Pitt opened its 2026-27 season with the kind of result that leaves little room for debate: a 95-57 home win over Rider that showed off talent, depth and plenty of room to grow.
The Panthers were sharp enough from the outside to bury the Broncs, shooting 53.8% from three, and they turned the game into a defensive squeeze by piling up 13 steals while holding Rider to 31.6% shooting from the field. Even with a roster built almost entirely through the transfer portal and still learning how to move together, Pitt still managed 21 assists.
That chemistry gap showed up at times. There were missed lobs and stretches of awkward ball movement, the kind of rough edges you expect from a group that has barely shared the floor. But against a team like Rider, Pitt still handled business.
The biggest headline came from freshman guard Chase Foster, who wasted no time making his mark. He scored 23 points in his college debut, setting a new Panther record. Associate Head Coach Ricardo Greer had held the previous mark with 21.
What made Foster stand out was how comfortable he looked. He led the team with 12 shot attempts, grabbed six rebounds and even stepped in after a flagrant foul to back up a teammate. Pitt has only two freshmen on the roster, Foster and Jermal Jones Jr., after four-star Anthony Felesi uncommitted.
The offense produced 95 points, but it also looked familiar in some frustrating ways. There were still possessions where no real action was run, with guards simply moving the ball around and waiting for something to open up as the shot clock wound down. The talent was enough to make that work on this night, though that approach figures to be tested more as the schedule gets tougher.
Jeff Capel entered the season under heavy pressure, and he made offseason changes meant to signal that this year would look different. One game in, the results are encouraging, but the real answer will come only as the season unfolds.
Inside, Pitt also looks better equipped than it did a year ago. Big-man production was a problem last season, with senior Cam Corhen carrying a heavy load.
The arrivals of Baye Ndongo and Armani Mighty have already changed that dynamic. The impact may not always show up in the box score, but both brought the physical presence that helped fuel Pitt’s defensive edge.
There is still work to do offensively, especially with spacing between the bigs. But Jonathan Powell helped smooth over plenty of that by knocking down six three-pointers.
Pitt invested heavily in making this men’s basketball season better than the last one, and the opener offered a clear glimpse of why there’s optimism. The Panthers looked talented, looked deeper and, for one night at least, looked like a team that can grow into something more once it gets more time together.
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Pitts Opener Revealed A New Offensive Threat Fans Will Notice
Pitts season opener against Rider offered an early look at a new layer to the offense, and it came from a freshman who wasted no time making an impression. Chase Foster scored 23 points in his debut, a program-record total for a Pitt freshman, while transfer Johnathan Powell stretched the floor with six 3-pointers and senior Nait George kept the attack organized with eight assists and only one turnover.
ALahn Sumler also fit neatly into the mix, giving Pitt another steady ballhandler who could create offense without giving the ball away. For a team that already showed plenty of scoring punch in a 95-57 win, the bigger takeaway may be how many different ways it can now put pressure on defenses, with Fosters presence adding a dimension opponents will have to account for right away. [Read more 🡒]
Pitts First 2028 Commit Says The Program Made This Easy
A new early piece of Pitts 2028 recruiting class is in place, and it comes from a familiar pipeline of hard-nosed defensive talent. Marquell Evans Jr., a safety from Detroits Cass Tech, has committed to the Panthers after building a connection with the staff and getting a close look at the programs track record for developing players.
Evans said the relationship he formed with the Pitt coaches made the decision feel straightforward, and his time around the program only strengthened that feeling. Having already attended Pitt games, he now gets to picture himself in the mix under Pat Narduzzi, with the Panthers adding another defensive prospect who already seems bought in on what the program is selling. [Read more 🡒]