Pitt's Justin Champagnie out 6-8 weeks with knee injury; Au'Diese Toney also sidelined

Pitt’s hot start to the season hit a major roadblock when the Panthers’ two leading scorers and rebounders – Justin Champagnie and Au’Diese Toney — were ruled out of Tuesday’s game against Louisville at Petersen Events Center with leg injuries, coach Jeff Capel announced an hour before tipoff.

Toney (ankle) will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, but the news is much worse for Champagnie, who has a knee injury. He may miss six to eight weeks, which could keep him out of the lineup almost to the start of the ACC Tournament in March.

While Pitt won five of its first six games, Champagnie averaged 17.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, including back-to-back 20-20 games. He is one of only two ACC players averaging a double-double. Champagnie also has shot 49% from the field.

With his strong play around the glass, he was establishing himself as one of the best and most aggressive players in the ACC.

Even when he was in foul trouble at Miami last week, he nearly recorded a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds while leading Pitt to a 70-55 road victory.

Toney has scored 15 or more points in five games while averaging 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and shooting 52.5% from the field.

Capel also will miss the Louisville game after testing positive for covid-19. Acting coach Tim O’Toole sent out a starting five of Xavier Johnson, Ithiel Horton, Nike Sibande, Abdoul Karim Coulibaly and freshman Noah Collier. Sibande and Collier made their first career starts for Pitt.

After Tuesday’s game against Louisville, the Panthers will be off until next Tuesday when they visit Duke.

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