2013-14 PITT BASKETBALL
SEASON PREVIEW
SEASON PREVIEW Three starters and a host of newcomers will anchor a Pitt program that has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times in the previous 12 seasons The 2013-14 campaign marks Pitt Basketball’s inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Last year, the Panthers returned to national prominence with a 24-9 overall record, fourth place Big East finish at 12-6, 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 12 seasons and a 16-3 record at the Petersen Events Center. In the upcoming season, the Panthers will field a formidable team in the ACC thanks to the return of several key players and a strong incoming class of recruits. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon will need to blend five key returnees with a talented group of newcomers. Even after losing five of its top 10 players, including leading scorer Tray Woodall and freshman center Steven Adams, who was selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Panthers return a strong, talented, experienced and competitive squad led by
the starting trio of Lamar Patterson, James Robinson and Talib Zanna. The three returning starters combined to start 99 games for the Panthers and scored close to 40 percent of the team’s points. In addition, Cameron Wright and Durand Johnson, two of Pitt’s top reserves, return to the mix, along with redshirt freshman Chris Jones. Overall, Pitt returns 49 percent of its scoring, 51 percent of its rebounding and 52 percent of its assists as it looks to excel in its first season in the ACC. To help further the Panthers’ chances for the upcoming season, Dixon and his staff have added three talented freshmen in Jamel Artis, Josh Newkirk and Michael Young. Pitt also brought in two experienced post players who will be eligible to compete immediately in Rutgers transfer Derrick Randall and junior college transfer Joseph Uchebo. The following is a position-
PITT’S PRESEASON STORYLINES Pitt Basketball enters its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt’s schedule will feature ACC home games against Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Pitt begins its quest for a 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 13 seasons and its 13th straight season with 20 or more victories. Pitt returns three starters, two of its top three scorers, five of its top 10 letterwinners, 49 percent of its overall scoring, 51 percent of its rebounding and 51 percent of its minutes played. Pitt ranks among the nation’s top-5 programs in winning percentage (.769, 319-96) over the last 12 years. During that span, Pitt has made one NCAA Elite Eight appearance and five Sweet Sixteen appearances, captured six Big East titles and has advanced to 11 of the last 12 NCAA Tournaments. Combining the last 12 years, Pitt also owns the ACC’s second-best league regular season record (141-63) and conference winning percentage (.691) when comparing conference teams. Jamie Dixon enters his 11th season as Pitt’s head coach with a 262-86 overall record. His 262 victories rank as the fourth highest win total in NCAA Division I history after the first 10 seasons as a head coach. A four-time national coach of the year recipient, Dixon is the first coach in school history to guide Pitt to eight straight NCAA Tournaments, 10 consecutive 20-win seasons and nine 10-plus win years in Big East play. He also currently ranks as the winningest coach in Big East Conference history (league games only) and is among the nation’s top-7 winningest active coaches by percentage. Jamie Dixon enters ACC play with a combined 27-10 overall record against other ACC programs. Pitt will travel to New York City on two different occasions and entertain a difficult slate of non-conference opponents in 2012-13. Opponents highlighting Pitt’s non-conference schedule include a Jimmy V Classic game against Cincinnati at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 17), a Big Ten/ ACC Challenge matchup against Penn State at the Petersen Events Center (Dec. 3) and two Legends Classic games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. against Texas Tech and either Stanford or Houston. Pitt also plays Duquesne in the annual City Game at Consol Energy Center on Nov. 30. All 31 Pitt Basketball games will be televised in 2013-14. Pitt is slated to play 17 games on national television in 2013-14. Overall, Pitt will appear on national or regional television (RSN or ACC Network) 26 times.
Senior Talib Zanna enters his final collegiate season at Pitt. Among Pitt’s frontcourt players, Zanna has the most experience returning after seeing action in 100 career games and making 59 starts. Over the years, Pitt fans have seen flashes of Zanna’s potential. He now has the opportunity to be a leader for the 2013-14 Panthers after averaging 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds.
by-position look at the 2013-14 Pitt Panthers. FORWARD Pitt returns experienced players at both forward positions including two starters from 2012-13. Lamar Patterson will be counted upon to be one of the major contributors for the Panthers this season. Patterson, who has started 66 consecutive games, averaged a career-high 10.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season. He also knocked down 37 3-pointers and set season-bests with 40 steals and a 46.4 percent field goal
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percentage (115-248) while leading Pitt in scoring and rebounding eight times. With the graduation of leading scorer Tray Woodall, the Panthers will look to the redshirt senior for leadership and to continue his solid all-around production. The other returning starter at forward is senior Talib Zanna. Listed at 6-9, Zanna’s physical presence has allowed him to become a major factor in the post for the Panthers. However, due to the loss of starting center Steven Adams, Zanna will also see action at center in 2013-14.