Pitt basketball kicks off its 2024-25 regular season against Radford.
Daylight Savings Time is a (temporary) thing of the past, and that means it’s officially basketball season. Pitt basketball kicks off their season Monday night against Radford. This is the first ever meeting between the Highlanders and the Panthers.
General Information:
Teams: Pitt (0-0) and Radford (0-0)
Tip-Off Time: 7 p.m. EST
Watch: ACC Network Extra
Listen: 93.7 The Fan
What to Know About Radford:
The Highlanders finished last season with an overall record of 16-17 and 5-11 in Big South play. While last season didn’t go as planned for the Highlanders, they picked up big wins against Marshall and West Virginia. Radford also went down to the wire with James Madison, a team that received an automatic qualifying bid after winning the Sun Belt Tournament.
Radford played in one exhibition game this season against Division III Bridgewater College and cruised to an 85-46 victory.
The Highlanders lost four of their five top scorers after last season with T.J. NeSmith the lone returner from that group. Despite losing its main offensive playmakers, that doesn’t mean the Panthers can just do the bare minimum and expect a victory.
Josiah Harris missed a big chunk of last season, and Radford missed his size on the court at 6’9, 225 pounds. Harris averaged 6.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in just 16 appearances last season as a junior.
As far as newcomers, Isaiah Gaines and Xavier Foster are both coming into this season with chips on their shoulders. Gaines (FAU) and Foster (SMU) did not see much action last year and produced minimally as a result. Both forwards bring a massive frame (6’8, 225 pounds and 7’0, 225 pounds) which is going to make things tough for Pitt in the paint.
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The Panthers played in a secret scrimmage on Oct. 26 against Cincinnati with Pitt coming out on top 71-62. It was a physical battle against a Big 12 team that should prepare the team well for Radford and ACC play.
As far as announced preseason matchups, Pitt won its lone exhibition game on October 22 against Division II Point Park 93-62. The Panthers struggled at times in the first half defensively as they led by just eight going into halftime. However, a strong second half propelled Pitt to victory.
Ishmael Leggett led the Panthers with 24 points and nine rebounds while Jaland Lowe was right behind him with 22 points. Florida State transfer Cameron Corhen recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
One area that Pitt basketball head coach Jeff Capel will want to improve upon (besides defensively) is three-point shooting as the Panthers shot just 31.8% from behind the arc against Point Park. He no longer has Blake Hinson and Bub Carrington to carry the team in that category.
Any of the Panthers who were here last year will tell you they were upset back in March by the committee’s decision to leave Pitt out of March Madness. Whether it was Joe Lunardi doubting the team, the Big 12 manipulating NET rankings or a “weak” non-conference schedule, the Panthers took it to heart.
No more excuses about non-conference opponents. Pitt’s schedule outside of the ACC is much tougher this year headlined by matchups with a revamped West Virginia, Ohio State, LSU and either Wisconsin or UCF.
Don’t be surprised if the Panthers leave starters in longer than expected when games turn to blowouts in their favor either. This team isn’t showing any mercy after how last season ended. And they definitely aren’t leaving their postseason fate in the hands of the selection committee.
Radford is the first obstacle on the path to redeeming last year’s snub. It all begins at the Petersen Events Center on Monday night.
[…] knew Radford was going to be a physical team. However, the Panthers let that physicality get the better of them […]
[…] knew Radford was going to be a physical team. However, the Panthers let that physicality get the better of them […]