Pitt Men’s Basketball Season Preview
Staff writer Austin Lenhardt-Barley previews the Pitt men’s basketball season, highlighting the team’s many new faces. The Panthers enter their eighth season under head coach Jeff Capel, who led the team to March Madness three seasons ago.
Capel began his tenure at Pitt with a 51-59 record over his first four seasons. However, recent changes to the NCAA transfer portal have positively impacted his coaching record. Over the last three seasons, Capel has posted a 63-38 record, achieving three consecutive winning seasons.
NCAA Transfer Rule Impact
Before the 2022-2023 season, the NCAA introduced a rule allowing athletes to transfer once without sitting out a full season. This change helped Pitt welcome impactful transfers such as Blake Hinson, Nelly Cummings, and Greg Elliott. These players each averaged over 10 points per game during the 2022-2023 season, transforming the team’s performance.
“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.”
Team Leadership and Outlook
The senior forward, Corhen, returns for his final season and second at Pitt. He averaged 11 points and five rebounds last season and was a key scorer for the Panthers in 2024-25. Corhen is recognized as one of the team’s strongest defensive players and is expected to provide leadership throughout his final year.
Summary
Coach Jeff Capel has successfully rebuilt Pitt men’s basketball through strategic use of transfer rules, leading to improved records and key player development.