Stephen Thompson on Pitt Basketball's Rebuilding Journey
The last time Jeff Capel undertook a roster rebuild as extensive as the current one was prior to the 2022-23 season. That offseason, leveraging the transfer portal, he brought in Greg Elliott, Blake Hinson, and Nelly Cummings—a group that initially wasn’t expected to be elite.
Combined with Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, holdovers from previous years, Capel formed a veteran core whose collective experience rivaled some NBA teams. This squad won 24 games, including two in the NCAA tournament, significantly improving the program’s standing within power conferences.
Back then, Capel’s future at Pittsburgh was uncertain; he needed immediate success, and bringing in experienced players was the quickest path to wins. However, after another challenging offseason marked by contract uncertainty and growing impatience due to limited postseason achievements, Pitt’s roster strategy has shifted.
New Direction with a Focus on Youth Development
Now, Capel’s approach centers on preparing for the near future, emphasizing growth and development in a young team. Describing his current roster and forthcoming season, Capel sounds dedicated to fostering strong habits:
“We need to play with the sense of urgency every second that we're out there on both sides of the floor. There has to be urgent talk, urgent movement. We have to be unbelievably connected.”
Summary
Jeff Capel's shift from relying on veteran transfers to developing a younger team highlights Pitt's commitment to long-term growth in its basketball program.