justin champagnie Archives

Former Pitt forward Champagnie signs two-way deal with Toronto Raptors

By Stephen Thompson, Senior Staff Writer • August 2, 2021

Former Pitt forward Justin Champagnie did not hear his name called during Thursday’s NBA Draft, but did find a temporary home at the next level nonetheless. A 2021 First Team All-ACC selection, Champagnie signed a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Champagnie will “test the NBA Draft process;” final decision awaits

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • March 23, 2021

The Pitt star announced that he will “test the NBA Draft process” this offseason.

Pitt comeback falls short in 77-62 loss at Clemson

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • March 8, 2021

Pitt men’s basketball (10-11 overall, 6-10 ACC) was unable to overcome sluggishness on both ends of the court early. The Panthers’ comeback effort fell short in a 77-62 loss at Clemson (16-6 overall, 10-6 ACC) on Saturday afternoon.

Column | ACC’s top tier dominate conference award season

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer • March 8, 2021

As the regular season comes to a close and college basketball ramps up into conference tournaments, the time to hand out yearly awards has come as well. Staff writer Kyle Saxon breaks down who he thinks should take home annual honors in the ACC.

Pitt begins life after Johnson, Toney with 65-62 loss to NC State

By Zack Gibney and Stephen Thompson • March 1, 2021

Pitt (9-10 overall, 5-9 ACC) has now lost eight of its last nine games after falling 62-65 at NC State (12-9 overall, 8-8 ACC) on Sunday afternoon. In the wake of two key personnel losses, head coach Jeff Capel insisted that he felt this loss could be better attributed to the eight-day layoff between games and not the recent roster attrition.

Contentious offseason fades in memory as Sibande settles in at Pitt

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • February 24, 2021

After the COVID-19 pandemic and a contentious transfer process kept him out of action for 262 days, Nike Sibande spent his first nine games at Pitt shaking off the rust. But he showed flashes of dynamism in his breakout game on Saturday that indicate his game is growing along with the comfort of a still-new home in Pittsburgh.

Sibande’s season-best can’t save Pitt in 79-72 loss to No. 16 FSU

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • February 20, 2021

With a vocal, five-person contingent of the Oakland Zoo jeering and cheering from just to the left of the media suite for the first time this season, Pitt (9-9 overall, 5-8 ACC) battled No. 16 Florida State (13-3 overall, 9-2 ACC) for most of Saturday’s contest at the Petersen Events Center. But the Seminoles’ size and depth proved to be too much for Pitt to handle in the end. FSU dominated the paint offensively, en route to a 79-72 win over the Panthers.

Column | Champagnie has earned his status among ACC’s elite

By Zack Gibney, For The Pitt News • February 19, 2021

Historically, the conference gives ACC Player of the Year to an outstanding player on an exceptional team primed for a deep tournament run in March — where Champagnie has a problem.

Preview: Pitt will outduel Yellow Jackets behind dominant Champagnie performance

By Eddie Lasker, For The Pitt News • February 9, 2021

The Pitt Panthers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will square off as the No. 8 and No. 6 teams in the ACC standings, respectively, on Sunday at 4 p.m.