Stephen Thompson: Pitt's Path Back to Winning Basketball
The last time Jeff Capel had to rebuild his Pitt basketball roster as thoroughly as this offseason was before the 2022-23 season. During that period, transfer portal recruiting brought in Greg Elliott, Blake Hinson, and Nelly Cummings—a group not initially seen as elite. However, combined with Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, players acquired in earlier years, Capel formed a core of experienced veterans whose average age was comparable to some NBA teams.
This seasoned lineup won 24 games, including two NCAA tournament victories, successfully pulling the program out of the lower ranks of the power conferences. At that time, Capel’s long-term future at Pitt was uncertain; he needed fast, significant wins, and adding experienced players was the quickest way to achieve that.
Now, facing a similar situation—with a contract running down and decreasing patience following limited postseason achievements—Capel’s current roster signals a shift in philosophy. Pitt is focusing more on developing young talent with an eye on the near future.
Capel's Vision for the Team
Describing his roster and the upcoming season, Capel sounds like a coach committed to building strong fundamentals in a youthful team. He stated:
"We need to play with the sense of urgency every second that we're out there on both sides of the floor. There has to be urgent talk, urgent movement. We have to be unbelievably connected."
A Season of Growth Ahead
- Pitt’s roster now emphasizes developing younger players rather than relying on veteran transfers.
- Capel aims to instill urgency and connection on both offense and defense.
- The coach’s approach suggests rebuilding will take more than one season to yield major wins.
This marks a strategic pivot toward sustainable development rather than immediate results.
Author's Summary
Jeff Capel’s new Pitt roster prioritizes youth and urgency, signaling a longer-term rebuilding process beyond just one winning season.