Pittsburgh Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season
Center
Starter – Mouhamadou Gueye (20)
After missing out on five-star center prospect Efton Reid to LSU, Pittsburgh was able to land an impact frontcourt transfer in Gueye. Last season as a starter, the 6’9 forward averaged 9.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg at Stony Brook. More importantly, he averaged a whopping 3.1 blocks per game, first in the America East and 5th in the country. Gueye had plenty of steals as well and made the All-Defensive team.
Gueye is an outstanding athlete and gives Pittsburgh the kind of shot-blocking interior presence that they haven’t had in a while. And his experience likely will give him a heads up in this center battle, at least to start out the season.
Bench – John Hugley (20)
There was a lot of hope for the former top-100 recruit Hugley last season. He started the first game of the season (7 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 turnovers) against Saint Francis (PA) and came off the bench for the next six contests, before off the court issues took him out of the picture the rest of the way. There was a chance that he wouldn’t even be back but was eventually reinstated to the program this offseason.
Hugley is a 6’9 true center with massive offensive potential in the frontcourt, while also capable of rebounding. If he can stay on the court, the big man can provide the necessary offensive balance for Pittsburgh to succeed, especially considering the scoring concerns with both Payton and Oladapo at the four-spot.
Gueye may have the early edge, while Hugley still has work to do to get back into the team’s good graces. But I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he takes over by ACC play as the go-to frontcourt option. And that wouldn’t be bad for Gueye, as he can play the four-spot if there remain issues. Gueye is the only projected rotation player in the frontcourt that has the potential to shoot the ball from deep so he may be like Burton, with his versatility being best served to come off the bench.
dark. Next. 2021-22 ACC preseason rankings
There’s a lot of potential with this roster but also plenty of questions, particularly when it comes to who will lead the team in scoring and how the transfers will fit it. Pittsburgh Basketball is projected to finish in the bottom tier of the ACC but just one breakout star could change everything for the team.