PITTSBURGH (AP) Jeff Capel noticed the fearlessness in Trey McGowens, Xavier Johnson and Au'Diese Toney right away. The way they played, it was almost impossible to miss. Capel leaned on that inherent daring when he made his recruiting pitch to them last spring just days after taking over the rebuilding project at Pittsburgh.

Join me, Capel said. Let's bring the swagger back together.

Less than nine months later, what Capel cautioned would be a lengthy process appears to be well ahead of schedule behind his three precocious freshmen, who have shrugged off the program's regrettable recent past with a competitive fire that points to a promising future.