Freshmen Struggles Don't Bother Pitt

The Pitt Panthers expect their blue-chip freshmen to grow through adversity.

PITTSBURGH -- As the competition has heat up the Pitt Panthers and their two blue-chip freshman guard prospects have cooled off. They've taken their lumps against Florida, Oregon State and Missouri - the first taste of high-major college basketball in their young careers.  

Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe, the four-star freshmen Pitt has tasked with doing the bulk of the ball-handling this season, have taken steps back in terms of production over the past three games but their teammates and coaches are far from worried about what that means 

"They’re not struggling. They’re learning," Senior forward Blake Hinson said. "They’re learning. I mean, they’re better than me at handling the ball; let me tell you that. So they’re going to be fine. They’re just going to get these learning lessons and become the better freshmen in the conference."

Carrington got his freshman season off to a torrid start, notching a triple-double in his collegiate debut and averaging 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists to just 1.3 turnovers per game while making 54.8% of his field goals and 51.9% of his 3-pointers in his first four games. Over his last three, his numbers have depreciated to just 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists to 2.7 turnovers on 32.4% shooting overall and 17.6% shooting from 3-point distance. 

Lowe started slower but still averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds to just 1.3 turnovers in the first four games of his college career. After missing his first six 3-point attempts in the first two games, Lowe made three of six shots from deep. And his last three appearances have yielded 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.7 assists to two turnovers per game on 33.3% shooting overall. He hasn't made a 3-pointer in two weeks, either. 

After looking so comfortable early on, both players have taken some time to adjust to the speed and physicality that good teams will bring every night, especially when they face veteran guards who look at them and see easy opportunities to bully younger players. 

And they've gotten better through these rougher patches. The Oregon State and Missouri games were better as the outing against Florida was. While the shooting numbers were volatile, on both ends they navigated contact from ball screens and drives better and appeared less and less fazed by pressure. 

There is some on-the-job training necessary when a true freshman is tasked with running the offense for a Power 5 program and that learning process is playing out in real time as both Carrington and Lowe learn to navigate gameplans designed to take advantage of their youth. 

"[I] tell them, next play, because I already know that every time something goes wrong for them, that’s going to make them better the next play," Hinson said. "It’s just something - they’re 18, so that’s what it is. Good. Get them now. Because they’re getting better every time."

It isn't just Lowe and Carrington taking their licks early. The team is 1-2 over the past week and a half after starting 4-0. The Panthers opened the year hot and have to now learn to deal with some adversity. But head coach Jeff Capel knows no one will take it easy on Pitt or its freshmen, so he's reinforced the notion that the only way out is through for his young team, now in a momentary rut. 

We should be down. I want us to be down, but that can’t last," Capel said. "When we get back together, we’ve moved on. We flush it, win or lose, the next day. You live with it, you learn from it, when we get back together, we’ll have some film, we’ll talk to them collectively as a group, we’ll talk to them individually and we’ll get better. I mean, what’s the alternative? You know what I mean?"

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Three Former Pitt Defenders Enter NFL Draft

Pitt Alters Closing Lineup Against Missouri

Pitt Losing Starting LB to Transfer Portal

Pitt Loses Second LB to Transfer Portal

Pitt Loses When Playing on Opponent's Terms

Pitt Pleased With Shot Selection Despite Results

• Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt