Inside The Panthers

Pitt Shifts Starting Lineup Against SC State

The Pitt Panthers have altered their starting lineup for the first time this season.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Shifts Starting Lineup Against SC State
Pitt Shifts Starting Lineup Against SC State /
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PITTSBURGH -- For the first time this season, Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel has made a change to the starting lineup. 

After making some pointed comments about how Pitt needed more from both Federiko Federiko and Zack Austin - and benching them to start the second half against Canisius - Capel has inserted Guillermo Diaz Graham and Will Jeffress in their place. 

Austin, a highly-touted transfer from High Point, has struggled offensively early this year. He hasn't scored in two games and is shooting just 21.4% from 3-point distance. Austin has slowly started to fall out of the rotation over the past two games. He played just 17 minutes against West Virginia and six minutes against Canisius. 

Capel said following the Canisius game that Austin has to keep his motor consistently high during his entire time on the floor. 

Federiko has taken a step back on both ends from his 2022-23 form. He has just two double-figure scoring games and is averaging just 5.1 rebounds per game. After averaging 1.7 blocks per game last season, Federiko has rejected just one shot in his last five games. 

Jeffress has impressed with his defense and rebounding in recent weeks, averaging 4.3 rebounds per game over his last three appearances. Jeffress also leads the team in steals per 100 possessions and owns the second-best defensive rating of anyone Panther playing more than 10 minutes per game. He isn't scoring much, just 2.7 points per game, but knocked down both of his 3-point attempts against Canisius. 

Diaz Graham hasn't been much better than Federiko as far as defense and rebounding goes but he has provided an offensive spark by making 41% of his 3-pointers and 56% of his field goal attempts. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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