Panthers Officially Open Practice for 2020-21 Season - Pitt Panthers #H2P - PittsburghPanthers.com

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Panthers Officially Open Practice for 2020-21 Season

10/14/2020 4:26:00 PM

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PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's basketball team held its first official team practice of the 2020-21 season Wednesday at the Petersen Events Center. Following the team workout, head coach Jeff Capel along with Ithiel Horton, Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney met with local media via Zoom to discuss the start of the season.
 
"Something I talked to our guys about in March and as we went forward in April and kept going forward was try to control what we can control," said Capel. "Right now that is our effort, discipline, doing things off the court and following the protocols and guidelines that have been laid out for us. When we show up here, to have energy, to have enthusiasm and listen and try to get better each day and those things will eventually fall into place."
 
"It continues to give us hope," Capel said when asked about the significance of today. "It's challenging when you look at the current environment and everything that is going on. To have a little bit of normalcy and to have hope as we continue to move closer to playing on November 25, knowing that that's not going to be normal but the fact that there is hope is important for us."

Pitt provided fans with a behind the scenes look at the first day of practice with Panthers Basketball All-Access.
 
Pitt returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including double-figure scorers Justin Champagnie (12.7 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) and Johnson (11.7 ppg., 4.9 apg.). Toney, a two-year starter, also returns after averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
 
Horton, who is eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is also expected to make an immediate impact after earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors, while averaging 13.2 points and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range with 79 made threes as a freshman at Delaware during the 2018-19 season. Pitt also added another impact transfer recently with the signing of Nike Sibande. The 6-4, 185-pound guard averaged 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while starting 94 of 97 games over the past three seasons at Miami [Ohio]. He has amassed 1,463 points, 186 three-point field goals and 311 made free throws in his career, while shooting 41.4 percent (483-of-1166) from the field, including 33.6 percent (186-of-554) from three-point range. Sibande is awaiting the appeal process to seek immediately eligibility from the NCAA.
 
Capel and his staff welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the ACC, led by top 100 prospects John Hugley and William Jeffress. Hugley, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, was ranked 77th by Rivals after averaging 24.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior. Jeffress, Jr., a 6-7, 205-pound wing, was a three-time all-state selection before graduating early and joining the program following his junior year of high school. He was ranked 79th by Rivals and was a member of the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas gold medal team.
 
They are joined in the class by highly-touted guard Femi Odukale (6-5 – 185), three-time all-state selection Noah Collier (6-9 – 210) and top-5 recruit out of New York Max Amadasun (6-10 – 230).
 
The University of Pittsburgh Ticket Office is now accepting ticket deposits for the 2020-21 Pitt Men's Basketball season. Your $100 deposit will ensure your priority to purchase tickets for upcoming games at the Petersen Events Center once current government-mandated attendance restrictions are determined. Pitt continues to work in conjunction with state and county officials on models and scenarios to enable in-venue attendance by fans.
 
Click HERE to make your ticket deposit. With uncertainty remaining around the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans can make their deposits risk free with the Pitt Athletics Ticket Guarantee.
 
 

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