The Sports Bank’s college basketball season previews undergo a face lift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. I’ve already counted down the Pac-12, Big 12, SEC, and AAC, and now turn my attention to the already new-look ACC.
The Pitt Panthers lose their top two scorers from a year ago but everyone else returns on what should be a competitive and physical ACC team.
PITT PANTHERS
Last Season: 5th, 11-7 in ACC, 26-10 overall
Predicted ACC Finish: 6th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Michael Young (So)/Joseph Uchebo (Jr)/Tyrone Haughton (Jr)
PF: Jamel Artis (So)/Derrick Randall (Sr)
SF: Durand Johnson (Jr)/Sheldon Jeter (Jr)/Ryan Luther (Fr)
SG: Cameron Wright (Sr)/Chris Jones (So)/Cameron Johnson (Fr)
PG: James Robinson (Jr)/Josh Newkirk (So)
Gone: SF-Lamar Patterson, F/C-Talib Zanna
2014-2015 Outlook:
Balance is going to be a strength for Jamie Dixon’s squad this season as they return three starters from a year ago in James Robinson, Cameron Wright, and Michael Young. Robinson and Wright must become more aggressive scorers and getting Durand Johnson back from a torn ACL that cut his 2013-14 campaign short is a boost as well since he is arguably the team’s top pure scorer. Jamel Artis figures to be the fifth starter and though an undersized post player, is an inside/outside threat.
Josh Newkirk played a pivotal role off the bench as a freshman and should emerge as the team’s sixth man this season. Derrick Randall and Chris Jones saw limited playing time but should see increased minutes with former Vanderbilt forward and JUCO transfer, Sheldon Jeter working himself into the mix as well. Joseph Uchebo adds some depth up-front though he played sparingly a year ago and Ryan Luther is a face-up forward who could crack the rotation since he brings some versatility to the Pitt frontcourt.
Under Dixon, the Panthers’ calling card has always been the toughness and team first concept. Without a true star players, those attributes must shine bright if Pitt is going to hang with some of the big dogs in the ACC.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/24 vs. Chaminade (Maui Invitational)
11/25 vs. BYU/San Diego State (Maui Invitational)
11/26 vs. Arizona/Kansas State/Missouri/Purdue (Maui Invitational)
12/2 at Indiana (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)
OTHER ACC PREVIEWS:
#6 SYRACUSE ORANGE
#7 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
#14 GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
AAC PREVIEWS:
#1 UCONN HUSKIES
#7 UCF KNIGHTS
#8 SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
#9 HOUSTON COUGARS
#10 TULANE GREEN WAVE
#11 EAST CAROLINA PIRATES
SEC PREVIEWS:
#1 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
#1 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.