The North Carolina A&T Aggies and the Pittsburgh Panthers meet Monday in college basketball action from Petersen Events Center. North Carolina A&T is coming off a 13-19 overall run last year and a seventh-place finish in the CAA standings. As for Pittsburgh, they managed to go 24-12 in 2022-23 and made it to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

North Carolina A&T Aggies 

The Aggies had another disappointing season last year, finishing 13-19 overall with an 8-10 run in Colonial Athletic Association games. That mark would leave the team around the middle of the pack in the standings, tied with Delaware in conference play. North Carolina A&T didn’t last long in the conference tournament, falling to Stony Brook 76-61 in their first game. 

New head coach Monte Ross will get a crack at improving the Aggies’ fortunes this season. He’ll have to start nearly from scratch on the roster though, as all five starters have departed for greener pastures and only two players from last year’s squad return. Kyle Duke (2.9 PPG) and Jeremy Robinson (3.9 PPG) are the only ones with experience from last year, so they’ll have a big role ahead of them this season. 

Pittsburgh Panthers 

Over on the Pittsburgh side, they had a pretty decent season in 2022-23 and were able to make a bit of noise in a crowded ACC. The Panthers went 24-12 overall and 14-6 in conference play, leading to a fifth-place finish in the standings. Pittsburgh lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament but managed to go from First Four to the Second Round of the national tourney. 

It’ll be Jeff Capel (sixth season) again in the head coaching role for the Panthers. He’ll get two starters back from last year’s squad but loses four of the team’s top five scorers. Jamarius Burton (15.2 PPG), Nelly Cummings (11.1 PPG) and Greg Elliott (10.4 PPG) have all departed, taking with them a lot of leadership and experience. It’ll be a very young backcourt this season; three of the top four guards have never played a college game. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m probably going to stay with the Panthers. The line’s too thick to mess with, though. Even with the hefty turnover, loss of experience and necessary reliance on young players, Pittsburgh should be in okay shape in this opener. The Panthers have some hefty upside with the incoming backcourt, but their inexperience will surely lead to some growing pains in the early-going. Ishmael Leggett (16.4 PPG; 5.8 RPG) is the only top four guard with any college experience, transferring in from Rhode Island. Blake Hinson (15.3 PPG) will also provide some leadership as the leading scorer from a year ago. 

If Pittsburgh were up against a more experienced opponent in this first game they may have been in trouble. North Carolina A&T is suffering from a massive amount of turnover however, which should take some of the urgency away from the team chemistry. I think this young Pitt team will be okay for now, but we’ll see how things go in the long run.