Entering a home contest against Eastern Michigan on Monday, Pitt head coach Jeff Capel isn’t bashful about what his team’s offensive identity is.
In a 78-60 win over Longwood on Friday, the Panthers attempted 30 shots from behind the 3-point line, something Capel feels his team can replicate throughout the season.
“I do,” Capel said. “You know, I think the past three years we’ve been first in the (ACC) in 3-point field goal attempts and I think we’ve been first or second in the league in 3-point field goals made. So, that’s a big part of our offense.”
As is the case with many teams throughout the country, Pitt (2-0) is trying to blend in a lot of new faces who came into the program via the transfer portal.
Center Dishon Jackson and guard Nojus Indrusaitis came in from Iowa State and guard Damarco Minor transferred in from Oregon State.
Those three, along with Australian Roman Siulepa, are newcomers getting acclimated with returnees such as forward Cam Corhen and guard Brandin Cummings.
The next challenge for Pitt is an Eastern Michigan team that earned a 71-49 win over Georgia State in its season opener on Nov. 3.
The Eagles (1-0) were picked to finish ninth in MAC’s preseason poll.
Eastern Michigan has nine new players on its roster this year for head coach Stan Heath, so early games against power-conference opponents like Pitt will be critical for team continuity before conference play starts.
Heath is high on a few newcomers who came in from the portal, most notably forward Mohammad Habhab (Central Michigan), Addison Patterson (Northwestern State) and Carlos Hart (Valdosta State).
Against Georgia State, Habhab had 15 points and 16 rebounds, Hart scored 14 points and Patterson added 10 points.
“I like the teamwork,” Heath said of his team. “We still got a lot of work to do. But you know, this team’s got a high ceiling. Some strong shooters already.”