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Pittsburgh Basketball: Projected minutes and rotation with Dior Johnson on board

By Tristan Freeman

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 16: Femi Odukale #2 of the Pittsburgh Panthers reacts after making a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on February 16, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 76-67. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 16: Femi Odukale #2 of the Pittsburgh Panthers reacts after making a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of their game at the Dean E. Smith Center on February 16, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won 76-67. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Colgate Raiders guard Nelly Cummings Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Colgate Raiders guard Nelly Cummings Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Shooting guard

Projected starter: Nelly Cummings (15 mpg)

Even with Johnson coming into the fold, don’t think that Cummings will have a lesser role for Pittsburgh. He’ll just play off the ball a little bit more than expected. But that actually isn’t unfamiliar for the former Colgate guard, as he played in a multi-guard offense for the past couple of years.

Cummings didn’t even lead the Raiders in passing last season (Tucker Richardson did at 3.8 apg) but was able to play alongside him without issue in the backcourt. And he can play off the ball as a career 36% shooter from deep and he can take pressure off of Johnson as a facilitator. And with him on the court, that’s another playmaker that can get the ball inside to John Hugley for some easy baskets.

Reserve: Jamarius Burton (16 mpg), Greg Elliott (9 mpg)

Far as who else plays at the two-spot, Burton naturally plays off the ball so look for him to get a lot of minutes there. He’s the only returning guard (that played last season) so he’ll get his 25-30 mpg. Another newcomer that will get minutes is Greg Elliott, a 6’3 transfer guard from Marquette that has come off the bench in the past four years at around 20 mpg and a career average of 5.0 ppg.

Elliott’s biggest impact for the Panthers will be his shooting, with a career 40% from deep. Pittsburgh was one of the worst shooting teams in the country last season so having a guard like Elliott that’s at least a threat from deep is an instant upgrade off the bench. And if he’s consistently shooting it well, he’ll easily get more minutes.

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