Pitt basketball rolls over Edinboro in final exhibition game

Pitt’s two exhibition games never were intended to offer a true look into the 2022-23 version of the Panthers basketball team. Pitt defeated Edinboro, 92-53, on Wednesday night at Petersen Events Center after its 103-51 victory Oct. 22 against Clarion.

The Division II teams were picked to finish the season seventh (Clarion) and eighth (Edinboro) in a PSAC West preseason poll.

Tuneups only for a Pitt team that had grown tired of banging against each other for the better part of the previous two months. The nonconference season begins for real Monday night at the Pete against Tennessee Martin. The first ACC game is Dec. 2 at N.C. State.

Coach Jeff Capel said he is pleased with the state of his team, especially because there are no new injuries. He revealed, however, that center John Hugley (knee) and guard William Jeffress (foot) won’t be available Monday. The players have missed most of the preseason, but the injuries aren’t considered long-term problems. Capel said he will know more about the players’ availability Monday.

As close as he can tell from 24 practices and two exhibition games, Capel is pleased with one characteristic his team has shown. So far, it has displayed a willingness to share the basketball. Guards Nelly Cummings, who cramped up and didn’t play in the second half, and Jamarius Burton, led the Panthers with five assists each.

“Capel, he gets on us and tells us, `Continue to swing that ball and share it,’ ” said guard Nike Sibande, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. “We all can score the ball. We did it before.”

While tracking activity at practice and games, Capel said 75% of his team’s successful shots have been assisted. “We’ve done a really good job of sharing the basketball and finding the right guy,” he said..

The right guy Monday was Blake Hinson, a 6-foot-7 transfer forward who hadn’t played a real game since the 2019-20 season at Ole Miss.

In 18 minutes of the first half, Hinson turned the Pete’s hardwood into his own personal playground, scoring 28 of his 29 points while shooting 10 of 13 from the field, five of eight from 3-point range.

Hinson scoffed at the notion that his game might have become rusty while transferring from Ole Miss to Iowa State to Pitt.

“I wouldn’t say there was any rustiness, just staying confident in myself in these past two years,” he said. “They found me and I hit the wide-open shots they were giving me.”

Capel said Hinson’s teammates reveled in his success and enjoyed getting him the ball.

“Everyone knew he had it going and guys were finding him,” Capel said. “There was genuine excitement to see him in that kind of rhythm.”

Pitt enjoyed the open space Edinboro’s defense allowed, especially beyond the 3-point arc. A total of 34 of Pitt’s 66 attempts came from 3-point range. At least, there appears to be a new willingness this season to shoot the long-range shots.

Pitt averaged 17.1 3-point attempts and 5.4 makes per game from that distance last season. In the two exhibition games, the Panthers hit 23 of 62.

“We want our guys to be confident, to take shots, to take good shots,” Capel said.

The key will be maintaining that confidence as the games become more difficult.

”I can’t tell you what the future is going to be like,” Hinson said, “but we’re going to try to play the same. Our offense has been going good as far as assists go.”

Also scoring in double figures for Pitt were Sibande (14), Greg Elliott (10) and 6-foot-11 sophomore center Federiko Federiko, who completed his second 10/10 double/double of the exhibition season.

Capel said Sibande has made significant progress in his comeback from a serious knee injury, especially considering he’s been involved in full-contact practice for only two weeks.

“I was really proud of Nike for how he played and distributed (the basketball),” Capel said. “He drove and played through contact, which was a big step for him. I thought he made some really good passes and really good decisions and really helped us be better offensively.”