Pittsburgh men's basketball 2017-18 season preview

Overview: The Panthers finished last season with their first losing record in 17 years, and there is a significant chance that that same narrative repeats itself during the 2017-2018 campaign. Though Pittsburgh returned seven of its top eight players in head coach Kevin Stalling’s first year, including Jamel Artis and Michael Young, both of whom are currently in the NBA G League, the Panthers struggled to gain consistency throughout the season. 

That lack of consistency spiraled into an eight-game conference losing streak, including a 55-point loss to Louisville. With a lot of speculation surrounding the relationship between Stallings and his players, the fact that five players transferred after the season only adds to the cloud of questions looming over the program. 

Only two players from last season return to Pittsburgh's roster, a group that includes seven freshmen and multiple incoming transfers. Senior Ryan Luther, who averaged just 5.7 points per game last season, is the only proven player for the Panthers, who look to be in a rebuilding year of sorts this season. Pittsburgh was picked to finish last in the ACC this year, a prediction that seems likely given its inexperience in one of basketball's toughest conferences. 

One thing that needs to go right: Any questions about the relationships between Stallings and his players are abated as a youthful Panthers squad surprises the rest of the conference with its athleticism and up-tempo offense, leading to a finish in the middle of the pack in the ACC.