Despite so many new faces, Pitt seeks to create an identity

When a team loses its top five scorers from the previous season, some unfamiliar faces might surface as leaders on and off the court.

That’s what happening to Pitt (1-2) early in the season while it tries to create an identity and win games at the same time.

The Panthers took baby steps Tuesday, beating UNC Wilmington, 59-51, and welcoming back to the floor senior guard Jamarius Burton, who missed a month with a knee injury after transferring from Texas Tech.

“He’s a very big voice for us, one of our leaders,” said senior forward Dan Oladapo, another transfer (Oakland) who will be forced to carry a load this season. Of the nine scholarship players who appeared against UNC Wilmington, only Femi Odukale and William Jeffress were with the team for the entirety of last season.

Burton, though, has made a strong impression on his teammates, before and during his recovery.

“Having him on the court, being the point guard out there, calling our plays, getting us in our defense is very big for us because we’re lacking that right now,” Oladapo said.

The education of coach Jeff Capel’s fourth Pitt team continues Friday when the Panthers welcome Towson (2-1) to Petersen Events Center. Towson, which plays in the Colonial Athletic Association with UNC Wilmington, has defeated Albany, 77-56, and Hampton, 78-54, and lost to Monmouth, 79-71.

The game might be a bit personal for Oladapo, who was recruited by Towson coach Pat Skerry, an assistant at Pitt under Jamie Dixon during the 2010-2011 season. Oladapo said Skerry, who has won at least 18 games in six of the past nine seasons at Towson, tried to recruit him out of high school. Plus, he competed in junior college against Cam Holden, Towson’s leading scorer (14.3 points per game) and rebounder (10.7).

“It’s going to be a fun game,” he said.

Oladapo said he’s trying to be a guiding force for a Pitt team trying to find its way after nine months of turbulence and rebuilding.

“I’ve been through the college basketball world,” he said. “We got a lot of young guys. I’m always telling them to keep their heads.”

He’s been especially helpful to 6-foot-9 center John Hugley, emphasizing his importance to the team. Hugley leads Pitt in scoring (19 points) and rebounding (nine).

“John likes to argue with refs a lot,” Oladapo said. “I just tell him, ‘People are going to come after you. You average 19 for us, big guy.’ I just try to be that voice in their head.”

It’s a role similar to what Burton has assumed, even while admitting he’s “still learning my teammates and the system.”

He scored seven points against UNC Wilmington, and played 25 minutes in his first game — about five minutes more than Capel anticipated.

“It was actually good for me to play as much as I did,” Burton said, “so my legs can get used to playing at that speed and pace again.”

Burton and Femi Odukale will be asked to handle much of the heavy lifting in the backcourt against Towson. That’s OK because Burton said they are “two ballhandlers who can get downhill and create for others.”

”We have that understanding that’s what we’re capable of doing,” Burton said. “The more and more we play together, the more and more we’ll get acclimated to each other’s tendencies. I feel like it will benefit our team.”

The first order of business will be cutting back on Pitt’s total of 57 turnovers in only three games.

“We have to understand that the ball is the most important thing,” he said.

If Pitt continues to struggle offensively after shooting 22.2% (6 of 27) from beyond the 3-point arc, the Panthers will need to excel in other areas.

“(Capel) has been preaching that our margin for error is small,” Burton said. “In order for us to win games, especially now, we have to capitalize on the little things. That’s taking charges, getting on the floor, being the first to the floor, getting every rebound possible. All those little things that add up to winning.”