Takeaways from Pitt Basketball’s Frontcourt Dominance
The Panthers opened the 2025 season with a 74-59 victory over Youngstown State. Although the game wasn’t visually impressive, Pitt managed to secure the win by leveraging their size and toughness.
Frontcourt Strengths
Pitt capitalized on their size advantage, scoring 18 points from second-chance opportunities. Senior forward Cameron Corhen showcased his leadership, playing 35 minutes and leading the team with 23 points and 12 rebounds. His steady presence provided stability as the Panthers’ offense struggled early on.
Redshirt sophomore forward Papa Amadou Kante also impressed. In 35 minutes, he pulled down 10 rebounds and demonstrated strong defensive skills by effectively guarding various opponents, enhancing Pitt’s defensive versatility.
Freshman Contributions
First-year guard Omari Witherspoon and first-year forward Roman Siulepa displayed some hesitation in their debut ACC game but contributed nevertheless. Witherspoon made a difficult mid-range shot, while Siulepa delivered a highlight-worthy block. Both players committed two turnovers each, which is understandable given the intensity of playing major minutes immediately.
“Corhen’s consistent presence was a source of comfort for the Panthers as they looked disjointed on offense in the early going.”
“Kante moved his feet against shifty Youngstown State players and showed that he can guard any player on the court.”
Adjusting to significant playing time in a competitive conference like the ACC poses a challenge, but the freshmen showed promise despite early mistakes.
Author’s Summary
Pitt’s frontcourt dominance and veteran leadership proved crucial in overcoming a slow start and securing a hard-fought season opener win.