NIKE SIBANDE NEWS

Pitt loses senior G Nike Sibande with right ACL tear

Pittsburgh senior guard Nike Sibande is out for the season after tearing his right ACL in an exhibition win over Gannon

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Done for year with ACL tear Sibande will miss the entire 2021-22 season after suffering a torn ACL, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact Sibande suffered the injury in Monday night's scrimmage against Gannon and was removed from the contest. This was is a tough blow for a player who was expected to start this season after finishing very strong last year.

NOVEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with injury Sibande was shut down for the night after suffering a knee injury during Monday's scrimmage against Gannon, Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Sibande appeared to knock knees with a Gannon player, and the team ruled him out for the night as a precaution shortly after. He'll have just over a week to heal up for his team's season opener Nov. 9 against Citadel.

NOVEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt rebooting again as Jeff Capel enters fourth season

Pittsburgh remains very much a work in progress as coach Jeff Capel enters his fourth season

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Breaking down Pitt's 2020-21 season, player by player In the 10 days that have followed its first-round ACC tournament loss, Pitt’s 2020-21 season has been dissected in a slew of ways. With a 10...

MARCH 18, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Nike Sibande to use extra year of eligibility, return to Pitt next season Faced with an unusual, uncertain season created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA granted every men’s basketball player what amount...

MARCH 5, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pitt senior Nike Sibande says he'll use bonus season of eligibility, return in 2021-22 A week after two players left the Pitt basketball program, coach Jeff Capel found one who could leave but wants to stay. Guard Nike Sibande,...

MARCH 5, 2021 • TRIBLIVE.COM

Future uncertain, Pitt's Nike Sibande taking advantage of the moment Nike Sibande hit three 3-pointers in Pitt’s win over Wake Forest on Tuesday night. The first was a dead-on attempt from the top of the key w...

MARCH 4, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Will return to Pitt Sibande said Thursday on the Jeff Capel Radio Show he wants to return to school next season, Cale Berger of 93.7 The Fan reports.

Impact After three years at Miami (Ohio), Sibande transferred to Pitt in 2020 but was forced to sit out the beginning of the season while waiting for a waiver from the NCAA. He slowly worked his way into the starting role, and on the season is averaging 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 17.5 minutes per game. He'll look to enjoy a more complete campaign next winter as a fifth-year senior.

MARCH 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Boosts Pitt to victory Sibande had 23 points (7-13 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 6-6 FT), nine rebounds and four assists across 37 minutes in Tuesday's 70-57 victory over Wake Forest.

Impact Sibande has made four consecutive starts for the Panthers but has been especially productive in his last three games, averaging 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists over that span. With both Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney in the transfer portal, a mountain of minutes has suddenly opened up in the backcourt, and the senior is taking full advantage. Pitt nonetheless remains a long shot for the NCAA Tournament.

MARCH 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nike Sibande capitalized on his opportunity in Pitt's loss to Florida State The senior guard had season highs in minutes (36), points (12), rebounds (seven) and shot attempts (13) in Pitt’s loss to the Seminoles.

FEBRUARY 21, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Starting Wednesday's contest Sibande is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against North Carolina State.

Impact Sibande will be making his third start in nine games this season. He is averaging just 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per contest.

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt is lit; Champagnie, Panthers serving notice in ACC

Pittsburgh forward Justin Champagnie says the Panthers are back

JANUARY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Will be available Saturday Sibande (not injury related) has been practicing with the team since clearing quarantine last weekend and will be available for Saturday's game against Syracuse, Christopher Carpen...

Impact Sibande was put into the team's COVID-19 protocol due to contact tracing but has been practicing with the team all week since being removed and will be available to play in Saturday's contest. The 6-4 senior has started in one of two games he's appeared in his season and has averaged 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and an assist in 17 minutes per game. It's unclear how head coach Jeff Capel could go about making his starting lineup with most of his players back in uniform.

JANUARY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Out of COVID protocol Sibande (not injury related) finished his quarantine Saturday and will be able to start practicing in order to potentially play in the Panthers' next game on Jan. 13, Craig Meyer o...

Impact Sibande was forced to quarantine himself due to contact tracing as the Panthers have been dealing with COVID-19 issues within their program that has led to two postponements already. The 6-4 senior was officially cleared to come out of quarantine Saturday and will have a few days to practice to give him a good chance to suit up for Wednesday's game against Georgia Tech.

JANUARY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nike Sibande, John Hugley and Noah Collier miss Pitt's game at Syracuse due to 'COVID-related protocols' Pitt freshman forward John Hugley, senior guard Nike Sibande and freshman forward Noah Collier were held out of the Panthers’ game Wednesday...

JANUARY 6, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Slated to sit due to contact tracing Sibande is expected to miss Wednesday's game against Syracuse due to contact tracing, Steve Infanti of News Channel 9 reports.

Impact Sibande is one of a host of Panthers expected to skip out on the contest. It's an unfortunate turn for Sibande, who moved into a starting role in the team's last game against Louisville and posted eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. With the team expected to be shorthanded, look for the remaining regulars to see extensive action Wednesday.

JANUARY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets first start Tuesday Sibande will start Tuesday's game against Louisville.

Impact Sibande made his season debut last week against Miami after he was cleared to play as a transfer. He should see more than the eight minutes he saw last week with Au'Diese Toney out with an ankle injury.

DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt-Miami observations: Some much-needed scoring diversity, Nike Sibande's debut and all those fouls It was going to take an unusual, perhaps even sadistic, combination of factors for Pitt to lose Wednesday against an injury-scarred Miami te...

DECEMBER 17, 2020 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pitt transfer guard Nike Sibande granted eligibility for this season For months on social media, there was a cry among Pitt men’s basketball fans to “Free Nike,” referring to Nike Sibande, the team’s...

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Cleared to play Sibande (transfer) has been cleared to take part in Wednesday's game versus Miami.

Impact This is the first announcement of a player previously being denied a waiver to take the floor, so Sibande may be one of a large group of players who may be receiving a blanket waiver from the NCAA. He should see action right away for the Panthers, as he's been practicing with the club.

DECEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt-Gardner Webb observations: Femi Odukale, a stingy defense and some hopeful Nike Sibande news An early-December game against Gardner-Webb isn’t exactly the stuff of legendarily high stakes or obstacles, but just 93 seconds into the co...

DECEMBER 14, 2020 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pitt looks to take another step forward under Capel

Pittsburgh is hoping to take another step forward in its third season under coach Jeff Capel

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Documents reveal inconsistencies in denial of eligibility for Pitt transfer Nike Sibande As waiver requests for immediate eligibility have been granted across college basketball at an unusually high rate, Nike Sibande stands as a...

OCTOBER 6, 2020 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Waiver request denied Sibande had his waiver for immediate eligibility denied by the NCAA, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports.

Impact NCAA has been a bit softer this season with their waiver requests, so this is somewhat surprising. The school did say they will appeal the decision. If it gets upheld, Sibande will have to wait until the 2021-22 season to play for Pittsburgh.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE