Pittsburgh Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Panthers

Pittsburgh basketball is in a rough place right now. What is in store for the Panthers during the 2017-18 season?

After 13 years as the coach of the Pittsburgh Panthers, Jamie Dixon left for his alma mater TCU before last season. Since leaving the Mountain West for the Big 12, the Horned Frogs were one of the worst power six teams, while the Panthers at worst contented for an at-large bid.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, the roles switched last year. TCU played above expectations and ended with a NIT tournament title. Meanwhile, first-year head coach Kevin Stallings clashed with the veterans and young guys on the Pittsburgh team, resulting in dismal performances and a poor conference finish.

Despite having seniors Jamel Artis, Michael Young and Sheldon Jeter, the team had zero chemistry and at times zero heart. The team finished under .500 for the year and 13th in the conference.

Now for the bad news. With Artis, Young, and others graduating, along with Cam Johnson leaving for UNC, Pitt loses 92.6% of their scoring from last season.

Even more bad news for the former Vanderbilt head coach, just about all the young players on the bench transferred out as well. The only good thing is that Stallings will officially have his own players. Although for this year, it’s still bad news.

For the last decade, Pittsburgh never had a top recruiting class. Pitt’s past system relied on recruits to the system and made Pitt a contender in the Big East and a receiver of consecutive bids to the NCAA tournament.

Pitt will have a difficult year, but finding a couple of good players can be the difference between a tough season with hope, and one that ends in a disappointment.