Pitt Men’s Basketball Season Preview
Staff writer Austin Lenhardt-Barley previews the Pitt men’s basketball season, highlighting the numerous new faces on the team. The Panthers are entering the eighth season under head coach Jeff Capel.
Coach Jeff Capel’s Tenure
Capel began his head coaching career at Pitt with a challenging 51-59 record in his first four seasons. However, following changes in the NCAA transfer portal rules, Capel has led the team to three consecutive winning seasons, achieving a combined 63-38 record.
Impact of NCAA Transfer Rule Changes
Before the 2022-2023 season, the NCAA allowed athletes to transfer once without sitting out a year. Pitt benefited greatly from this rule, welcoming notable transfers such as Blake Hinson, Nelly Cummings, and Greg Elliott. Each averaged over 10 points per game that season, helping the Panthers improve drastically from an 11-21 record to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
"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."
Key Player: Corhen
Senior forward Corhen returns for his final season and second year at Pitt. In the 2024-2025 season, he averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game. Known as a strong defensive presence, Corhen is expected to be a leader for the Panthers this season.
Summary
Coach Jeff Capel’s strategic use of the transfer portal has transformed Pitt’s basketball program, turning past struggles into renewed success led by key players like Corhen.