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ACC Basketball: Duke, FSU leads early power rankings for 2021-22 season

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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ACC Basketball Pittsburgh Panthers Femi Odukale Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
ACC Basketball Pittsburgh Panthers Femi Odukale Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports /

Panthers . 13. team. 444. . .

2020-21 season record: 10-12 (6-10)

Even before the offseason started, Pittsburgh’s coaching staff knew they had its work cut out for them. Both Xavier Johnson and Au’Diese Toney, who combined to produce 28.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 8.0 apg transferred out in the regular season. Making matters worse for the program, star forward Justin Champagnie, who broke out to average a team-leading 18.0 ppg and 11.1 rpg this past year, opted to stay in the 2021 NBA Draft.

That’s the three top players and lone double-digit scorers and both key big men, Terrell Brown and Karim Coulibaly also transferred out this offseason. The good news for the Panthers is that compared to season’s past, they should have some actual frontcourt depth for next year.

Mouhamadou Gueye is a senior transfer from Stony Brook, a 6’9 athletic forward that was one of the best shot blockers last season at over three a game. Daniel Oladapo is an undersized forward from Oakland but is a high-energy and rebounding machine. And 6’7 forward Chris Payton averaged a double-double at Indian Hills Community College and is one of the top Junior College transfers in the 2021 class. The return of former top-100 center recruit John Hugley, who was suspended last season due to legal issues, will be back as well.

The key will be in the backcourt, particularly at the point guard position. Femi Odukale, averaged just 6.6 as a reserve behind Johnson but had 28 points in the season finale against Miami. He, along with Texas Tech senior transfer Jamarius Burton will be the key ball-handlers, along with Nike Sibande coming back for a 5th year. Sharpshooter Ithiel Horton will look to be more consistent while rising sophomores William Jeffries and Noah Collier will look to have a spot in the rotation.

Pittsburgh won’t be as good offensively but between the new frontcourt depth and the strong defensive pieces added this offseason, could be a thorn in the side of some ACC foes. But Odukale will need to break out almost in the way Champagnie did this past season to give the team a clear go-to offensive option.