Pitt Basketball Season Preview: Panthers Aim to Exceed Expectations Through Toughness

The Pitt men’s basketball team, under the leadership of head coach Jeff Capel in his eighth season, is targeting a return to the NCAA Tournament for 2025-26. This would mark their first appearance since the 2022-23 season and the second under Capel's tenure.

The roster has undergone significant changes with a wave of transfers and freshmen, though three key contributors from last year remain. While this team may appear less talented on paper compared to previous years, it boasts increased size, toughness, and physicality to compete in the ACC.

“We can’t be a team that thinks we can just show up. 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.” – Jeff Capel

Guard Brandin Cummings and forward Cam Cohren, two of the returning players, are expected to secure starting positions. Forward Papa Kante will also play a key role in the Panthers’ rotation. Cummings featured in 31 games as a freshman last season, earning four starts.