Pitt guard Nike Sibande will miss entire 2021-22 season with knee injury

Nike Sibande was one of the loyalists through the trying times of Pitt’s 2020-21 basketball season.

While others were leaving the team and making plans to transfer in the final days of the season, Sibande decided to stay when he could have gone elsewhere.

But his 2021-22 season ended Monday only eight minutes after it started when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee. The injury occurred when Sibande, a senior guard, banged knees with another player during an exhibition game against Gannon at Petersen Events Center. He tried to play through the pain, but his knee gave out while coming to a jump stop to accept a pass.

“I am really disappointed for Nike,” coach Jeff Capel said Tuesday in a statement. “He has been outstanding in his preparation for this season and has emerged as one of the most respected leaders in our program. He has done an amazing job dealing with adversity in the past, and I am confident he will tackle his recovery in the same manner.

“He has attacked adversity by putting in the work, trusting his faith and maintaining confidence in himself as a person and as a player. We will miss him on the court this season, but I know Nike will remain an important part of our program through his leadership and presence in the locker room.”

A year ago, Sibande was forced to miss the first seven games of the season while waiting for an eligibility ruling from the NCAA after he transferred from Miami (Ohio). In 14 games and eight starts, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 rebounds while playing nearly 20 minutes per game.

He saved his best performances for the final five games when he scored an average of 15 points per game, with 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He scored 24 points, with five 3-pointers, in the opening round of the ACC Tournament against Miami.

He was in Pitt’s starting lineup Monday night as the only scholarship senior who was on the team last season.

Overall, Sibande has totaled 1,570 points, 532 rebounds, 155 assists and 96 steals in 111 career games at Miami (Ohio) and Pitt.

Sibande’s absence likely will lead to increased playing time for 18-year-old sophomore William Jeffress and others. Jeffress played 21 minutes Monday, scoring eight points, with five rebounds and two assists.

As a freshman last season, he appeared in 16 games, with four starts. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

“He’s gotten better,” Capel said of Jeffress on Monday. “He wants to be really good.”

Guard Jamarius Burton, a transfer from Texas Tech, is recovering from a knee injury and hopes to return during the nonconference portion of the season. Pitt opens the season next Tuesday against The Citadel at Petersen Events Center.