Pitt's Jeff Capel believes freshman Bub Carrington can handle heavy workload

Bub Carrington will carry a unique personal situation and the responsibility that goes with it into his third game as a collegian Monday when Pitt welcomes Florida Gulf Coast to Petersen Events Center.

Carrington has scored 18 points in each of his first two games while leading the team in average minutes per game (28.5). He is getting on-the-job training as a freshman point guard while shouldering scoring, ball-handling and distribution tasks for the 2-0 Panthers.

Coach Jeff Capel is not surprised at Carrington’s success, despite the fact that he is the youngest player in the ACC (18 years, four months) and ninth youngest in the NCAA. Nor is Pitt’s coach worried about Carrington’s ability to hoist that heavy workload for a team surrounded by high expectations.

“He’s a good player,” Capel said, “so I don’t think it’s unusual for a good player to play well, even when you’re young. He grew up in a gym where he was around pros, NBA guys, a lot. That’s who he played with. He worked out with those guys. He’s been exposed to a lot of stuff.”

Carrington’s father, Carlton “Bub” Carrington, is a high school coach whose former pupils include former Pitt player Jamal Artis. Former NBA player Rudy Gay is a second cousin to Bub Jr.

Capel includes guard Jaland Lowe in his assessment of his freshman guards. Lowe doesn’t start, but he played a total of nearly 36 minutes in the two victories. Lowe also has basketball in his family background. His godfather is former NBA player and coach John Lucas II.

“Maturity wise, as far as basketball, they are little bit more advanced than a normal freshman,” Capel said. “One of the things I love about him and Jaland, you can coach them hard. They want to learn. They really do. They’re gym rats. Same thing with (Ishmael Leggett). They really, really want to be good.”

Pitt has rolled to two easy victories to start the season, increasing its winning streak at the Pete to eight games. But Capel sees problems that he hopes to fix before they impact games.

He likes the way the team plays defense — opponents are shooting a collective 30.5% — but the competition will ramp up before the end of the month.

“We, at times, get caught watching the ball,” Capel said. “The other time is when we give up straight-line penetration. When we got caught in the first half on some of those cuts (to the basket), it’s a habit we have to continue to work on and break consistently.”

Leggett played well on both ends of the court Friday against Binghamton, scoring 18 points, recording four steals and holding his defensive assignment (Pine-Richland graduate Dan Petcash) to one field goal.

With players such as Leggett, Blake Hinson (39 total points) and the size in the paint covering up for mistakes, the pressure on Carrington should not become stifling.

Florida Gulf Coast (1-1) appears to be tougher opposition than Binghamton presented to the Panthers on Friday. FGC led Indiana by six midway through the second half before losing 69-63. But it followed up that game with an unimpressive 80-71 victory against Ave Marie of the NAIA.

The Eagles, led by former Penn State coach Pat Chambers, were 12-3 last season before finishing 17-15. Former Penn State guard Dallion Johnson scored 17 against Indiana, hitting five 3-pointers.

After Monday, Pitt plays Jacksonville at home Friday before traveling to Brooklyn, N.Y., over the Thanksgiving holiday to play Florida on Nov. 22 and either No. 20 Baylor or Oregon State on Nov. 24.