Takeaways from Pitt Basketball’s Frontcourt Dominance
The Panthers secured a 74-59 victory over Youngstown State on the opening night of the 2025 season. While the win was far from flawless, Pitt capitalized on its size advantage, scoring 18 points off second-chance opportunities and adopting a gritty style of play to ensure success.
Key Players and Performance
Senior forward Cameron Corhen proved his role as a veteran leader, playing 35 minutes and leading the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds. His steady presence brought stability to the Panthers' initially disjointed offense.
Redshirt sophomore forward Papa Amadou Kante was notable on defense, securing 10 rebounds in 35 minutes. His footwork allowed him to stay with quick Youngstown State players, displaying versatility in guarding any opponent on the court.
Rookies’ Contributions
First-year guard Omari Witherspoon and forward Roman Siulepa had tentative starts in their debut regular-season game. Despite early struggles, Witherspoon managed a difficult mid-range jumper, and Siulepa delivered a highlight-worthy block. Both players committed two turnovers each, highlighting the challenge of immediate heavy minutes, especially in a competitive conference like the ACC.
"Pitt used its size to gain 18 points off of second-chance opportunities and showed it is willing to embrace a gritty play style to get results."
"Corhen’s consistent presence was a source of comfort for the Panthers as they looked disjointed on offense in the early going."
"Kante moved his feet against shifty Youngstown State players and showed that he can guard any player on the court."
Overall, Pitt’s frontcourt dominance and willingness to play tough helped overcome an uneven start to the season.
Author’s summary: Pitt’s basketball frontcourt led a gritty, size-driven effort overcoming early offensive struggles to secure a solid opening win in the 2025 season.