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NCAA Basketball: 7 biggest takeaways on opening day of 2023-24 season

By Joey Loose

Nov 6, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) walks back to the bench and the James Madison Dukes bench erupts as the final buzzer sounds at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) walks back to the bench and the James Madison Dukes bench erupts as the final buzzer sounds at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Panthers player Ishmael Leggett Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Panthers player Ishmael Leggett Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Triple-Double on Opening Night

One of last season’s surprises was what happened in Pittsburgh. Little was expected from a Panthers squad that had struggled for the last half decade, mostly under current coach Jeff Capel, and lost one of their best players right before the season began. Instead the Panthers were competitive in the ACC and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Could they repeat the feat this season?

While the Panthers weren’t particularly tested on opening night, pulling away early in a 100-52 win against North Carolina A&T, their next star may have emerged. Freshman guard Carlton Carrington showed his potential with an 18-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist debut. Not only was this a fantastic first collegiate performance but it was the Panthers’ first triple-double record in a quarter century, certainly standing out as one of the top individual efforts of opening night.

When your Top 100 prospect does that on opening night, there’s plenty of reason to be excited for the future at Pittsburgh. The Panthers were never threatened tonight and won’t put up these kinds of figures in most of their games, but Carrington clearly fits in well with a lineup that also boasts Blake Hinson and Federiko and Federiko in the frontcourt. Is this the beginning of another special year for the Panthers?

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