Pitt's John Hugley close to returning as Panthers prepare to face No. 20 Michigan in Brooklyn

When Jeff Capel became Pitt’s basketball coach in 2018, he set many goals he hoped would impact his players at the time. An outsider with a keen eye for his new neighborhood, he also made sure not to ignore the program’s rich history.

And Pitt history means Big East, bright lights, Madison Square Garden and some of the fiercest rivalries in college basketball.

“One of the goals for me was to have a chance to play in New York every year, thinking about the whole Big East days,” he said. “There is a large alumni base of Pitt people up there. It’s an area where this program in the past has recruited well.

“I always think there’s something magical about playing in New York, playing in the city.”

That’s part of the reason Capel is eager to take his team into Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Legends Classic on Wednesday and Thursday. Pitt (1-1) will play No. 20 Michigan (2-0) on Wednesday and either VCU or Arizona State the next night. Under Capel, Pitt played Saint Louis at Barclays in 2018 and St. John’s at MSG last year.

Wednesday’s game is the start of a grueling stretch in which the Panthers will play six games in 13 days, three away from Petersen Events Center. But the trip to Brooklyn might be a turning point if center John Hugley is able to play for the first time.

Hugley, who injured his knee in practice Sept. 30, went through his first full-contact practice — full-court, five-on-five — Monday in the hope that he will be ready to return.

“We’ll see how he responds, and that will determine if he’ll be able to play on Wednesday,” Capel said. “It’s looking like he will, but we have another day of preparation to find out.”

If there’s no swelling on the knee and no pain, Hugley probably will play limited minutes.

“He looked OK (Monday). Obviously, he hasn’t played basketball in six weeks,” Capel said. “So there’s rust. Obviously, he’s not in the type of condition he would be in if he had been playing. That’s a challenge. But he did some good things.”

If Hugley (6-foot-9, 265 pounds) is ready, his return comes at a most opportune time.

Michigan is led by All-American center Hunter Dickinson (7-1, 260), a junior who has recorded 17 career double-doubles. One of them was a 27-point, 11-rebound effort against Tennessee in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. No. 11 seed Michigan upset the No. 3 seed Volunteers, 76-68.

“In order to play against a guy like him, we need bodies,” Capel said. “He’s very good. He’s skilled. He’s physical. He’s proven it. He’s established. He’s their best player. Everything goes through him.

“It’s certainly still an unbelievable challenge for us.”

Pitt’s style of play will change with Hugley. A big body in the middle will attract defensive attention, opening space for mid- to long-range shooters Blake Hinson, Greg Elliott, Jamarius Burton, Nike Sibande, Nate Santos and Nelly Cummings. Without Hugley, Pitt shot 33.3% from the field (7 of 21) and scored only 20 points in the second half of the 81-56 loss to West Virginia.

Hugley, who has been out of his knee brace for only a week, will give Pitt a chance to lessen Dickinson’s impact on the game. It also will mandate necessary adjustments from Hugley and his teammates.

“We’ve gotten used to playing a certain way without (Hugley),” Capel said. “We have to adjust. Then, he has to adjust. That takes time. I know that’s going to take time.

“He gives us a guy we can throw the basketball inside to. He can score. He can draw a lot of attention. But how well will he be able to do that right away, because of the rust, because of the rhythm of a game?”

Capel said his players quickly set aside the West Virginia game, a necessary mindset considering the busy schedule ahead.

“We didn’t play like we were capable of playing,” he said. “(West Virginia) had a lot to do with that. It was a learning experience, and you have to move on.”