Pitt's Jeff Capel eager to add Miami (Ohio) transfer Nike Sibande to lineup
If the NCAA acts as expected Wednesday and grants transfer athletes immediate eligibility, coach Jeff Capel said guard Nike Sibande will play in Pitt’s ACC opener that night at Miami.
“If he’s cleared, he’ll play right away,” Capel said.
Sibande transferred to Pitt from Miami (Ohio) and has been practicing with the team, but the NCAA denied his waiver request to play in games this season.
Capel would welcome help from a 6-foot-4 guard, especially from a player who has played three seasons and scored 1,463 points with 186 3-pointers. Sibande is eager, too. He sent Capel news of the NCAA’s proposed action, accompanied by a smiley face emoji.
“I think he’ll fit in great with us,” Capel said. “He provides experience. He’s played on the collegiate level for three years. He’s been a really good scorer at this level.”
Miami coach Jim Larranaga also would benefit from the rule change because he’s hoping to get Stony Brook transfer Elijah Olaniyi into his lineup, perhaps as soon as Wednesday.
But Larranaga questioned the NCAA’s timing and suggested it may not act until 5 p.m. Wednesday. The game tips at 6.
“One of the things I don’t understand,” Capel said, “if it’s going to be approved (Wednesday), why not just go ahead and do it? It doesn’t make sense for these kids.
“I hope it happens. I hope it happens for Nike and for any other kid who’s in the exact same situation because I think it’s the right thing to do.”
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Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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