Pitt to Host Saint Francis in Season Opener Wednesday

Wednesday, November 25

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 PM

Pitt

Saint Francis [PA]

Au'diese Toney shooting over a Canisius defender.

Pitt to Host Saint Francis in Season Opener Wednesday

11/24/2020 1:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes Jeff Capel Au'Diese Toney Xavier Johnson Game Program

Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Saint Francis (0-0, 0-0 NEC)
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 • 7:00 PM
RSN (AT&T Sportsnet) • 93.7 The Fan
Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center

The Opening Tip
• Pitt opens the season against Saint Francis Wednesday, Nov. 25 at the Petersen Events Center (7 p.m. - AT&T Sportsnet).
• With the start of this season pushed back to Nov. 25, Pitt is playing its latest season opener since an 84-73 win over Duquesne (11/29/95) to open the 1995-96 season.
• The Panthers are 3-0 in season openers against Saint Francis having topped the Red Flash in the opening game of the 1980-81, 1984-85 and 1992-93 seasons.
• The Panthers are 79-34 all-time in season openers. Pitt is 15-0 in season openers at the Petersen Events Center and has won 22 of its past 23 season opening contests.
• Head coach Jeff Capel is 9-2 in his head coaching career in season openers winning each of the past seven openers.
• Pitt has won 17 of 18 home openers at the Petersen Events Center and is 92-21 all-time in home openers.
• Pitt returns three starters from a year ago, including double-figure scorers Justin Champagnie (12.7 ppg.) and Xavier Johnson (11.7 ppg.). Au'Diese Toney (9.5 ppg.) also returns after starting 25 of 31 games played last season.
• Pitt is 43-1 all-time against teams currently in the Northeast Conference. The Panthers have won the past four games against NEC opponents following a 59-54 loss to Wagner Dec. 20, 2011.

By The Numbers
• The Panthers are 15-0 with a +21.3 margin of victory in season openers at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt has won both season openers at the Pete under head coach Jeff Capel.
• Pitt was picked 13th in the Atlantic Coast Conference by the league's media. The Panthers return 10 letterwinners and three starters from a team that finished 16-17 overall a year ago.
• The Panthers welcome seven newcomers to the roster, including a five-player freshmen class - Max Amadasun, Noah Collier, John Hugley, William Jeffress and Femi Odukale - that ranked No. 22 (No. 5 in the ACC) in the country by Rivals.
• Justin Champagnie recorded one of the top freshman seasons in program history a year ago, finishing in the top five of the freshman record books in points, points per game, double-figure scoring games, 20+ point games, 30+ point games, field goals, field goal attempts, three-point field goal attempts, rebounds, double-figure rebounding games, minutes played and minutes per game.
• Xavier Johnson is 103 points shy of becoming the 47th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Johnson is averaging 13.6 points with 51 double-figure scoring efforts in 66 career games.
• Au'Diese Toney enters the season with career averages of 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game with 23 double-figure scoring efforts. Last season, he averaged 9.5 points, while shooting 46.1 percent (107-of-232) from the field.
• Redshirt sophomore Ithiel Horton is ready for his first game in a Panther uniform after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. He averaged 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 40.9 percent (79-of-193) from three-point range as a freshman at Delaware during the 2018-19 season.
• Justin Champagnie will look to build on an oustanding freshman season in which he led the Panthers in scoring (12.7 ppg.), rebounds (7.0 rpg.) and fourth in double-figure scoring games (23). He scored in double figures 14 times in ACC play, including three games with 20 or more points scored. Champagnie also posted a pair of 30+ point games, including a 31-point effort in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.
• Xavier Johnson is one of two returning players, along with Kihei Clark of Virginia, in the ACC to average at least 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season. Johnson recorded 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest as a sophomore.
• Transfer Nike Sibande averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, while making 186 three-point field goals in 97 career games at Miami [Ohio]. His waiver for immediate eligibility is still in process as the Panthers enter Wednesday's season opener.
• Terrell Brown enters the season ranked fourth at Pitt with 156 career blocks and is 14 shy of tying Sam Clancy for third overall in the Panther record books. He is averaging 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 97 career games (45 starts).
• Over the final eight games of last season, Abdoul Karim Coulibaly shot 50.0 percent (16-of-32) from the field, while averaging 4.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.3 minutes of action. He is poised for a larger role as a sophomore following a strong offseason and preseason.
• John Hugley, a consensus top 100 prospect and the 80th-ranked player in the class of 2020 by Rivals, is Pitt's highest ranked recruit since 2012 (Steven Adams [5] and James Robinson [59]).
• William Jeffress is expected to make his college debut at 17 years, 5 months and 22 days old, becoming the youngest ACC player to make their college debut since Brad Daughtery of North Carolina in 1982.

Petersen Events Center Protocols & Capacity
• Due to updated state and local COVID restrictions announced Monday, Nov. 23, the University of Pittsburgh will only be permitted to host a limited capacity of 500 attendees for basketball home games at the Petersen Events Center. Total capacity numbers include players, coaches, working staff, player/coach families, and special guests of the University.
• At this time, Pitt will not be offering general seating for single game tickets. Attendance restrictions and ticket sales are subject to change due to our current evolving environment.
• All fans permitted at Petersen Events Center are required to wear masks and abide by social distancing protocols. A complete list of game day policies and procedures, parking, and recommended entrances for those attending Pitt home games will be posted on www.PittsburghPanthers.com in advance of the season opener.
• Pitt will switch to mobile ticketing at all open entrances at the Petersen Events Center to provide contactless entry for the most sanitary and efficient way to enter the facility.
• Pitt fans can download and store tickets to their Apple or Android smartphone, which will never leave the owner's hands and avoids additional touching from arena personnel.