Jeff Capel Plans to Keep Same Pitt Starters

Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel is going to ride with his same starting lineup.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers made a major change to their rotations for the first time this season in their last game, when they subbed Guillermo Diaz Graham and Will Jeffress into the starting lineup for the struggling Zack Austin and Federiko Federiko. 

And after a successful first run with an altered starting lineup against South Carolina State, Capel will run it back with the same starters in their non-conference finale against Purdue-Ft. Wayne, at least for now.

"Yep," Capel said when asked if he would be sticking with the same starting five as he did against SC State. "Right now."

Regular starters Bub Carrington, Ishmael Leggett and Blake Hinson will join Diaz Graham and Jeffress in the starting lineup. 

Capel still praised Federiko and Austin for their work both in the second half against the Bulldogs and how they took their benchings in stride. 

"They've been good and I thought they had really good second halves, really strong second halves," Capel said. "We tried to highlight that on Monday when we got back together. They've been really good in practice these two days."

Federiko played just six minutes in the first half but in 11 second half minutes, scored six of his eight total points and grabbed all five of his rebounds. After Austin played just three first half minutes, he exploded for 12 points, five rebounds and a block, in addition to two powerful dunks, after the break. 

Capel added that he's been encouraged by the depth that this change has unlocked. He said the Panthers can go as deep as 10 players on any given night with Jeffress and Diaz Graham proving to be capable starters and Austin and Federiko bringing starter-quality experience off the bench. Jorge Diaz Graham, Jaland Lowe - another player Capel said is playing really well as of late - add to that depth as well and so does graduate transfer Mike Hueitt, who has made 70% of his field goals and 40% of his 3-pointers so far this season. 

"I think Mike Hueitt can be a 10th guy for us as well," Capel said. "I've been really pleased with how he's progressed in practice and he came into the game the other day and played really well. But I love my team. I really do."

They'll need all the depth they can muster as they get ready for the start of ACC play in less than two weeks. After taking on the Mastodons at the Petersen Events Center, the Panthers will get nine days off for the Christmas holiday before returning to action in a road contest against Syracuse. 

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