Pitt Basketball Season Preview: Panthers Aim to Use Toughness to Surpass Expectations
The Pitt men’s basketball team, led by head coach Jeff Capel in his eighth season, is focused on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season and only the second time under Capel’s leadership. Despite significant roster changes with many transfers and freshmen, the Panthers bring back three key contributors from last year’s squad.
This season’s team may be one of Capel’s least talented on paper, but it features increased size, toughness, and physicality, which should help the Panthers compete nightly in the challenging ACC.
“We can’t be a team that thinks we can just show up,” Capel said after the second exhibition game. “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.”
Among the returnees, guard Brandin Cummings and forward Cam Cohren were significant contributors last season and are expected to secure starting roles. Forward Papa Kante will also play a key role in the rotation. Cummings appeared in 31 games as a freshman and started four of them.
Key Points
- Head coach Jeff Capel enters his eighth year steering the program.
- Team aims for a return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it last season.
- Significant roster overhaul with new transfers and freshmen.
- Less talent on paper but a stronger emphasis on toughness and physical play.
- Returnees Cummings, Cohren, and Kante expected to fill important roles.
Author's summary: Pitt basketball embraces toughness over talent to challenge ACC rivals and secure a 2025-26 NCAA Tournament spot under Jeff Capel's leadership.
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