are 6’5 guard Damian Dunn and 6’10 forward Cameron Corhen. Dunn had a down year last season in Houston, but he shot 41% from the floor and averaged 15.3 PPG a season prior at Temple. Corhen joined the Panthers after spending his first two seasons at Florida State, and he looks to add a strong presence down in the paint for Capel.
We might have picked Pitt basketball to finish eighth in the ACC, but don’t count this team out. The Panthers pulled off a fourth-place finish last season, and they’re coming back on a revenge tour.
Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Head Coach: Jeff Capel (7th Season)
2023-24 Record: 22-11 (12-8)
2024 Postseason Finish: No postseason
Notable Departures:
- Blake Hinson (18.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 0.8 APG, 42.1 3P%)
- Carlton “Bub” Carrington (13.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.1 APG)
- Federiko Federiko (4.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 63.7 FG%)
Notable Non-Conference Games:
- vs. West Virginia (Nov. 15)
- vs. LSU (Nov. 22)
- vs UCF OR Wisconsin (Nov. 24)
- at Ohio State (Nov. 29)
- at Mississippi State (Dec. 4)
Projected Rotation:
PG: Jaland Lowe (6-3, 175, So.)
2023-24 Stats: 9.6 PPG 3.3 APG, 2.8 RPG, 38.8 FG%
SG: Ishmael Leggett (6-3, 185, Sr.)
2023-24 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 42.7 FG%
SF: Cameron Corhen (6-10, 235, Jr.)
2023-24 Stats: 9.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.6 APG (Florida State)
PF: Zack Austin (6-7, 210 – Rs.-Sr.)
2023-24 Stats: 6.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.3 BPG
C: Guillermo Diaz Graham (7-0, 225, Jr.)
2023-24 Stats: 6.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.1 APG
6: Damian Dunn (6-5, 205, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 Stats: 6.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.4 APG (Houston)
7: Brandin Cummings (6-3, 175, Fr.)
247 Sports Composite #154 ranked recruit
8: Amsal Delalic (6-8, 210, Fr.)
Top 30 international prospect from Bosnia and Herzegovina
9: Amdy Ndiaye (6-10, 210, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #229 ranked recruit
10: Jorge Diaz Graham (6-11, 215, Jr.)
2023-24 Stats: 3.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.8 APG
Pitt Basketball Team MVP: Jaland Lowe
Jaland Lowe made an early impact as a freshman last year even though he was often in Bub Carrington’s shadow. Lowe often got bumped out to the 2-Spot in the rotation because of Carrington, but he still found a way to produce and put up a pair of 20-point games.
With Carrington gone to the NBA, it’s Lowe’s time to run the offense. He showed flashes of it last year, but he’s the guy now. Lowe spent a lot of time in the offseason perfecting his shooting technique and looks to be an even more dynamic scorer for the Panthers this year.
Pitt Basketball Make-or-Break Player: Ishmael Leggett
Ishmael Leggett floated between the starting lineup and the sixth man based on the gameplan, but he’s going to be expected to step up this year. Leggett loved playing against Wake Forest last year, averaging 26 points per game against the Demon Deacons. Capel and the Panthers will need to him produce performances like that against other teams in the ACC.
Leggett was the third-highest scorer for Pitt last season and the leading scorer among returners. His ability to connect on shots is going to be a crucial factor for the Panthers this season. If he can take his game up a notch from last season, Pitt’s offense could be tough to play against.
Key Analytic: Build the Resume
Last year, there was a wake-up call for Pitt basketball. Despite former Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim believing the Panthers should have made March Madness, the cupcake non-conference schedule dug their grave. Capel has to find a way to produce more Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins this season.
While the ACC schedule hasn’t been released yet, Capel has two games that are slated to be Quad 1 opportunities based on the final NET Rankings from last year (Ohio State and Mississippi State). There’s a chance for a third one if the Panthers wind up with a matchup against Wisconsin in the Greenbrier Tip-Off. The schedule is more difficult this year, and it’s time for the Panthers to show what they’re made of this year.
Pitt Basketball 2024-25 Projections
Projected Conference Finish: 8th in the ACC
Projected Postseason Ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Exit