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Pittsburgh Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Panthers

By Jerran Anderson

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 07: Acting coach Jeff Capel of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 93-82. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 07: Acting coach Jeff Capel of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 93-82. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Key reserves

The Panthers weren’t the deepest team in 2017-18 and with some departures, their numbers are a bit depleted. They will feel the losses of Marcus Carr and Parker Stewart in the backcourt but they’ve got six guards as newcomers in 2018-19. Don’t sleep on the addition of combo guards Xavier Johnson and Trey McGowens. Johnson has the ability to run an offense and make plays without the ball while McGowens is an underrated leaper and scorer with the ball in his hands.

The biggest key reserve to watch for the Pittsburgh Panthers is Sidy N’Dir, a coveted prospect on the graduate transfer market out of New Mexico State. N’Dir put up 9.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 33.6 percent from behind the arc in two seasons with the Aggies.

On the interior, Kene Chukwuka should play a big role as a reserve. He averaged 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds last season in 31 appearances (13 starts) in 2017-18. On the wing, freshman Au’Diese Toney could earn some time in the rotation with his 6-foot-6 frame as well. Pittsburgh will be young in 2018-19, but they will have the numbers to make things happen.

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