Stephen Thompson: Pitt's Path Back to Winning Basketball May Take More Than One Season
The last time Jeff Capel undertook a roster rebuild as extensive as the current one was before the 2022–23 season. Through an offseason of transfer portal recruiting, he brought in Greg Elliott, Blake Hinson, and Nelly Cummings—players who were not initially seen as elite. Combined with earlier additions Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande, Capel formed a core of experienced veterans whose average age rivaled some NBA teams.
That group went on to win 24 games, including two NCAA tournament victories, elevating the program from the bottom of the power conferences. At the time, Capel’s extended stay at Pittsburgh was uncertain. He needed quick, significant success, and bringing in veteran experience was the most straightforward approach.
Changing Strategy for the New Season
This offseason, faced with similar pressures—a contract nearing its end and external patience wearing thin due to postseason disappointments—Capel has shifted his approach. The current roster reflects a focus on building for the near future rather than instant results.
“We need to play with the sense of urgency every second that we're out there on both sides of the floor,” Capel explained. “There has to be urgent talk, urgent movement. We have to be unbelievably connected.”
Capel sounds like a coach eager to develop strong habits in a young team, aiming for sustainable growth over quick fixes.
Summary
Jeff Capel’s rebuilding of Pitt basketball now centers on nurturing a young roster with urgency and cohesion, recognizing that a return to winning may require more than one season.