Pitt Starter Ishmael Leggett Returns to Lineup

Pitt Panthers starting guard Ishmael Leggett will be back in the lineup tonight despite a shoulder injury.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers will get a critical piece of their starting lineup back just ahead of tip-off against No. 11 Duke at the Petersen Events Center.

Shooting guard Ishmael Leggett, who suffered a shoulder injury last month, is healthy enough to play against the Blue Devils, the Pitt program told CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein before gametime.

Pitt's Ish Leggett (shoulder) will be available for tonight's game against Duke, per a school spokesman.

Averages 12.5 PPG.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 10, 2024

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. He sounded more optimistic that Leggett could give it a go after practice on Monday, but still had Capel as questionable going into the Duke game. 

“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.”

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. He will move back to the bench with Leggett back in the fold after making the first start of his career against Louisville.

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