Basketball Experts Jump at Chance to Build Top Pitt Teams of the 2000s

PITTSBURGH – Pitt Basketball launched the first of a series of social media initiatives highlighting a quarter century of excellence on the hardwood with a "Build Your Dream Team for $15" exercise. Fans, former players, and some basketball experts were encouraged to respond with their teams as Pitt celebrates its many standouts from the 2000s.

Drop your squad in the comments ????#H2P pic.twitter.com/k55DT1Adsk
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) June 4, 2025

Pitt Basketball from 2000-2025

14 NCAA Tournament Appearances
5 Sweet Sixteen Appearances
4 All-America Selections
6 Conference Championships (regular season and tournament)
31 All-Conference Honorees
3 Conference Coach of the Year Awards
11 Major Conference Award Winners
542 Wins
22 Players to Reach 1,000 Career Points

Check out some of the expert's best teams on a budget:

Team Shady

Shady knows ball as he grabs pump-fake king Sam Young and big-body Blair to dominate the front court. He adds Fields and Ramon in the backcourt for a pair of clutch bucket getters in the backcourt and fills out the roster with the athletic and versatile Brown.

Team B2

One of the most confident players in program history, Hinson is building around himself and some familiar faces. Interchangeable and dynamic guards Carrington and Burton anchor the backcourt with Brown providing an impact on both ends of the floor as well as someone for Hinson to debate with in the locker room on a wide range of topics. Double-double post threat Gray will love the space created by the shooting on this squad.

Team Clancy

Pitt's most recent jersey retiree dove into his Panther Club fundraising backcourt to extend his budget and put together the best $19 roster out there. Putting Sam Young with two of the best shooters in program history (Gibbs & Hinson) is a great start. Finishing the roster off with two one-and-down players (Carrington & Adams) is a strong finish. May have to spot opponents 10-points per game for not staying on budget but who is going to argue with Sam Bam?

Team Tray

Leaders and big moment bucket getters in the backcourt with Fields and Burton. Owning the glass with double-double magnets Champagnie and Blair, while freeing up Gilbert Brown to fly around as one of the great athletes of the era (see ice skate backflip story – IYKYK).

Team Gil

Always ready for a good debate, this team bends the rules to keep the 2009 Elite Eight team intact. Sliding Sam Young to the four spot and pushing Wanamaker off the ball allows for a big three of Young, Blair, and Fields. Gilbert Brown and Wanamaker become elite glue guys that fill whatever void is needed to secure the win. Hard to argue with actual results.

Team JC

Respect the program history but love the guys you have been in the trenches with. Hinson is back to burn the nets, while current Washington Wizards teammates Carrington and Champaigne stay united. Burton, aka Bron, is a positionless impact player, while Adams is the perfect interior anchor for this unit.

Team Fisch

Never a bad idea to grab a former teammate like Hinson and pairing him with the rugged and efficient Blair. Grabbing the ultimate floor general (Fields) and manipulating the positions to grab a second playmaker in Wanamaker. Round out the roster to with versatile Gilbert Brown to stay on budget and on the good side of Pitt's current Director of Player & Alumni Development.

Team Bowman

The ultimate competitor in Knight and a certified bucket in Sam Young is a good start to any team. Adding shooting in the form of Ramon and Zavakas spaces the floor, while the underrated Taft gives you an impact post presence on both ends of the floor. Add the right walk-on to push these guys everyday in practice and we got a squad.

Team DeCourcy

Local & national media legend stays in his home state to dominate the interior with Blair and Troutman before heading to the Bronx for his backcourt of Krauser and Ramon. Add in the versatility of Brown and you have an efficient offense and some electric personalities.

Team Jerry

Teammates Sam Young and Levance Fields lead the way with plenty of support from an extremely efficient post tandem of Troutman and Adams. Not to be overshadowed, Brown rounds out this squad with his all-around excellence on both ends of the floor. Not surprising that the savvy news hound would select the always quotable Fields to lead his squad.

Team Carter

Loading up on the players he covered, which isn't a bad idea when you can pair Carrington's shot-making and playmaking with Champagnie's rebounding and finishing and Hinson's scoring and three-point prowess. Add in double-double machine Blair and another three-point sniper in Ramon and this unit could do some serious damage.

Team Poni

Leaning into his old-school Big East roots. Building around a player with 1,884 career points in Sam Young is never a bad idea, especially when coupling him in the front court with ultra-efficient Troutman and Adams. Page and Wanamaker provide a gritty backcourt that opponents don't want to see on either end of the court.

Team Roc

Oakland Zoo favorites fill out this lineup. Krauser not only excels on the court but not afraid to join the student section when out of the game. Hinson plays with a joy and energy that is contagious and loves standing on tables to soak up an opponent crowd's adulation. Adams wingspan rivaled that of the cutout in the crowd, while Ramon can blow the roof off the Pete with a timely corner three. Add on the smooth Artis for a complete team to keep the Zoo rockin'.

Team @Holsteinsburgh

Potent offensive unit with elite shooting from Hinson and three-level scorers in Carrington, Page, and Artis. Zanna provides and efficient interior scorer and rebounder. Versatility of three playmaking ballhandlers makes this a difficult unit to defend.

Team @PantherRich

Not a team you are going to out tough or outrebound. All five players can get after it on the glass with Blair and Champagnie double-double threats every night. Do-everything Greer is a matchup nightmare, and you will be hard pressed to find a more physical backcourt then Wanamaker and Burton.

Team @steelcityreppin

Grabbing two one-and-done lottery picks (Carrington & Adams) to pair with a strong veteran trio. Hinson can absolutely fill it up from distance, while Patterson will make an impact all over the court. High-flyer Page will put opposing defenders on a poster as well as step out beyond the arc to give this group four players who can fill it up from three.

Basketball Experts Jump at Chance to Build Top Pitt Teams of the 2000s

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