McCoy, Young lead athletes to watch

As the newest members of the Panther family, it’s your job to learn about and follow Pitt’s… As the newest members of the Panther family, it’s your job to learn about and follow Pitt’s numerous sports teams – if you don’t already know about them.

Well, it’s not really your job at all, but you’re here, so might as well.

And while Pitt certainly has a lot of sports teams – and even more athletes competing in them – it might be a bit overwhelming to try and know exactly where to start if you’re coming to Pitt with little or no knowledge of Panther athletics.

But don’t fret possible newbies, The Pitt News is here to help.

Football

LeSean McCoy, Scott McKillop and Conor Lee

Last year, running back McCoy thrust himself into the middle of Pitt’s offensive attack as a freshman. He astonished fans with his quickness and ability to evade would-be tacklers.

McCoy finished his rookie campaign with 1,375 yards and 14 touchdowns, which broke the school record for rushing touchdowns by a freshman, previously held by Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett.

Along with fellow running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, the Panthers’ rushing attack should lead the offense once again.

But on the other side of the ball, linebacker McKillop leads a defense that finished fifth in the nation in total defense last year and returns most of its starters this year.

McKillop led the entire nation in tackles last year with 151.

Lee is about as sure-handed as you may get when it comes to kicking. The senior made more than 80 percent of his field goal attempts last season and has connected on his last 75 extra points.

Men’s Basketball

Levance Fields, Sam Young and DeJuan Blair

Recently, Young opted to forego testing the NBA Draft waters and return to Pitt for his senior season. He’ll join fellow senior Fields for what they hope will be a memorable last year at Pitt and finally get over the Sweet 16 hump.

Fields proved last year that not only can he run the team from the point, but with the game on the line, pressure certainly won’t get the best of him.

In a game on Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden against Duke, Fields hit a 3-pointer with just more than 4 seconds left in overtime to give the Panthers a dramatic victory over the Blue Devils.

Young led the Panthers on their unbelievable run in the Big East tournament last year. Becoming only the second team in the tournament’s history to win the entire thing while playing in each of the four rounds, Young was awarded Tournament MVP.

He also earned the Big East’s Most Improved Player award last year.

The two seniors are joined by Blair, who was co-rookie of the year in the Big East last season.

Blair, who comes from local Schenley High School, gives the Panthers an aggressive center needed to win in the always-physical Big East.

Women’s Basketball

Shavonte Zellous, Xenia Stewart and Taneisha Harrison

It seems that every year in recent memory the women’s basketball team continues to set records and advance to places for the first time.

Two years ago it was the NCAA Tournament and the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament victory. Last year it was the Sweet 16.

Although the Panthers are losing a few great players who helped build the program, coach Agnus Berenato and the Panthers have enough talent to continue to shake up the current records.

Last year Zellous led the team in scoring with 18.2 points per game, making her fifth in the Big East.

Stewart provided the Panthers with not only scoring but rebounding and assists, too. The senior scored 8.8 points a game to go with her 4.2 rebounds a game and 2.5 assists per game.

Harrison saw a lot of playing time as a freshman last year?and scored more than six points a game. This year both her playing time and production should increase.

Wrestling

Zach Sheaffer and Jimmy Conroy

Sheaffer returns for his senior season as the Eastern Wrestling League’s heavyweight champion.

It was Sheaffer’s second EWL title in his career – he captured the title in his freshman season in 2005.

Conroy also won the EWL title in his weight class, the 133-pound division. It was the junior’s first EWL crown.

Volleyball

Meagan Dooley, Michelle Rossi and Kelly Campbell

Although the Panthers missed out on the Big East tournament last season, they retained most of their players and appear primed for a run toward the postseason.

Rossi led the conference in digs last season, and Dooley finished in the top 10 in blocks.

While both Dooley and Campbell had good seasons last year, they will have the tough task of filling in for graduated senior Diana Andreyko.