Transfers Dunn, Corhen look to help Pitt take next step

The sting of missing out on the NCAA tournament last year is something that still resides inside the men's basketball locker room at the Petersen Events Center. 

But that pain of missing out has turned into motivation. Even Damian Dunn, who transferred in from Houston this summer, can feel the hunger surrounding the team. They are out to prove themselves. 

"All the guys are kind of sour about it because they thought they got snubbed a little bit but it's something that they eventually grew through," Dunn said. "But we have another opportunity to right everything that they didn't have a chance of doing last year. It's a little bit of motivation for them. I wasn't here on the team, a part of it, last year so I didn't directly feel what they did at the time. But for me, I kind of take it personal myself because now I'm with them." 

Dunn and Florida State transfer Cam Corhen, who averaged 9.4 points and 4.1 rebounds a game last year, are now hoping to do their part and help Pitt get back to the NCAA tournament for the second time in three years.

Jeff Capel has been trying to return the Panthers to prominence since taking over in 2018 and the last two years have been his most successful. A run to the tournament in 2022-2023 was highlighted by the likes of Nelly Cummings, Blake Hinson, Jamarius Burton and a 24-12 overall record. Then, despite winning 10 of their final 13 games this past season, the Panthers suffered disappointment. 

Capel returns four of his top six scorers and both Dunn and Corhen will surely work into the mix.

Corhen is a 6-10, 225-pound big man who's going to add size inside. He finds different ways to score and showcased that by scoring a career-high 25 points against Pittsburgh and surpassing the double-digit mark in 13 games last season. He's also looking to improve his perimeter game and has been working on his three-point shot. 

"I just want to bring an inside presence that I feel like has been missing for a little while here," Corhen said. "High-energy plays and just bring winning basketball." 

Corhen is going to join a frontcourt that includes Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham and Zack Austin. Incoming freshman Amdy Ndiaye and redshirt freshman Papa Amadou Kante, who missed last season with a knee injury, could work into the mix as well, but it's still too early to tell. However, it's evident the Panthers frontcourt will be filled with size and athleticism.

The backcourt can be just as experienced and talented, even after the departures of Hinson and Bub Carrington. Dunn joins Ishmael Leggett, the reigning ACC sixth man of the year, and Jaland Lowe. Freshmen Brandin Cummings and Amsal Delalić could work into the mix as well. At 6-8, Delalić, who's listed as a guard, may work more as a small forward but he's received high praise from Dunn, Corhen and Pitt alumni who have been in town preparing to play for Zoo Crew in The Basketball Tournament this weekend at the Petersen Events Center.

"We've gotten a chance over the two months we've been together to just play with each other and learn who likes to score from where and get to what spots, or whatever the case may be, just playing off each other's energy," Dunn said. "But I think we can be super dynamic because we all kind of bring something different to the table."

Leggett scored 12.3 points per game last year while Lowe added 9.6 points and 3.3 assists. Dunn only tallied 6.4 points per game during his one season at Houston, but he brings experience and has shown an ability to score in high volumes in the past. He scored a season-high 18 points against the University of Lousiana-Monroe last season and tallied a career-high 38 points against Vanderbilt during his final season at Temple. 

Unless he has to, Dunn isn't necessarily looking to be the top guy in the scoring column. He wants to come in and set the tone for the Panthers, which was something he learned at Houston. 

"Bringing your highest intensity every day was a mandate there," Dunn said. "It took a while for me to grasp, but once I got ahold of it, I kind of ran with it and it became second nature. So coming here, I'm just doing my best to be a high-energy dude every day, just be an everyday guy. My teammates know that when it comes time to apply pressure and be intense, they know Dame is going to be that. I've done my best to set the tone from day one."

The Panthers will have talent that will spread the floor, which will allow them to work inside and also get to the basket when needed. Their chemistry will also continue to grow as the team comes together over the next few months. But, just after a few months together, Dunn sees a ton of potential in his new team.

"It's really just because of our depth and the different types of guys that we have, the versatility of everyone that we have here," Dunn said. "It's really just been the tone we've been setting since day one, competing against each other, but making each other better on purpose."