For the second straight year, Pitt coach Jeff Capel starts a season with a bunch of new players following another year of turmoil. The Panthers begin the season tonight with a game at the Petersen Events Center against Tennessee-Martin.
Pitt was 11-21 last season. They begin the new campaign minus starters Femi Odukale and Ithiel Horton, who transferred, and Mo Gueye, who graduated. New to the program are transfers Nelly Cummings,, Greg Elliott, Blake Hinson, and Fede Federiko, along with freshmen twins, 7-footer Jorge Diaz Graham and 6-11 Guillermo Diaz Graham. Back from a season-ending knee injury last year is guard Nike Sibande, fellow guard Jamarius Burton, forward William Jeffress, and the team’s best player, 6-9, 265-pound center John Hugley IV.
But Hugley and Jeffress are injured and unavailable tonight and talented freshman Dior Johnson is not with the team as he awaits arraignment on two counts of strangulation and simple assault.
Tonight’s game tips off at 7 on WCCS, FM 101.1 and AM 1160.
The college basketball season tips off for most Division I schools around the country tonight. Top-ranked North Carolina opens up at home against UNC-Wilmington. Second-ranked Gonzaga entertains North Florida in its first game, while third-ranked Houston hosts Northern Colorado.
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