Pitt men’s basketball season preview

Pitt Men’s Basketball Season Preview

Staff writer Austin Lenhardt-Barley previews the Pitt men’s basketball season, highlighting a team with many new players. The Panthers enter their eighth season under head coach Jeff Capel.

Coach Jeff Capel’s Tenure

Capel’s tenure began with a 51-59 record over his first four seasons. However, following recent changes to the transfer portal rules, he has led Pitt to three straight seasons with winning records, compiling a 63-38 record.

Transfer Portal Impact

Before the 2022-2023 season, the NCAA adopted a rule allowing athletes to transfer once without sitting out a season. Since then, Pitt has welcomed key transfers such as Blake Hinson, Nelly Cummings, and Greg Elliott.

Each transfer averaged over 10 points per game in the 2022-2023 season.
This shifted Pitt’s fortunes from an 11-21 record to an NCAA Tournament berth.

Pitt’s rise from an 11-21 record to the NCAA Tournament is special and not talked about enough — it happened because of how well Capel works with the transfer portal.

Key Player Returning

The senior forward, Corhen, returns for his final season and second at Pitt. Averaging 11 points and five rebounds last season, he has been a reliable scorer and one of the Panthers’ top defenders.

Corhen will be a leader for the Panthers during his last season.

Coach Capel has effectively utilized transfer portal rules to build competitive and resilient teams over recent years.

Author's summary: Jeff Capel has transformed Pitt men’s basketball by leveraging transfer portal opportunities, leading to sustained winning seasons and key player contributions.

The Pitt News — 2025-11-06