Stephen Thompson: Pitt's Path Back to Winning Basketball
The last time Jeff Capel had to rebuild his Pitt roster so extensively was before the 2022-23 season. That offseason, transfer portal recruiting brought in Greg Elliott, Blake Hinson, and Nelly Cummings—players not initially seen as elite. However, combined with Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, two veterans from earlier seasons, Capel formed a core whose collective experience resembled some NBA teams.
This group won 24 games, including two in the NCAA tournament, lifting the program out of the power conferences' lower ranks. At that time, Capel’s future at Pittsburgh was uncertain; he needed quick, significant wins. Bringing in experienced players was the clearest path to that goal.
Facing a similar challenge this offseason, with his contract nearing its end and external patience running thin due to limited postseason success, Capel’s current roster shows new priorities. Now, Pitt can and should focus on building for the near future.
"We need to play with the sense of urgency every second that we're out there on both sides of the floor," Capel said. "There has to be urgent talk, urgent movement. We have to be unbelievably connected."
Capel sounds like a coach dedicated to establishing strong habits in a young team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Author's summary: Jeff Capel’s recent roster overhaul signals a shift from chasing immediate success to developing a young Pitt team focused on urgency and connection for future growth.
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