Pittsburgh Basketball: Nowhere to go but up for the 2018-19 season
By Shane Skeary
After the team’s first round loss to Notre Dame in the 2018 ACC Tournament, Pittsburgh season’s officially end. Will they be in a better position for next year?
At least the last effort was the best one for Pittsburgh basketball, right? The Panthers took the 10-seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the games final minute, but ultimately fell short, 67-64, in the opening round of the ACC Tournament – their 19th ACC loss of the season.
The loss puts Kevin Stallings‘ team in rare company as they join the 2015-16 Boston College Eagles as the only teams to go winless in ACC play since 1988. Stallings is firmly on the hot seat now as his second season in western Pennsylvania has come to an end and there are already rumors (some refuted) that he won’t stick around for a third.
Stallings went to Pittsburgh in 2016 after he wore out his welcome at Vanderbilt where his 17 seasons came to a mediocre end. Safe to say things haven’t quite turned around during his time leading the Panthers as he’s accumulated a 24-41 record over two seasons, including a dreadful 4-32 showing in conference play.
If new AD Heather Lyke decides to grant Stallings a third year at the helm, is there anything to for the Pittsburgh basketball faithful to look forward to next season? Glad you asked.
The Kids Will Grow Up
The Panthers were arguably one of the youngest Power 5 teams this year, playing five freshman more than 17 minutes per game and clearly, most of them were not ready for that much exposure. However, they do have a budding star in guard Marcus Carr.
The Canadian product started 26 of 31 games for Pittsburgh this season and averaged the most minutes per game (28.6) on the team. The numbers for the season aren’t bad (10.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 39.6% FG), but his feel for the game is something to be encouraged by. Clearly, he’s not afraid to take the big shot:
Give him a summer to work on his game and to build some continuity with the rest of the young guys at Pitt – Carr will be a big-time player next year.
Hello My Name Is…
2017-18 saw 11 new players on the Panthers roster entering the season. 11! That’s tough for any coach to overcome. In the era of one and done, folks will argue that coaches should be able to handle roster turnover, I mean isn’t that what John Calipari does every year? But when nearly three-quarters of your roster in a new face, it’s tough to get any cohesion and win many games.
This summer is crucial for the roster to play together and work in next year’s freshman class. If all goes well, the Panthers will take the next step and the play on the floor will improve.
Injuries, Injuries, Injuries
Pitt was dealt a crushing blow early in the season, when it was announced that senior forward Ryan Luther would miss the season with a stress reaction in his foot. Luther was the best returning player for the Panthers this season, averaging a double-double (12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds) in 10 games played.
The good news? Luther might return for his fifth season next year if his hardship waiver is granted by the NCAA.
Next: 2018 ACC Tournament Breakdown
In the end, 2017-18 was a historic disaster for Pittsburgh basketball. Youth, inexperience, chemistry and injuries were all contributing factors, but it’s Stallings that will ultimately get the blame. An 0-18 season is hard to return from, but if Stallings is back for his third year, will he be able to right the ship enough to get a fourth? Tough to say, but the pieces are in place for the Panthers to bounce back next season.