The school basketball season formally ended for the Pitt Panthers on Sunday, following their 84-73 loss to No. 3 Xavier.

Disappointment at all times follows a loss however while you take a look at the large image, the one strategy to consider this season is to name it successful.

The Panthers completed the season with a file of 24-12, which was their greatest mark since 2013-14. They had been capable of go 14-6 within the ACC and in addition choose up two NCAA Event wins.

Perhaps the largest accomplishment is that this group of gamers had been capable of re-ignite a fan base that had little or no curiosity in Pitt basketball for the previous seven seasons.

The important thing and possibly the larger activity for Jeff Capel is to see whether or not or not this profitable may be sustained, which is able to really present whether or not or not Pitt basketball is again.

Profitable in a selected season is one factor, however having the ability to maintain that success in consecutive seasons to point out this system is again is fully one other.

Pitt will little doubt be returning some strong items for the 2023-24 season, however they’ll even be dropping a bunch of necessary items to their success.

Not solely had been Nelly Cummings, Jamarius Burton, Nike Sibande and Greg Elliott productive gamers on the court docket, however they had been additionally the veteran leaders and the glue of the workforce. That’s essential and one thing that may little doubt have to be changed.

When it comes to on the court docket manufacturing, Pitt is dropping a ton:

Nelly Cummings: 1,500+ factors, 380+ assists and a member of three NCAA event groups.

Greg Elliott: 1,000+ factors, 380+ rebounds, 170+ 3 pointers.

Nike Sibande: 1,800+ factors, 670+ rebounds.

Jamarius Burton: 1,500+ factors, 470+ assists. 

There’s no strategy to sugarcoat it. Making an attempt to exchange these 4 gamers’ manufacturing shall be troublesome, however Pitt not solely has just a few proficient gamers returning however their Class of 2023 has a few gamers that would contribute instantly.

As issues stand at the moment, right here’s a take a look at the gamers which might be scheduled to return subsequent season for Pitt. Within the switch portal period, it’s at all times essential to say ‘gamers which might be scheduled to return’ since you by no means know what is going to occur between now and the beginning of follow within the fall.

Pitt’s 2023-24 Roster

Guillermo Diaz-Graham, F
Jorge Diaz-Graham, F
Blake Hinson, F
Federiko Federiko, C
Will Jeffress, F
Dior Johnson, G
Nate Santos, G
Jaland Lowe, G
Carlton Carrington, G
Marlon Barnes, F

2023-24 Wants

With the latest departure of John Hugley, Pitt presently has three scholarships obtainable for subsequent season. Wanting on the present roster and what positions the teaching employees may very well be seeking to recruit within the switch portal, I’d guess {that a} huge man that may rebound and defend shall be necessary. After that, Pitt needs to be seeking to refill the roster with a 3-point shooter or two.

Two different necessary low season developments shall be for the energy employees to work with the Diaz-Graham twins and Federiko so as to add weight and energy to their body. If that may be achieved and contemplating the expertise they already possess, you’re doubtlessly three dominant gamers. Arguably the largest low season mission is to arrange Dior Johnson each bodily and mentally to be prepared to steer this squad. Pitt success this season was predicated totally on the manufacturing and management of the 4 veterans: Cummings, Burton, Sibande and Elliott. Subsequent season, they’ll want the younger expertise to step up and that may begin with Johnson. The expertise is clearly there however will he have the ability to translate that to the court docket and extra importantly, can he be somebody that Capel and the remainder of the workforce depends on?

Good Sufficient: A Trendy Musical, the award-winning movie, is now out there and streaming by way of Prime Video. Good Sufficient has obtained widespread reward and awards at movie festivals around the globe together with Director’s Selection and Pageant Favourite at Cinema Various in Palm Springs, California. Its trendy pop/R&B soundtrack additionally took house the Excellent Music Award in a Function Movie on the Micheaux Movie Pageant.

“Good Sufficient: A Trendy Musical” tells the story of school star athlete Jamal (performed by Jay Cities) who’s struggling along with his identification and looking for his place within the worlds of these he loves most. He meets Trevor (performed by Trey Mendlik) who may both carry Jamal even nearer or set him additional away from rediscovering his objective. The movie highlights the significance of self-acceptance and love and encourages viewers to embrace their distinctive qualities and strengths. It’s a highly effective message that’s particularly related in at the moment’s world, and the movie’s lovely music solely provides to its influence.

The music featured on this movie written and produced by Mike Spears has been praised for its catchy, upbeat sound and skill to completely seize the characters’ feelings. Audiences will discover themselves buzzing its memorable tunes lengthy after the credit have rolled. The total soundtrack is now out there on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and plenty of different music streaming platforms. 

“Good Sufficient isn’t just a movie for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, however for anybody who has ever struggled to search out their place in their very own world plus within the worlds of others. Writing the script and music was my remedy at a time frame once I didn’t really feel ok”, stated director and author Mike Spears.

Produced by Spoltz Productions, independently owned by the dynamic duo of Mike Spears and Adam Boltz, Good Sufficient: A Trendy Musical is an entertaining, distinctive masterpiece that would simply grow to be a cultural basic. Quickly after this launch, Spoltz Productions may also launch deleted scenes and bonus footage on YouTube.

Whether or not you’re a fan of musicals or just recognize nice storytelling, “Good Sufficient” is a movie that you simply received’t wish to miss. So, seize some popcorn, flip up the amount, and immerse your self on the earth of Jamal and Trevor. You received’t remorse it!

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Within the first half of Sunday’s No. 3 Xavier Vs. No. 11 Pitt matchup, Xavier’s Adam Kunkel and Jack Nunge took management of the sport, combining for 29 factors within the body. 

Kunkel hit all 5 of his three-point makes an attempt in an absolute taking pictures clinic. That marks solely the second time this season that Kunkel had hit 5 threes or extra. On the within, Nunge overpowered Pitt’s bigs down low to the tune of 14 factors on 6-for-10 taking pictures within the first half alone. 

Whereas Pitt improved its protection on the 2 within the second half, the first-half roll that Xavier was on — paired with well timed taking pictures and stout protection within the second — despatched the Panthers dwelling for the 12 months and concluded 12 months 5 of the Jeff Capel period.

“Xavier has been an elite offensive staff all 12 months,” Capel mentioned. “So, once more, I simply thought they have been actually good offensively. They have been transferring with nice tempo. They made seven threes within the first half. The ball had power. I believe 17 of their 19 area objectives — or that they had about — I believe that they had about 14 of 16 area objectives have been assisted on within the first half. In order that’s who they’ve been. We couldn’t disrupt their rhythm.”

PITT’S OFFENSE STRUGGLES TO GET GOING

Whereas Xavier punished Pitt from all around the court docket offensively, the Panthers struggled to attain within the first half.

Pitt’s Nelly Cummings and Greg Elliott couldn’t fairly get sizzling, hitting simply one in every of their first 11 pictures mixed. The pair completed the sport with a mixed 4-for-20 taking pictures day, scoring 15 factors between the 2 of them. Burton and Hinson paced the Panthers with 18 and 16 factors, respectively, and Guillermo Diaz-Graham adopted with 11. 

Pitt’s Federiko Federiko was restricted to simply a few possessions in Sunday’s sport as a result of his ankle harm.

“When Federiko got here within the sport, he was limping as he was operating up and down the court docket,” Capel mentioned. “I’m not going to place him able the place he may trigger any additional injury, so I made that call to not play him any extra the remainder of the sport.”

With Pitt’s shooters getting off to a tricky begin, in addition to Xavier’s stars shining early, the Panthers have been in dangerous form heading down the stretch. Late within the sport, Pitt gained a little bit of momentum and gave Xavier one final push, nevertheless it was too little, too late because the Musketeers superior with the win.

“Clearly, it didn’t work out nicely for us,” Capel continued. “We misplaced, however I believed we stored combating. We had an opportunity down the stretch. We acquired it to 10. We had a few actually beauty that we simply missed that we may have put a bit extra sport strain on them. We began fouling. We had a man that hadn’t been a superb free-throw shooter all 12 months, and he missed some, however he stepped up and made some for them.”

FINAL RIDE FOR HISTORIC SENIOR CLASS

With Pitt’s loss, the faculty careers of Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Nike Sibande, Greg Elliott, and Aidan Fisch all got here to an finish on Sunday.

Cummings finishes his school profession with 1,500+ factors, 380+ assists, and three NCAA Match appearances. Burton, with 1,500+ factors, 470+ assists, and first staff All-ACC honors from this season. Elliott ends with over 1,000 profession factors, 380 rebounds, and 170 three pointers, together with a career-high 77 this season. Lastly, Sibande — the ACC’s Sixth Man of the Yr — caps off his profession with 1,800+ factors and 670+ rebounds.

“It’s going to be wonderful once we can carry our youngsters again to Pittsburgh,” Sibande mentioned. “We’ve acquired a banner now saying we made March Insanity, in order that’s one thing we are able to carry them again to and present them. I want we may have made it farther, nevertheless it’s been a tremendous expertise to be right here for certain.”