Pittsburgh Basketball: Projected 2023-24 depth chart without Dior Johnson

If you’ve followed Pittsburgh Basketball in the Coach Jeff Capel era, you know that offseasons never are quiet. In the past few years, there’s been a rash of injuries and suspensions to deal with that decimated the roster. That happened a year ago as well, as Dior Johnson, John Hugley, and William Jeffress each effectively missed all of the 2022-23 campaign due to various issues.

Yet unlike previous years, the Panthers were able to withstand the turmoil and make the 2023 NCAA Tournament, winning a couple of games in the process. That positive momentum carried over to the offseason, where the team only had two players leave for the transfer portal, John Hugley and Nate Santos.

Although the Panthers were losing four senior guards in the backcourt, the team also has a top-25 incoming recruiting class, as well as a couple of good incoming transfers. There also was the pending return of Johnson, who stayed with the team this Summer and was on the recent foreign trip to Spain.

Unfortunately, reports are out that Johnson won’t be suiting up for Pittsburgh Basketball after all, with university officials potentially having a hand in the decision. It’s a tough late departure for the program, which is now down to just 11 scholarship players on the roster and not much backcourt depth.

With the transfer portal having dried up and school starting, it’s hard to see who Pittsburgh can add that would be an impact newcomer. So for now, we can just focus on the players on the roster.

Here’s a new look at what the Panthers’ depth chart and projected rotation with the current cast of players.