Pittsburgh Basketball: 3 key storylines in Panthers matchup with The Citadel

It’s been a hectic offseason for Pittsburgh Basketball, just from the past few weeks alone. The backcourt depth has been stretched as thin as possible, due to injuries and an expected suspension thanks to a recent offseason arrest.

It started a month ago when Texas Tech transfer Jamarius Burton underwent a knee procedure that sidelined him for weeks, expected to be out for a couple more weeks. And 5th-year senior guard Nike Sibande is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL during Pitt’s exhibition matchup against Gannon.

And making matters worse, junior guard and team are returning leading scorer Ithiel Horton was reportedly arrested for assault and battery on a police officer. Up to this point, there hasn’t been an update on his status but barring a change on the charges, he’ll be out for a while and certainly for the season opener.

The Panthers now will have to make some major adjustments in their rotations as the season is just hours away, starting with a matchup against The Citadel Bulldogs. The SoCon program went 13-12 last season and 8th in the conference standings at 5-11. Heading into the season, The Citadel was picked next to last in the conference. However, they also have the Preseason Player of the Year in Hayden Brown.

Brown and the Bulldogs’ offensive style could pose problems for the depleted Panthers, who could be in for a dogfight if the absences prove to be too much. Here are some important storylines and matchups to consider for this game.