Pitt’s season opener gave the Panthers exactly what they wanted: a lopsided 95-57 win over Rider, a freshman debut for the record books, and a few early signs that this roster has more than one way to beat teams.
Chase Foster was the headline act. The freshman poured in 23 points, setting a program record in his first college game, and Jeff Capel said afterward that Pitt hasn’t had a player with Foster’s size and skillset since his time at Duke as an assistant. Foster backed up the hype with a polished, efficient night, while transfer Johnathan Powell drilled six 3-pointers to help power the offense.
But Pitt’s opener wasn’t just about two scorers. With 13 newcomers on the roster, there were contributions all over the floor, and the Panthers used the night to start building toward Thursday’s game against Buffalo.
One of the clearest positives came from Nait George, who looked far more in control as a playmaker than he has in past seasons. George, who has ranked in the 98th percentile or higher in assist% in every year of his career, has also carried turnover issues, averaging three per game in each of the last two seasons.
Against Rider, though, he kept the ball moving without the usual mistakes. He finished with eight assists and just one turnover, generated 20 points by assists, and added 5.79 expected points while he was on the floor.
He probably could have reached double digits in assists if a few layups and catches had been finished cleanly.
That matters because Pitt’s spacing around him should make life easier. George’s offensive expected points added dropped by 28 points last year, but the setup around him was not ideal. Now he’s playing next to A’Lahn Sumler and Powell, and Sumler’s ability to handle the ball could ease some of the burden on George as a creator.
Sumler had his own strong night as a passer. He posted five assists after also handing out five in the scrimmage against Providence, and the playmaking side of his game remains easy to overlook because of the scoring.
He averaged 18.9 points per game a year ago, shot 39.6% from deep on 5.3 attempts per game, and showed how much his offensive game has evolved. His shot selection is sharp, he gets to the rim often, and his role at Pitt could let him thrive as a secondary ballhandler.
Against Rider, he didn’t commit a turnover, played 14% of his minutes at point guard, and finished as a team-high +36.
The Foster-Sumler-Powell trio also flashed serious offensive punch. In 15 minutes together, that lineup posted a 191.8 ORTG, the best mark of any Pitt group that played at least 10 minutes.
Foster’s debut may have been the most eye-catching part of the night, but his impact went beyond the scoring. He shot 3-for-4 from deep, took most of his shots in the flow of the offense, and looked comfortable for a player making his first college appearance.
What stood out even more was what he did on the other end. Foster finished with five stocks and five defensive rebounds, and his versatility showed up in the way he handled multiple positions.
That defensive versatility could matter a lot for Pitt’s frontcourt. A group featuring Foster, Nait Ndongo and Armani Mighty gives the Panthers a chance to build an identity on the glass, and Foster’s presence alongside Powell on the wing gave Pitt another strong two-man defensive look. That pairing posted a 67.2 DRTG on Monday and could end up being one of the team’s best combinations all season.
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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 🡒]