SAD NEWS: AS 3 Pitt Players will not play all time the season “The reason will shock you..
Fans of the Pitt men’s basketball team will undoubtedly remember the 2023–24 campaign. The Panthers’ unexpected run to the NCAA tournament the previous season served as a springboard for head coach Jeff Capel and his staff, who had the resources to get them back there.
The Panthers had some components in place even though they lost important seniors from that tournament run. Blake Hinson, a senior forward who was named to the All-ACC second team, Federiko Federiko, a junior center, and Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham, two sophomore forwards, were all back.
The already strong returning core was strengthened by an outstanding recruiting class. Jaland Lowe and Carlton “Bub” Carrington, two highly regarded first-year guards, provided an excellent backcourt. Additional arrivals were former Rhode Island standout junior guard Ishmael and redshirt junior forward Zack Austin from High Point.
The brand-new, upgraded Panthers got off to a quick start. In his debut game as a Panther, Carrington recorded a triple-double, becoming the first Pitt player to do it since 1998. Before losing to Florida in the NIT in-season tournament, the Panthers would easily defeat their first four opponents.
The Panthers would falter after the setback, finishing 6-6 over the following 12 games and having a 1-5 start in ACC play. As the still-inexperienced Panthers battled against a string of tougher opponents, they appeared lost offensively.
But Leggett’s shoulder injury during the slide forced Capel to start Lowe in the starting lineup. For the remainder of the season, Lowe would stay in the starting lineup. Although the modification didn’t t initially turn many heads — as the Panthers dropped their next two home games — Capel’s gamble would eventually come to fruition.
Late road contests against eventual NCAA tournament participant Clemson and fellow bubble team Wake Forest provided the Panthers with huge tests for their tournament aspirations. However, the Panthers ultimately dropped both contests, adding more missed opportunities that could have benefited the team.
The Panthers entered the ACC tournament as the No. 4 seed and looked to solidify themselves as NCAA tournament-worthy in the eyes of the selection committee. The Panthers started strong with an 81-69 victory over Wake Forest, aided by Leggett’s 30-point explosion.
The final test of the season came in the semi-finals against North Carolina. Despite the combined 41 points from Carrington and Lowe, the Tar Heels held Hinson and Leggett to a combined 11 points and Pitt fell 65-72 to the eventual No. 1 Tar Heels, creating a stressful 48 hours for Pitt players and fans alike.
Finally, Selection Sunday came, and Panthers everywhere watched as the field of 68 was revealed. As the show continued, the Panthers were not one of the teams that were selected, as the team finished as the fourth team out of the tournament.
