in Game Threads, Pitt Basketball 28 Words

Pitt Basketball: Notre Dame at Pitt Open Game Thread

The last regular season game is upon us.  Can Jeff Capel and the team pull it together against all odds to deliver a parting gift to the Zoo?

89 thoughts on “Pitt Basketball: Notre Dame at Pitt Open Game Thread”

  3. And besides… according to Head Coach himself… They (the Players) are tired and burned out and overwhelmed… and just too YOUNG!

    How could any of this possibly change today?

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  4. I’ve also read on here one hundred times that Capel is not a basketball coach of any substance, which I totally disagree with. Also, PITT is penciled in for a 2:00 PM start on Tuesday against GT.

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  11. In the first five minutes our last place men’s Panther BB team has scored 2 points. Should have left the seniors stay in the game.

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  19. Our guys do keep fighting. Course it take so much to catch up, they can never get the lead.

    That foul shot by Ellison was about the worst I’ve ever seen. A real flat-liner…

    Go Pitt.

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  22. Somebody down in Big Dan’s area go over and wake him up.

    Dan is another poster that should have been on the out of towner list.

    The charging call on McGownes was terrible.

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  25. I just read on Chris Peak twitter that DJ Gordon form Christian Love Academy in Washington PA is attending his 5th Pitt game. He is a 6’5 JR and is 247 4-star and a Rivals 3-star. He has offers from Ariz St, Dayton, Va Tech and TCU and others … but not from either Pitt or WVU

    Recruiting can be a very subjective issue

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  27. Foul calling is so random in BB. And that goes for both teams.

    Come on Panthers! Win one for Scooter!

    Go Pitt.

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  34. Pitt always lets some nobody go off. Laszewski avg 6 on season. Has 18 today. So frustrating!!

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  39. Chuck shut down the All-American as well. Nice all around effort – victory cigars for all…

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  40. Now PITT makes a run in the ACC, wins the whole tournament and goes to the big dance. 🙂 .. …lol!

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  41. That call against Chuk near the end was BS!

    So we won because of JWF’s banked in 3! Love it!

    Also love that JWF and McGowens came thru — they have gotten hammered too much, they are not the problem…

    Go Pitt.

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      2. Well, as I see it, it’s not the guards (and I consider JWF a guard).

        It’s the lack of offensive plays and rebounds from the “centers” and the forwards.

        And I don’t think it’s even close.

        Go Pitt.

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        1. all I can say is Thank God I wasn’t at the game …. because I would be in jail right now after that Chakuwu blocking foul. Worst call in a season of bad calls

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  44. One thing nice to see today, and even in this game it took a while to happen, was some pull up jumpers and floaters from XMan. If he polishes up that option for next season, he’ll be very, very tough to defend…

    Go Pitt.

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  45. PoD, Pitt is what we thought they were …. and CLEARLY the issue wasn’t the freshmen guards … no freakin way. Just w hat did you expect from them?

    e knew the issue going into this year was that we were overmatched in the front court. And as bad as Johnson and McGowens played at times … they were still far more valuable than what Chuk and Brown did this last month an half. .

    Chuk and Brown didn’t rebound, didn’t score, or didn’t defend for much of the ACC season. For goodness sakes, neither of them can get catch a freakin pass!

    I fairness, I didn’t expect much … but over the month or so, I got even less

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  46. Funny thing. Going back to the Blather Days, there has been a reluctance to put ANY blame on Players, Basketball or Football. Now, POVers want to put it ALL on the Players.

    Personally, I think this Basketball Team is BETTER than their record. But that’s just me.

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  47. But thank goodness Pitt beat Notre Dame.

    Had they lost it would have BLOWN my theory out of the water.

    Capel wins when he has SUPERIOR Talent. Today that was the case… barely!

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  49. That ref tried his darndest and we still won. McGowens obviously the difference maker in all three wins.

    Capel better be recruiting guys that can rebound and score. Biggest need is a three point shooter, next is a power forward, with strong hands and touch around the hoop.

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  50. In ACC play, Brown averaged 4.3 rebounds and Chuk averaged 2.1. I’m not blaming them because neither is a center or ACC caliber for that matter. Capel wasn’t hired until late March so you can blame him for not getting a big man last year in the short time he had. But the truth is that you can blame anyone you want but I can’t see where it really means much.

    Now it’s a little disappointing thus far that Capel hasn’t brought in a real good big man but again, just like I contend in football, it’s more the program than the person (especially if you don’t cheat) We’ll see ehat develops over the next month

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    1. That is very true, until he got to the ACC. Plus he always did it for the most part with upper class men who had been in the program and adhered to his strict system. Blair being the exception, but he had the superior talent. Jamie turned tail and ran when he knew he couldn’t compete in the ACC.

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    2. I would say there are only a FEW who can win in the ACC with lesser talent – and yes, Dixon was one in his heyday.

      Frankly, I’d rather have a lesser X and O coach who has some recruiting chops over a coach who can’t recruit but is better with the Xs and Os… But that’s just me.

      Go Pitt.

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  54. Ill take Capel over Dixon as I expect the recruiting to be much better, which will help his coaching. H2P!

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  55. Don’t forget that McGowen came out early and is far younger than most. However without him Pitt does not win an ACC game due to a lack of scoring.
    It is also interesting that Coach strongly favored Chukwuku in this game and many others. It looked for a while like Brown was coming on but really faded. He did however make a big shot when Chukwuku had to sit because of a bleeding hand.

    I think Capel needs a couple of senior transfers, because they will be really young again next year. Hopefully N’Dir is granted another year of eligibility.

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    1. Said hello to Mr. Weaver after last year’s spring game.

      He sure looked the part — long and lean. Was friendly to talk to…

      Go Pitt.

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  59. What a great day! Made it to the game from central pa. Great atmosphere and win. Afterwards I said hi to Narduzzi from across the street on forbes avenue and then met chunukwa and ellison on forbes and met stef millen on forbes after that! Millen said he was happy to be done with football. I thought he might have made an effort to go the NFL but he said he’s done.

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  60. I’m hoping none of the Pitt players— or the coaches — get in trouble with their celebrating tonight…

    (Scooter too…) 😊

    Go Pitt.

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  61. Heard Coach Capel say after the game that Kene if dealing with a bad back. Keeps him from practicing much.

    I know Kene has significant limitations, but I really like this guy. Works really hard for his team…

    Go Pitt.

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  63. Happy to be wrong about the game yesterday. Pitt actually covered the spread(barely) for the first time in 14 games. Now can we make it a 2 game win streak come Tuesday?

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  64. Great to see McGowens beat his offensive slump. Pretty dumbfounding how long it lasted. He never stopped playing defense and his last steal helped seal the deal.

    Understandable why Pitt is near the bottom of the ACC but what has happened to ND? Worst team for them that I can remember. Always a pleasure to beat them, no matter what.

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  65. Chiming in late, nice win for Pitt if only as something to build on. Bottom line, as Capel said, Pitt does not have many scorers, so when one guy comes out of a slump, that’s all it takes (though conversely X happened to have an off game).

    Also, good to have some discussion on here to look forward to next year, there just isn’t much decent coverage on Pitt bb anywhere right now. The Lair occasionally has good info., but you have to weed through so much trash posted by kids stuck in their moms’ basements, and Peak, though he means well, doesn’t appear to have a grasp of basketball so he fills his articles with fluff (though I appreciate his efforts). I think this site has potential to cover both sports well in the future, if we keep at it.

    H2P

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m thinking Dan could give us a foul-shooting clinic at one of Fran’s tailgates. 😊

        Go Pitt.

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        1. I made the all-intramural team in college once …. but that’s about all I got (Never coached or played in high school)
          I have a feeling as the team improves, we will be seeing more and more media coverage.

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  67. I would participate in a Dan foul shooting clinic but I’m afraid Dan would yell at me and tell me to get off the court! 🙂 Just kidding Big Dan.

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