Pitt men’s basketball season preview

Pitt Men’s Basketball Season Preview

Staff writer Austin Lenhardt-Barley provides an overview of the upcoming season for the Pitt men’s basketball team, which enters its eighth year under head coach Jeff Capel. The team brings in several new faces and looks to build on recent success.

Capel’s Leadership and Progress

Jeff Capel started his tenure at Pitt with a 51-59 record over his first four seasons. Since then, he’s turned things around, earning a 63-38 record over the past three years. His success has been closely tied to his strong use of the NCAA transfer portal.

Impact of Transfer Portal Changes

Before the 2022–2023 season, the NCAA allowed athletes to transfer once without sitting out for a full season. Capel quickly leveraged this rule to reshape Pitt’s roster.

“Pitt going 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.”

After the rule change, Pitt gained impactful players such as Blake Hinson, Nelly Cummings, and Greg Elliott. Each averaged over 10 points per game during the 2022–2023 season, revitalizing the program’s competitive standing.

Looking Ahead

Senior forward Corhen returns for his final year and second season at Pitt. He averaged 11 points and five rebounds last season and is expected to be a key defensive leader for the Panthers in the 2024–2025 campaign.

Author’s Summary

Pitt, guided by Jeff Capel’s strategic use of transfers and steady player development, aims to extend its recent resurgence into another strong basketball season.

The Pitt News — 2025-11-05