University of Pittsburgh Athletics
A Season To Remember for Pitt Basketball
4/12/2023 10:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Pitt Basketball produced a resurgent season in 2022-23 with several key newcomers combining to lead the Panthers to a 24-12 record overall, including a pair of NCAA Tournament wins. The rebuilt Panthers posted school records for three-point field goals, free throw percentage, and ACC wins, while finishing tied for 10th in the NCAA with an 11-game improvement from a season ago.
Pitt proved doubters wrong with a tie for third finish in the ACC after being picked 14th in the preseason poll and engineered several marquee moments throughout the year. A full recap of the 2022-23 season is available in the Final Notes package with some of the highlights featured below.
THE OPENING TIP
• Pitt finished the season with a 24-12 record overall, including a 14-6 mark in the ACC. The Panthers made the NCAA Tournament and posted their first 20+ win season since the 2015-16 campaign.
• The Panthers made their 27th NCAA Tournament appearance and their first under head coach Jeff Capel. Pitt is now 26-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 5-5 mark when placed in the Midwest Region. Capel-led teams are 6-4 in NCAA Tournament action.
• Pitt won two games in NCAA Tournament play for the first time since the 2008-09 season and just the seventh time in program history.
• Pitt posted seven wins over 2023 NCAA Tournament teams (4Virginia, 5Miami, 6Iowa State, at 7Northwestern, at 11NC State, 11Mississippi State, 16FDU).
• The Panthers finished tied for third in the ACC standings for its highest finish since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season.
• Pitt posted the most regular season ACC wins since joining the league with the 14 conference wins also ranking as the third most in program history overall (Eastern 8, Big East, ACC).
• The Panthers set a school record with an 8-win turnaround in conference play, while their 13-win turnaround overall matched the school record.
• Pitt set school single-season records for three-pointers (325), three-point attempts (903), and free throw percentage (.759).
• The Panthers also set a single-game record with 18 three-point field goals in a win over Wake Forest and posted five of the top six games in program history for three-point field goals during the 2022-23 season.
• Pitt finished the regular season tied for fourth among power conference teams with seven road victories, including six wins away from home in league play.
• The Panthers went 23-9 following a 1-3 start to the season, despite losing two starters to injury and its top-rated recruit in the opening month of the season. Pitt's 23 wins from Nov. 20 on tied for 12th most among power conference teams.
• Pitt finished the regular season 8-3 against the top nine teams in the ACC standings with wins over Virginia, Miami, NC State, Wake Forest, Syracuse (2x), and North Carolina (2x)
• Pitt recorded a season sweep over preseason No. 1 North Carolina and became just the third program to post three or more consecutive wins over the Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center.
• The Panthers collected three wins over ranked opponents – No. 25 North Carolina, No. 11 Virginia, and No. 20 Miami.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Jamarius Burton earned First Team All-ACC and NABC All-District 2 honors after averaging 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while scoring in double figures in 30 of 34 games played. He became just the fourth player at Pitt to average at least 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game,.
• Blake Hinson, a Second Team All-ACC pick, led the Panthers in scoring (15.3 ppg.), rebounds (6.0 rpg.), and three-pointers (97), while posting 30 double-figure scoring games, 20 games with 15 or more points, and nine 20+ point games. Hinson and Brandon Miller (Alabama) were the only players in the NCAA to average 15.0 or more points and 6.0 or more rebounds per game with 95 or more made threes.
• Jeff Capel was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming just the third coach in program history to garner conference coach of the year honors. He also earned NABC District 2 and USBWA District II Coach of the Year accolades and was a semifinalst for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award.
• Jamarius Burton and Blake Hinson earned All-ACC honors marking the first time Pitt has had multiple All-ACC selections (1st, 2nd, or 3rd Team) in a season. Burton was the second First Team All-ACC selection, while Hinson was the second Panther to garner second team honors.
• Nike Sibande became the first Pitt player to earn ACC Sixth Man of the Year recognition after averaging 9.7 points per game in conference play. He was the first Pitt player to earn a conference individual award since Ashton Gibbs was named Big East Most Improved Player in 2010.
• Pitt ranked among the ACC team leaders in scoring defense (4th - 69.7 ppg.), field goal percentage defense (4th - .420), three-point percentage defense (4th - .327), rebounds (4th - 36.14 rpg.), defensive rebounds (4th - 26.03 pg.), and three-point field goals made (2nd - 9.03 3pg.).
• The Panthers earned their first AP Top 25 rankings since the 2015-16 season.
• Pitt had four double-figure scorers for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg.) and Jamarius Burton (15.2 ppg.) finished in the top 20 in the ACC in scoring, while Nelly Cummings (11.1 ppg.) and Greg Elliott (10.4 ppg.) also averaged over 10.0 points per game.
• The Panthers had five 1,000-point scorers on the roster during the 2022-23 season, tied for second most in the NCAA. Nike Sibande (1,864), Jamarius Burton (1,521), Nelly Cummings (1,513), and Greg Elliott (1,017) closed out their career, while Blake Hinson will enter his senior season with 1,098 points in 96 career games.
• The Panthers' backcourt quartet of Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott, and Nike Sibande combined for 5,915 points in 15,414 minutes over 596 career games. Pitt was one of four programs (along with UAB, Chattanooga, and Texas) in the NCAA with four or more players with 140+ games played.
• The Panthers' starting backcourt of Nelly Cummings and Jamarius Burton combined to average 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. The tandem combined for 3,034 points, 874 rebounds, 862 assists, and 248 steals in 299 career games.
• Greg Elliott shot a team-high 41.6 percent (77-of-186) from three-point range, second best in the ACC among players with 2.0 made threes per game. He made three or more threes in a game 14 times on the season.
• Blake Hinson (97), Greg Elliott (77), and Nelly Cummings (61) combined for 235 of Pitt's 325 three-point field goals (72.3% of team threes). He became the first trio at Pitt to each make 60 or more threes in a season.
• Blake Hinson was named CollegeInsider.com Riley Wallace Award winner (Top Impact Transfer). He ranked among the ACC leaders in scoring (15th), rebounding (12), and three-point percentage (4th - .380). while also leading the league with 97 three-point field goals. His 97 threes rank as third most in program history.
• Federiko Federiko shot a team-high 66.7 percent (94-of-141) from the field, while also leading the Panthers in offensive rebounds (86), blocks (58), and dunks (39).
• Nelly Cummings finished fourth in the ACC in assists (4.75 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.19:1), while also averaging 11.1 points per game and making 61 three-pointers.
• Blake Hinson became the first Panther since Sam Young (2008-09) to average better than 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while making 50 or more threes in a season.
WINNING IN THE NCAA TOURNEY
• Pitt topped Mississippi State and Iowa State in NCAA Tournament play to become the seventh Pitt team to post two or more wins in the tournament.
• The Panthers topped Mississippi State, 60-59, as Jamarius Burton scored on a go ahead jumper with 10 seconds remaining. The game featured 21 lead changes, the most in an NCAA Tournament game in the past five years.
• Pitt became the first team in the past 25 seasons to score 60 or fewer points, shoot 35% or worse on two-pointers, shoot 60% or worse on free throws, and get outrebounded by 20 or more while earning the win. Teams were 0-348 in that span when hitting those marks prior to Pitt's win over the Bulldogs.
• The Panthers held Iowa State to 23 percent shooting from the field en route to a 59-41 win over the Cyclones. Pitt opened the game on a 22-2 run and held Iowa State without a made field goal over the opening 10:07 of play.
• Pitt's win over the Cyclones was the biggest upset by seed (five seed difference, 11-6) in program history.
• The Panthers 41 points allowed and .233 opponent field goal percentage were the lowest marks allowed by Pitt in NCAA Tournament play since 1941. The 41 points allowed matched the lowest total in NCAA Tournament play since the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
TURNAROUND SEASON
• The Panthers' 13-game win improvement overall is tied for the best mark in program history, while their eight-game win increase in conference play was a program record.
• Pitt set a program record with 14 ACC wins, also the third most in conference play in program history.
• Pitt became just the third team in ACC history to post a conference regular season win percentage of .700 or higher following four consecutive losing seasons in league play. Maryland (1964-65) and Clemson (1986-87) are the only other schools to accomplish that feat in ACC history.
WINNING CLOSE GAMES
• Pitt won three consecutive one possession games from Jan. 25 - Feb. 1, getting defensive stops in the closing seconds of all three contests. The Panthers won three consecutive one possession games for the first time since the 1996-97 season and just the second time in program history.
• Pitt got defensive stops in the closing seconds of close wins at Syracuse, at North Carolina and against Wake Forest, Miami, and in the NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State.
• The Panthers went 7-3 in games decided by three points or fewer, including a 5-2 mark in such games in conference play.
Pitt proved doubters wrong with a tie for third finish in the ACC after being picked 14th in the preseason poll and engineered several marquee moments throughout the year. A full recap of the 2022-23 season is available in the Final Notes package with some of the highlights featured below.
THE OPENING TIP
• Pitt finished the season with a 24-12 record overall, including a 14-6 mark in the ACC. The Panthers made the NCAA Tournament and posted their first 20+ win season since the 2015-16 campaign.
• The Panthers made their 27th NCAA Tournament appearance and their first under head coach Jeff Capel. Pitt is now 26-28 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, including a 5-5 mark when placed in the Midwest Region. Capel-led teams are 6-4 in NCAA Tournament action.
• Pitt won two games in NCAA Tournament play for the first time since the 2008-09 season and just the seventh time in program history.
• Pitt posted seven wins over 2023 NCAA Tournament teams (4Virginia, 5Miami, 6Iowa State, at 7Northwestern, at 11NC State, 11Mississippi State, 16FDU).
• The Panthers finished tied for third in the ACC standings for its highest finish since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season.
• Pitt posted the most regular season ACC wins since joining the league with the 14 conference wins also ranking as the third most in program history overall (Eastern 8, Big East, ACC).
• The Panthers set a school record with an 8-win turnaround in conference play, while their 13-win turnaround overall matched the school record.
• Pitt set school single-season records for three-pointers (325), three-point attempts (903), and free throw percentage (.759).
• The Panthers also set a single-game record with 18 three-point field goals in a win over Wake Forest and posted five of the top six games in program history for three-point field goals during the 2022-23 season.
• Pitt finished the regular season tied for fourth among power conference teams with seven road victories, including six wins away from home in league play.
• The Panthers went 23-9 following a 1-3 start to the season, despite losing two starters to injury and its top-rated recruit in the opening month of the season. Pitt's 23 wins from Nov. 20 on tied for 12th most among power conference teams.
• Pitt finished the regular season 8-3 against the top nine teams in the ACC standings with wins over Virginia, Miami, NC State, Wake Forest, Syracuse (2x), and North Carolina (2x)
• Pitt recorded a season sweep over preseason No. 1 North Carolina and became just the third program to post three or more consecutive wins over the Tar Heels at the Dean E. Smith Center.
• The Panthers collected three wins over ranked opponents – No. 25 North Carolina, No. 11 Virginia, and No. 20 Miami.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Jamarius Burton earned First Team All-ACC and NABC All-District 2 honors after averaging 15.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while scoring in double figures in 30 of 34 games played. He became just the fourth player at Pitt to average at least 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game,.
• Blake Hinson, a Second Team All-ACC pick, led the Panthers in scoring (15.3 ppg.), rebounds (6.0 rpg.), and three-pointers (97), while posting 30 double-figure scoring games, 20 games with 15 or more points, and nine 20+ point games. Hinson and Brandon Miller (Alabama) were the only players in the NCAA to average 15.0 or more points and 6.0 or more rebounds per game with 95 or more made threes.
• Jeff Capel was named ACC Coach of the Year, becoming just the third coach in program history to garner conference coach of the year honors. He also earned NABC District 2 and USBWA District II Coach of the Year accolades and was a semifinalst for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award.
• Jamarius Burton and Blake Hinson earned All-ACC honors marking the first time Pitt has had multiple All-ACC selections (1st, 2nd, or 3rd Team) in a season. Burton was the second First Team All-ACC selection, while Hinson was the second Panther to garner second team honors.
• Nike Sibande became the first Pitt player to earn ACC Sixth Man of the Year recognition after averaging 9.7 points per game in conference play. He was the first Pitt player to earn a conference individual award since Ashton Gibbs was named Big East Most Improved Player in 2010.
• Pitt ranked among the ACC team leaders in scoring defense (4th - 69.7 ppg.), field goal percentage defense (4th - .420), three-point percentage defense (4th - .327), rebounds (4th - 36.14 rpg.), defensive rebounds (4th - 26.03 pg.), and three-point field goals made (2nd - 9.03 3pg.).
• The Panthers earned their first AP Top 25 rankings since the 2015-16 season.
• Pitt had four double-figure scorers for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg.) and Jamarius Burton (15.2 ppg.) finished in the top 20 in the ACC in scoring, while Nelly Cummings (11.1 ppg.) and Greg Elliott (10.4 ppg.) also averaged over 10.0 points per game.
• The Panthers had five 1,000-point scorers on the roster during the 2022-23 season, tied for second most in the NCAA. Nike Sibande (1,864), Jamarius Burton (1,521), Nelly Cummings (1,513), and Greg Elliott (1,017) closed out their career, while Blake Hinson will enter his senior season with 1,098 points in 96 career games.
• The Panthers' backcourt quartet of Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings, Greg Elliott, and Nike Sibande combined for 5,915 points in 15,414 minutes over 596 career games. Pitt was one of four programs (along with UAB, Chattanooga, and Texas) in the NCAA with four or more players with 140+ games played.
• The Panthers' starting backcourt of Nelly Cummings and Jamarius Burton combined to average 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game. The tandem combined for 3,034 points, 874 rebounds, 862 assists, and 248 steals in 299 career games.
• Greg Elliott shot a team-high 41.6 percent (77-of-186) from three-point range, second best in the ACC among players with 2.0 made threes per game. He made three or more threes in a game 14 times on the season.
• Blake Hinson (97), Greg Elliott (77), and Nelly Cummings (61) combined for 235 of Pitt's 325 three-point field goals (72.3% of team threes). He became the first trio at Pitt to each make 60 or more threes in a season.
• Blake Hinson was named CollegeInsider.com Riley Wallace Award winner (Top Impact Transfer). He ranked among the ACC leaders in scoring (15th), rebounding (12), and three-point percentage (4th - .380). while also leading the league with 97 three-point field goals. His 97 threes rank as third most in program history.
• Federiko Federiko shot a team-high 66.7 percent (94-of-141) from the field, while also leading the Panthers in offensive rebounds (86), blocks (58), and dunks (39).
• Nelly Cummings finished fourth in the ACC in assists (4.75 apg.) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.19:1), while also averaging 11.1 points per game and making 61 three-pointers.
• Blake Hinson became the first Panther since Sam Young (2008-09) to average better than 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while making 50 or more threes in a season.
WINNING IN THE NCAA TOURNEY
• Pitt topped Mississippi State and Iowa State in NCAA Tournament play to become the seventh Pitt team to post two or more wins in the tournament.
• The Panthers topped Mississippi State, 60-59, as Jamarius Burton scored on a go ahead jumper with 10 seconds remaining. The game featured 21 lead changes, the most in an NCAA Tournament game in the past five years.
• Pitt became the first team in the past 25 seasons to score 60 or fewer points, shoot 35% or worse on two-pointers, shoot 60% or worse on free throws, and get outrebounded by 20 or more while earning the win. Teams were 0-348 in that span when hitting those marks prior to Pitt's win over the Bulldogs.
• The Panthers held Iowa State to 23 percent shooting from the field en route to a 59-41 win over the Cyclones. Pitt opened the game on a 22-2 run and held Iowa State without a made field goal over the opening 10:07 of play.
• Pitt's win over the Cyclones was the biggest upset by seed (five seed difference, 11-6) in program history.
• The Panthers 41 points allowed and .233 opponent field goal percentage were the lowest marks allowed by Pitt in NCAA Tournament play since 1941. The 41 points allowed matched the lowest total in NCAA Tournament play since the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
TURNAROUND SEASON
• The Panthers' 13-game win improvement overall is tied for the best mark in program history, while their eight-game win increase in conference play was a program record.
• Pitt set a program record with 14 ACC wins, also the third most in conference play in program history.
• Pitt became just the third team in ACC history to post a conference regular season win percentage of .700 or higher following four consecutive losing seasons in league play. Maryland (1964-65) and Clemson (1986-87) are the only other schools to accomplish that feat in ACC history.
WINNING CLOSE GAMES
• Pitt won three consecutive one possession games from Jan. 25 - Feb. 1, getting defensive stops in the closing seconds of all three contests. The Panthers won three consecutive one possession games for the first time since the 1996-97 season and just the second time in program history.
• Pitt got defensive stops in the closing seconds of close wins at Syracuse, at North Carolina and against Wake Forest, Miami, and in the NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State.
• The Panthers went 7-3 in games decided by three points or fewer, including a 5-2 mark in such games in conference play.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballPostgame vs. NC State | Jeff Capel, Nojus Indrusaitis, Omari Witherspoon
Wednesday, March 11
Highlights | Pitt vs. Stanford | ACC Tournament
Wednesday, March 11
ACC Tournament | ACC Network | Damarco Minor
Tuesday, March 10
Postgame vs. Stanford | ACC Tournament | Jeff Capel, Omari Witherspoon, Cam Corhen, Barry Dunning Jr.
Tuesday, March 10