Most fans expect the Pitt men’s basketball team to make improvements this coming season and members of the ACC media agree with that line of thinking.
The Panthers were predicted to finish 10th in the ACC Preseason rankings which were voted upon on Tuesday at the league’s Media Day in Charlotte. This would be improvement after Pitt finished tied for last place (3-15) a year ago with Notre Dame.
Jeff Capel returns his two top players in Xavier Johnson (15.5 ppg) and Trey McGowens (11.6 ppg) as well as Au’Diese Toney, Terrell Brown and newcomers Ryan Murphy, Eric Hamilton, Justin Champagnie, Karim Coulibaly and Gerald Drumgoole Jr.
The Panthers open up their season on November 6 when they host Florida State.
ACC Preseason Order of Finish (first-place votes in parentheses)
1) Duke (51), 1564 pts.
2) North Carolina (19), 1493
3) Louisville (29), 1448
4) Virginia (12), 1405
5) Florida State, 1157
6) NC State, 1038
7) Notre Dame, 915
8) Syracuse, 910
9) Miami, Â 768
10) Pitt, Â 577
11) Clemson, 564
12) Georgia Tech, 437
13) Boston College, 382
14) Virginia Tech, Â Â 334
15) Wake Forest, Â 328
Preseason All-ACC Team
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Tre Jones, Duke
Cole Anthony, North Carolina
John Mooney, Notre Dame
Mamadi, Diakite, Virginia
Second Team
Markell Johnson, NC State
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke
Chris Lykes, Miami
Garrison Brooks, North Carolina
Trent Forrest, Florida State
Preseason ACC Freshman of the Year
Cole Anthony, North Carolina, (89)
Vernon Carey Jr., Duke, (8)
Wendell Moore Jr., Duke, (5)
Casey Morsell, Virginia, (3)
Cassius Stanley, Duke, (3)
Matthew Hurt, Duke, (3)
Preseason ACC Player of the Year
Jordan Nwora, Louisville, (55)
Cole Anthony, North Carolina (31)
Tre Jones, Duke (19)
John Mooney, Notre Dame, (3)
Mamadi Diakite, Virginia, (2)
Markell Johnson, NC State, (1)
