University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Steve Woltmann
Pitt to Face Northwestern in ACC/Big Ten Challenge Dec. 9
10/30/2020 9:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team will play Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Dec. 9 as part of the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Game time and television designation will be announced at a later date.
"The ACC/Big Ten Challenge is always an exciting couple of days of basketball and a great early season non-conference series," said head coach Jeff Capel. "Northwestern is a terrific program led by one of my closest friends, Chris Collins. We played a great game against them last year in the championship game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off, so there will be some familiarity heading into the game this season. We will be ready to face a team that is well-prepared, disciplined and eager to compete in December."
Pitt returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including double-figure scorers Justin Champagnie (12.7 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) and Xavier Johnson (11.7 ppg., 4.9 apg.). Au'Diese Toney, a two-year starter, also returns after averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
Ithiel Horton, who is eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is also expected to make an immediate impact after earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors, while averaging 13.2 points and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range with 79 made threes as a freshman at Delaware during the 2018-19 season. Pitt also added another impact transfer recently with the signing of Nike Sibande. The 6-4, 185-pound guard averaged 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while starting 94 of 97 games over the past three seasons at Miami [Ohio]. He has amassed 1,463 points, 186 three-point field goals and 311 made free throws in his career, while shooting 41.4 percent (483-of-1166) from the field, including 33.6 percent (186-of-554) from three-point range. Sibande is awaiting the appeal process to seek immediately eligibility from the NCAA.
Capel and his staff welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the ACC, led by top 100 prospects John Hugley and William Jeffress. Hugley, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, was ranked 77th by Rivals after averaging 24.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior. Jeffress, Jr., a 6-7, 205-pound wing, was a three-time all-state selection before graduating early and joining the program following his junior year of high school. He was ranked 79th by Rivals and was a member of the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas gold medal team.
They are joined in the class by highly-touted guard Femi Odukale (6-5 – 185), three-time all-state selection Noah Collier (6-9 – 210) and top-5 recruit out of New York Max Amadasun (6-10 – 230).
The Panthers are 3-3 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, including a 1-2 mark in home contests. Pitt topped Rutgers, 71-60, in the challenge last season as Johnson paced the Panthers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
The ACC has a 12-6-3 edge in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with wins in each of the first 10 years of the event. The Big Ten claimed last year's challenge with an 8-6 record.
"The ACC/Big Ten Challenge is always an exciting couple of days of basketball and a great early season non-conference series," said head coach Jeff Capel. "Northwestern is a terrific program led by one of my closest friends, Chris Collins. We played a great game against them last year in the championship game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off, so there will be some familiarity heading into the game this season. We will be ready to face a team that is well-prepared, disciplined and eager to compete in December."
Pitt returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including double-figure scorers Justin Champagnie (12.7 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) and Xavier Johnson (11.7 ppg., 4.9 apg.). Au'Diese Toney, a two-year starter, also returns after averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
Ithiel Horton, who is eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is also expected to make an immediate impact after earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors, while averaging 13.2 points and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range with 79 made threes as a freshman at Delaware during the 2018-19 season. Pitt also added another impact transfer recently with the signing of Nike Sibande. The 6-4, 185-pound guard averaged 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, while starting 94 of 97 games over the past three seasons at Miami [Ohio]. He has amassed 1,463 points, 186 three-point field goals and 311 made free throws in his career, while shooting 41.4 percent (483-of-1166) from the field, including 33.6 percent (186-of-554) from three-point range. Sibande is awaiting the appeal process to seek immediately eligibility from the NCAA.
Capel and his staff welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the ACC, led by top 100 prospects John Hugley and William Jeffress. Hugley, a 6-9, 240-pound forward, was ranked 77th by Rivals after averaging 24.0 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior. Jeffress, Jr., a 6-7, 205-pound wing, was a three-time all-state selection before graduating early and joining the program following his junior year of high school. He was ranked 79th by Rivals and was a member of the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas gold medal team.
They are joined in the class by highly-touted guard Femi Odukale (6-5 – 185), three-time all-state selection Noah Collier (6-9 – 210) and top-5 recruit out of New York Max Amadasun (6-10 – 230).
The Panthers are 3-3 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, including a 1-2 mark in home contests. Pitt topped Rutgers, 71-60, in the challenge last season as Johnson paced the Panthers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds, eight assists and two steals.
The ACC has a 12-6-3 edge in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with wins in each of the first 10 years of the event. The Big Ten claimed last year's challenge with an 8-6 record.
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