PITTSBURGH — The disappointment of narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament still looms large for Jaland Lowe and his fellow teammates at the University of Pittsburgh. The team deliberately keeps their past heartbreak at the forefront of their minds. Each day, as they walk to the locker room after practice, they encounter a prominent graphic that displays the caption “First Four Out,” featuring the Pitt logo alongside other teams with strong season records who were left behind as March Madness unfolded.
“I’m not going to lie; I really dislike seeing it,” admitted Lowe. “They could remove it at this point.” However, he understands the rationale behind keeping it there as a form of motivation. Coach Jeff Capel has no intention of taking it down, and for Lowe, this serves as a crucial reminder of the disappointment they experienced last season—a feeling they are determined not to repeat.
The Panthers are now embracing the motto “Leave No Doubt,” which reflects their mission this year following their expectation that a solid record of 22 wins and a fourth-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference would secure them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. That expectation turned out to be misguided and has since fueled their drive to achieve the program’s best start in more than ten years. A recent thrilling win against Ohio State has propelled the team to a ranking of 18th in the latest AP Top 25, marking their highest position since the 2013-14 season.
“This ranking is a testament to our hard work and the winning culture we’ve established,” Lowe expressed, highlighting the team’s appreciation for their progress, despite their intention not to dwell on it excessively. Yet, teammate Zack Austin pointed out the reality—it’s still early in the season. Whether Pitt can maintain its ranking will largely depend on how they perform in upcoming road games, with the first challenge against Mississippi State on Wednesday.
Pitt’s schedule is ambitious, consisting of five consecutive away games against top conference opponents, courtesy of Capel’s commitment to both challenge the team and enhance their standings in statistical ratings. So far, this strategy has borne fruit. The Panthers have dominated their rivals, including a decisive victory over West Virginia and an impressive comeback win against the Buckeyes, solidified by Austin’s last-second 3-pointer. Their only setback came against Wisconsin, where they narrowly lost in a fiercely competitive match.
The team boasts a roster filled with players overlooked by other ACC programs, a situation that Capel often highlights. Nevertheless, the Panthers are confident they can bridge any gaps in talent with their exceptional team chemistry. Although Bub Carrington transitioned to the NBA after a remarkable freshman year and Blake Hinson graduated, many key members from last season’s squad stuck around, defying trends in the current transfer landscape.
Core players returning include Lowe, Austin, Ishmael Leggett, and twin forwards Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham, providing a solid foundation for new additions like transfers Damian Dunn from Houston and Cameron Corhen from Florida State, along with freshman guard Brandin Cummings. The return of Papa Amadou Kante, who battled back from a knee injury that sidelined him during his freshman year, adds much-needed strength to the frontcourt.
With the integration of Dunn and Corhen into an already established team dynamic, there was no need for a complete overhaul. Pitt plays with a blend of determination and confidence, a product of the deeper connections built among players over time. “I remind my teammates every day that I have faith in them,” Lowe emphasized.
This trust was evident in their game against Ohio State when Coach Capel devised a play that the team had never practiced. With the game on the line, Lowe drove the court, attracting defenders, which allowed Austin to find an open shot behind the arc, securing the win for Pitt.
While the team celebrated the victory, it was restrained compared to the exuberance displayed during their previous road triumph at Duke when Hinson famously celebrated atop a table. The shift in expectations for the Panthers has been significant; the remnants of the struggles Capel faced upon his arrival in 2018 have long dissipated, replaced by a newfound confidence that suggests a potential for a third consecutive 20-win season.
The expectations for this roster may have evolved, but the mentality—identified by Lowe as “undervalued” and “underappreciated” by others—remains fiercely intact. “We’re hungrier than ever now,” Lowe asserted. “And if anyone gets too full of themselves, we’ll keep each other grounded.”