Takeaways from Pitt Basketball’s Season Opener
The Panthers secured a 74-59 victory over Youngstown State on the first night of the 2025 season. While the game wasn't visually impressive, Pitt relied on its frontcourt dominance to pull through.
Frontcourt Strength and Second-Chance Points
Pitt leveraged its size advantage to generate 18 points off second-chance opportunities. The team embraced a tough, gritty style of play to secure the win despite a slow offensive start.
Key Player Performances
- Cameron Corhen, senior forward, played 35 minutes, leading the Panthers with 23 points and 12 rebounds. His steady presence provided stability when the offense looked disjointed early on.
- Papa Amadou Kante, redshirt sophomore forward, also logged 35 minutes and collected 10 rebounds. He demonstrated excellent footwork and versatile defense, able to guard multiple opponents on the court.
Contributions from Newcomers
First-year players Omari Witherspoon (guard) and Roman Siulepa (forward) showed promise despite playing cautiously.
- Witherspoon scored a tough mid-range jumper.
- Siulepa delivered a highlight-worthy block.
- Both committed two turnovers each, reflecting the challenge of adapting to major minutes early in the ACC season.
“It is a challenge to play major minutes off the bat, especially in a conference like the ACC.”
Author's summary: Pitt’s frontcourt dominance and veteran leadership overcame early offensive struggles, setting a foundation for growth despite challenges from first-year players.