Pittsburgh Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Panthers
Expectations
As of right now, there’s next to nothing to be excited about in Pittsburgh about the basketball team. There’s a talented yet inexperienced guard, some lesser-known freshmen, and a combination of junior college and graduate transfers who might be figuratively and literally out of their league. They don’t have a single player who could start on any other ACC team and will be lucky to win a game.
However, the same exact thing was said about the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last season. Josh Pastner had an underachieving stint with Memphis and supposedly had very little talent on the roster. Jon Rothstein even went as far to say this:
Prediction: Georgia Tech will not win a single game in the ACC this season. Worst roster that Josh Pastner has ever been associated with.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 16, 2016
Many others echoed the same sentiments, even after their upset at VCU. But after their upset at home against North Carolina, followed by their destruction of Florida State, Rothstein and everyone else had to eat crow:
Dear Georgia Tech fans: I was dead WRONG about your team. Next time I'm in Buckhead, let's get together and talk hoops. I've got 1st round.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 26, 2017
No one had any clue how good three-star recruit Josh Okogie would be in his freshman year. Or Ben Lammers playing at an All-ACC level all season long. Pastner went from hated at Memphis to beloved at Georgia Tech, and the same can happen to Stallings if things go well.
Every year there are teams who play below expectations, and above as well. Hopefully there’s another Okogie in the mix in this class, otherwise, it will be a long year for everyone involved.