So far free of adversity, Pitt opens difficult portion of schedule against LSU

After only five games — all victories by an average margin of 28.6 points against mid-major competition — Pitt coach Jeff Capel doesn’t have enough information to have a definite idea of what to expect this season.

He is pleased the Panthers are averaging 88.6 points per game and shooting 51.3% from the field after losing their two leading scorers from a year ago.

But he needs to see more. Perhaps his team will give him some idea starting Friday at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulpher Springs, W.Va. Maybe players will really open their coach’s eyes and have a bad game.

“To me, you find out more about your team when you hit a rough spot,” Capel said. “Everything’s been pretty good for us right now, from the exhibition, to the scrimmage, to the first five games. I hope we don’t hit adversity, but I know it will come. And that’s when you really start to figure out who you really are.”

For the most part, the soft portion of Pitt’s schedule is over. Starting Friday, Pitt will play all but two of its next 26 games against power conference schools.

The gauntlet begins with LSU, an SEC team that has opened the season with a 4-0 record, including a 76-65 victory at Kansas State. It was only Kansas State’s fifth loss at home in its previous 36 games. After that, it’s the UCF/Wisconsin winner when the Greenbrier resumes Sunday, followed by road games against Ohio State, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech in the ACC opener.

Check back Dec. 8 — the day after the Virginia Tech game — and there will be much more to analyze about the 2024-25 Panthers.

Meanwhile, Pitt will try for its first 6-0 start since 2018-19, Capel’s first season. Pitt has won five games in a row by margins of 15-plus for the first time in 11 years.

But LSU will offer a challenge that Capel and his players will welcome while they try to figure what will make them tick.

LSU has four players averaging double-digit points, led by Kansas State transfer Cam Carter (17.8). He hit 94 3s in 70 games at Kansas State the past two seasons, and he has been accurate from that distance in four games this season (12 of 21, 57.1%). Overall, he’s 22 of 40 (55%).

Jordan Sears (13.8), Dji Bailey (10.8) and Jalen Reed (10.3) also have started strong for LSU.

All five Pitt starters are averaging double-digit points, and three guards are leading the way. Ishmael Leggett (17.6), Damian Dunn (15.2) and Jaland Lowe (13.6) could end up giving Pitt a deep and productive backcourt.

Big men Cam Corhen (12.6) and Guillermo Diaz Graham (10) offer a variety of scoring punch. Corhen does business around the basket (shooting 69.2%, 27 of 39) and Diaz Graham leads the team in rebounding (7.8) and 3-point attempts (7 of 22).

“I said it from the beginning, I really like my team,” Capel said. “I love the pieces. I love how they fit. I love how they cheer for each other, how excited they are.

“I think we have a chance (to be good), but we can’t just expect it to happen. We have to make it happen, and we have to earn the right to be good.”