Pitt Basketball Season Preview: Panthers Look to Use Toughness to Exceed Expectations

Pitt Basketball Season Preview

Panthers Aim to Use Toughness to Surpass Expectations in 2025-26

The Pitt men's basketball program, led by head coach Jeff Capel in his eighth season, is focused on returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign and only the second time under Capel’s leadership. The team brings back three contributors from last year but has undergone major changes with numerous transfers and freshmen reshaping the roster.

Though this squad may be one of Capel’s least talented on paper, it features a new emphasis on size, toughness, and physicality to help compensate when facing strong competition 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

Key Returning Players

Guard Brandin Cummings appeared in 31 games last season as a freshman and started in four games.
Forward Cam Cohren was an important contributor last year and is expected to secure a starting position.
Forward Papa Kante is projected to be a key rotational player for the Panthers.

Despite a roster overhaul, the Panthers aim to blend their physical style with returning talent to compete effectively.

Author's Summary

The 2025-26 Pitt Panthers, though less talented on paper, focus on toughness and physicality under Jeff Capel’s guidance to exceed expectations in the ACC and return to the NCAA Tournament.

On3 — 2025-11-03