For the second consecutive year, Pitt senior guard Nike Sibande has been faced with a major decision — stay or go. A year’s time and a season-ending knee injury didn’t change his mind.

Sibande, who was expected to be a starter, said Thursday night on the “Jeff Capel Show” on 93.7 FM that he plans to return to the team next season. He made a similar announcement March 4, 2021, on the same radio show, saying he planned to use the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the pandemic.

Nike Sibande just said on the Jeff Capel Show that he’s coming back to Pitt next season @937theFan #H2P

— Cale Berger (@cale_berger) January 27, 2022

Sibande suffered an ACL tear Nov. 1 when he banged knees with an opposing player eight minutes into Pitt’s exhibition game against Gannon. He tried to play through the pain, but his knee gave out while coming to a jump stop to accept a pass.

At the outset of last season, Sibande was forced to miss the first seven games 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 was expected to play an even bigger role this season.

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

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