Tough news for Pitt basketball after just one preseason basketball game.
The Panthers won 89-64 over Gannon Monday night at the Petersen Events Center in the team's first exhibition game since 2019, but suffered a big loss when it learned Tuesday that senior guard Nike Sibande had torn his ACL during the game and will be out for the season. Sibande had only played eight minutes and taken a single shot before an unfortunate series of events led to his knee injury.
After a collision where Sibande told head coach Jeff Capel he banged knees with a defender from Gannon, he kept playing on it but felt his knee give out on him when he attempted a jump stop underneath Pitt's basket. He would limp the locker room and not return. Pitt seemed hopeful Sibande's injury wasn't serious, but tests confirmed the news Tuesday.
“I am really disappointed for Nike,” Capel said Tuesday. “He has been outstanding in his preparation for this season and has emerged as one of the most respected leaders in our program. He has done an amazing job dealing with adversity in the past and I am confident he will tackle his recovery in the same manner. He has attacked adversity by putting in the work, trusting his faith, and maintaining confidence in himself as a person and as a player. We will miss him on the court this season, but I know Nike will remain an important part of our program through his leadership and presence in the locker room.”
Sibande transferred to Pitt from Miami Ohio before the 2020-2021 season and would miss the first seven games of the season while waiting on an NCAA eligibility ruling to return. He was intended to be an important combo guard for Pitt who could provide important minutes off the bench. But when Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney transferred late in the season, Sibande saw an increased role for the Panthers. In Pitt's final five games last season, he averaged 15 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and led the team in scoring with 24 points and five three-pointers in Pitt's lone ACC Tournament game against Miami.
Those performances gave hope that he would be a stabling veteran presence on a very young Pitt roster this season, but now he can only be a leader from the sidelines while he works to rehabilitate from his injury.
Pitt's season opener is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9 against The Citadel at the Petersen Events Center.
