10/31/2023 1:25:00 PM
PITTBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team hosts Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday evening at the Petersen Events Center in an exhibition contest. The Panthers have won 39 consecutive exhibition contests dating back to the start of the 1999-2000 season.
Pitt is 63-5 overall in exhibition games, with a 33-0 mark at the Petersen Events Center.
Wednesday’s contest is scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m. with live updates available on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Pitt_MBB. Live stats will also be available HERE.
PITT VS. UPJ
The Panthers are 3-0 in exhibition play against Pitt-Johnstown with wins prior to the start of the 2007-08, 2016-17, and 2018-19 seasons.
PRESEASON PROJECTION
Pitt, coming off a 24-12 season that included a 14-6 mark in the ACC and a pair of NCAA Tournament wins, was picked ninth in the ACC as voted upon by the league’s media panel.
2023-24 PITT PANTHERS
2023 ACC Coach of the Year Jeff Capel and his staff return a strong core of players, including Preseason All-ACC selection Blake Hinson. Hinson, a Second Team All-ACC selection a year ago, is among the top returning players in the ACC after averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and leading the ACC with 97 three-point field goals in his first season in Oakland.
Pitt also returns starting center Federiko Federiko (6.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.7 bpg., .667 FG pct.), two-year starter William Jeffress, who missed the 2022-23 campaign with a foot injury, and twins Guillermo Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg.) and Jorge Diaz Graham (2.9 ppg., 2.2 rpg.).
The Panthers also have added a trio of experienced transfers in Ishmael Leggett (16.4 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 2.4 apg.), Zack Austin (14.1 ppg., 5.4 rpg., 2.1 bpg., 62 3FG) and Michael Hueitt, Jr. (4.7 ppg., 57 3FG in two seasons) to go along with highly touted high school prospects – Papa Amadou Kante, Marlon Barnes, Jr., Carlton Carrington, and Jaland Lowe.
Amadou Kante suffered a knee injury in September and will be sidelined for the 2023-24 season.
EARLY RETURNS FROM SECRET SCRIMMAGE
Pitt posted a 78-64 win in a closed scrimmage against Georgetown Saturday, Oct. 21. Leggett delivered an outstanding performance with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, to go along with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Carrington netted 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added five assists, while Hinson delivered 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Panthers shot 50.0 percent (29-of-58) from the field overall, including 10-of-27 (.370) from three-point range. Defensively, Pitt held the Hoyas to 3-of-11 (.273) shooting from long range, while Federiko, Guillermo Diaz Graham, and Austin each recorded a pair of blocked shots.
TICKET OPTIONS
Fans can secure their 2023-24 Pitt Basketball season tickets, mini plans, single game tickets or I.C. Light Baseline Club membership HERE or call the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-7488 or email tickets@athletics.pitt.edu. Season tickets provide fans with the greatest value and access to all games, while mini-plans offer another option to secure tickets to the best games this season.
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