Pitt Starter Named Gametime Decision Against Duke

Pitt Panthers' starting guard Ishmael Leggett will be a gametime decision against Duke.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers haven't been whole for their last two games as starting guard Ishmael Leggett has worked through a shoulder injury but he's made some progress, getting slightly healthier over the past week. 

Leggett played through the damaged right shoulder when Pitt hosted No. 8 North Carolina at the Petersen Events Center last week but sat out against Louisville. He's ramped his activity at practice back up, but will still be a game-time decision against No. 11 Duke this week, head coach Jeff Capel said. 

“He was able to do some things at practice today. We tried to keep him out of a lot of contact. He was able to do some today," Capel said. "We’ll see how he feels later today after getting treatment and I’m pretty sure it’ll be a gametime decision tomorrow. ... It all depends upon how he feels from there and how he feels when he wakes up in the morning.”

Capel said following the 70-57 loss to the Tar Heels that Leggett had suffered the injury against Syracuse and was questionable going into the game against North Carolina after not practicing much over the weekend. 

Prior to the Panthers' last practice before tipoff against the Blue Devils, Capel said he wasn't sure if Leggett would be healthy enough to play, but he sounded more optimistic that Leggett could give it a go after practice on Monday. 

Leggett has struggled as of late, averaging six points per game on 25.9% shooting from the floor over his past three games. He's started every game for Pitt this season and is averaging 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while making 40% of his field goals and 29.5% of his 3-pointers. Not only is he the team's leading rebounder, but he is its best guard defender as well.

In his absence down at Louisville, freshman Jaland Lowe stepped in to make his first career start and played well, scoring nine points on 3-6 shooting from the field, grabbing three rebounds and dishing three assists to just one turnover in an 83-70 win. 

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