Pitt opens ACC season against short-handed Miami

While Jeff Capel juggles a long bench that could get longer before the end of Wednesday, he should feel fortunate he doesn’t have Jim Larranaga’s problem.

When Pitt opens the ACC portion of its schedule at Miami on Wednesday, the Panthers will meet a depleted Hurricanes team that might dress only six scholarship players.

“We’re going to have to change the warmup,” Larranaga told the Associated Press, “because we don’t have enough guys to do even two-line layups.”

Here are five thoughts to ponder as the Panthers (4-1) and Hurricanes (3-1) begin their 20-game ACC schedule:

1. Champagnie’s motivation

With consecutive 20/20 games behind him, Justin Champagnie revealed the spark that pushes him to score and rebound.

“This may sound funny,” he said, “but I always say to myself (before a game),’I’m tired of being broke, tired of my family struggling.’ That’s kind of my motivation.”

He also speaks with twin brother Julian, a sophomore at St. John’s, after games.

“We point out little things we can be better at,” he said.

2. Patience for Horton

Guard Ithiel Horton sat out last season as a transfer from Delaware, but he’s off to a slow start for the Panthers.

He has started all five games but has converted only 10 of 33 attempts (7 of 24 from beyond the 3-point line) while averaging 5.4 points.

“He just has to be confident and take good shots,” Capel said. “If he takes good shots, we live with the results. If he takes a difficult shot or he hunts because he’s pressing, then that’s something we’ll tell him about.

“We believe in him. We need him. We’ve just tried to continue to encourage him.”

3. Miami trainers working OT?

Larranaga declared five injured players out for the Pitt game, including star 5-foot-7 guard Chris Lykes, whom Capel described this way:

“I think he is as dynamic a guard as there is in college basketball.”

Two other starters, Kam McGusty and Matt Cross, are out with injuries and will be joined on the bench by 7-foot center Rodney Miller, 6-11 forward Deng Gak and 6-7 forward Matt Cross.

Larranaga must feel like the unluckiest coach in the nation. Miller strained his groin dunking in warmups.

4. Hurricanes comeback

Miami won three of its first four games, rallying from a 32-12 first-half deficit Dec. 8 to defeat Purdue, 58-54.

Lykes (ankle) did not play, Miller played only five minutes and Larranaga was forced to use all five starters for at least 30 minutes.

“Down 20 and to win without Lykes speaks to the pride those kids have in their program,” Capel said.

5. NCAA to the rescue?

If the NCAA rules all transfers immediately eligible Wednesday, Nike Sibande will play for Pitt and Larranaga will rush Stoney Brook transfer Elijah Olaniyi into his lineup.

Olaniyi expected to sit out this season, but his presence is not only helpful to the Hurricanes, but necessary.

“In all likelihood he will be in uniform, he will be in the starting lineup and he will play as many minutes as he can possibly play,” Larranaga said. “It’s very conceivable he could play all 40 minutes.”

Meanwhile, Champagnie said the addition of Sibande, a 21-year-old senior, will add another leader to the team.

“He’s just a born leader,” he said. “You can tell by the way he moves and the way he carries himself.”

Capel’s most difficult chore might be trying to find playing time for everybody. So far, eight players have averaged 11 or more minutes a game.

“We’re still a team that’s trying to figure things out. I know we can be better. We just have to have the right mindset every day,” Capel said.

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