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FILE - Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel speaks with a referee during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, March 14, 2024, in Washington.
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Jason Mackey: Why deepest roster yet under Jeff Capel could have Panthers positioned for big things

AP

Jason Mackey: Why deepest roster yet under Jeff Capel could have Panthers positioned for big things

The familiar sounds of the Pitt band blaring and foam sticks slapping filled Petersen Event Center on Monday night. Walk the concourse, and the food smelled the same. Although Bub Carrington and Blake Hinson are missed, several known commodities returned — guards Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe, along with two more of the Panthers’ top six scorers from a season ago.

But despite the continuity, especially when it comes to the excitement surrounding opening night, there’s also been a different buzz around the Pitt men’s basketball team throughout the preseason, those ingredients producing a 96-56 demolition of Radford to open the 2024-25 season.

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Pitt put six players in double figures, dominated the paint, found its outside range in the second half and got a ton from Lowe and Leggett, who combined for nearly half of the Panthers’ points.

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“Some good stuff for us [Monday],” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. “A lot to work on and get better with, but obviously a really good start.”

Pitt was picked to finish seventh in the ACC last month, the highest such position under Capel. Expectations are surely higher on the inside. Because of Leggett and Lowe, yes, as well as other returners such as forwards Guillermo Diaz Graham and Zack Austin.

Not only that, several talented transfers have arrived in Oakland to give Capel what should be the deepest and most talented roster during his time at Pitt, the entire group bonding over the Panthers knowing they got short shrift last year when it came to the NCAA tournament.

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While reading too much into openers can always be scary, it’s hard to not be intrigued by some of what we saw from the Panthers here:

• Lowe is a terrific watch. He’s fast and equally as dangerous scoring as he is distributing. Loved him setting up freshman guard Brandin Cummings for a fast-break layup in the first half, then dishing to Florida State transfer Cam Corhen for a powerful dunk a few minutes later.

Late in the first, Lowe tossed a sweet alley-oop to Diaz Graham and drilled a 3-pointer as time expired in the opening half to give Pitt a 45-27 lead at the break.

After averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in ACC play last season, which included 16 of his 17 games in double figures, Lowe appears poised to crush those numbers and step into a larger role. A starring one where folks outside of Pittsburgh start taking greater notice of him? Certainly seems possible. Lowe led all scorers with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go along with five rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Pitt center Cam Corhen throws up a hook shot over two Radford defenders on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Petersen Events Center.
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Perhaps most important: no turnovers.

“We know how important it is to take care of the ball,” Lowe said. “That’s a huge focal point for us and we really got to set the tone with that and carry it on.”

• If/when Lowe begins garnering more national attention, Leggett shouldn’t be far behind. The reigning ACC Sixth Man of the Year fills out the scoresheet in a similar way, leaning into his versatility to help the Panthers.

It was crazy to me that Leggett led all Pitt players with 5.5 rebounds per game last season, a figure that was also tops among ACC guards. But after watching him play live, it makes more sense. Like Lowe, there’s a high motor and a player who loves to attack the rim.

Leggett was sniffing for something and got it late in the first half with an an authoritative put-back dunk to increase his team’s lead to 12. Early in the second half, while Pitt was breaking this one open, Leggett secured a steal and executed the fast break himself for a 24-point advantage.

Leggett had a team-high 12 rebounds, as well as 19 points, three assists and two steals.

“Since he’s been here, he’s been locked in,” Capel said of Leggett. “We wouldn’t have been the team we were last year if it wasn’t for him, not just accepting the role but starring in the role. … I think it’s why he’ll be terrific this year, because he embodies all of those things.”

• A third impression of Pitt, before we get to what the total product might ultimately portend, involved Corhen, who averaged 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game over 60 games (33 starts) for the Seminoles.

Especially in the first half, so much of Pitt’s offense ran through the 6-foot-10 junior, who did several things that should help the Panthers produce points from the paint. A short hook in the lane for 2 early. A couple nifty jumpers in the second half. Passing off ball screens to allow others better looks.

“He has an offensive ability that we haven’t had in a few years,” Capel said of Corhen, who finished with 12 points.

Overall, there’s an impressive amount of depth for this Pitt team. Shoot, guard Damian Dunn, a two-time All-AAC pick at Temple, reached double figures for the 64th time in his college career — and it fell under the radar due to other stuff.

A three-time All-State selection at Lincoln Park, Cummings showed he can certainly play at this level, another talented weapon to bolster Pitt’s bench. The site of him running the floor with Lowe early was certainly something that had to more enjoyable for Pitt’s fans than poor Radford.

Austin was noticeable closing out on 3s. Pitt stayed aggressive on defense despite its ballooning lead, and a roster featuring three players 6-foot-10 or taller for the first time in Capel’s tenure did what should be expected: controlling the area around the basket, outscoring the Highlanders there, 50-16.

It’s why there should be plenty of intrigue surrounding this team ... and not just because of opening night or the fact that the Panthers have plenty to prove after they were screwed by the NCAA selection committee last season.

Their slow start and weak non-conference schedule became a problem that sprint to the finish could not solve. Should Pitt continue to play like this — sharing the ball, owning the paint, defending and leaning on some exciting talent — it’s hard to see that happening this season.

It was only one night, sure. But it’s much easier to see this Pitt team turning back the clock to the glory days in this building, those truly familiar sights and sounds and the excitement surrounding Pitt basketball to which our city previously became accustomed.

First Published: November 5, 2024, 3:40 a.m.

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