Off to a perfect start with each of its four wins coming by at least 15 points, retooled Pitt is making noise with two productive transfers in the starting lineup.
On Monday, when Pitt (4-0) hosts Virginia Military Institute (4-1) of the Southern Conference, the Panthers could get a tougher test than they anticipated when they first saw the Keydets on their schedule.
After going 11-53 in two years under Andrew Wilson, VMI is rolling behind a trio of sophomore transfers from Division I programs.
The most remarkable find is 6-foot-8 Lithuanian Augustinas Kiudulas, who is averaging 21.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game after scoring a total of two points in seven games last season at Indiana State.
TJ Johnson is averaging 15 points after putting up 3.8 per game last year at Lipscomb.
Another hidden gem uncovered by Wilson is guard Tan Yildizoglu, who scored 2.4 points per game last year at Pacific.
In his first game with VMI, Yildizoglu, who is originally from Turkey, dealt a school-record 15 assists in a 103-54 win over Washington College. Then Saturday, in an 80-69 victory over Charleston Southern, Yildizoglu scored a career-high 17 points.
Yildizoglu has played a major role in facilitating a surprisingly cohesive VMI offense.
“We have a connected and resilient group that is playing for each other,” Wilson said.
Pitt coach Jeff Capel is seeing the same from his team, which pulled off its best win of the young season on Friday, rocking West Virginia 86-62.
Houston transfer Damian Dunn, hit 4 of 7 shots from the arc on his way to scoring 23 points. The guard also played a major role in holding West Virginia’s top threat Tucker DeVries to six points on 2-of-10 shooting.
Cameron Corhen, who arrived this year from Florida State, added 14 points while his frontcourt mate Guillermo Diaz Graham added 10 points and as many rebounds.
The Panthers never trailed, building their lead to as many as 31 points.
“We’ve gotten better in each game,” Capel said “Tonight, the competition level was increased. We were playing against a big-time opponent from a power conference, and I liked the way we stepped up to that challenge.”
Ishmael Leggett leads Pitt with 18.5 points per game, followed by Dunn (16.3), Jaland Lowe (14.3) and Corhen (12.8). Diaz Graham is pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game, while Leggett is averaging 6.8 and Corhen 6.5.
–Field Level Media
