in Pitt Football 35 Words

Pitt Basketball: ACC Tournament Game 1 Thread

Pitt went out on a high note at the Pete last weekend.  Lets see if they can keep the momentum rolling and get some revenge against BC all at the same time.
Hail to Pitt

128 thoughts on “Pitt Basketball: ACC Tournament Game 1 Thread”

  1. POV Poll — Do you agree with the decision to give the football team the week off?

    A) Yes — they are part of the student body and should enjoy Spring Break

    B) No — breaking up the spring practice schedule makes no sense

    C) Undecided — while it doesn’t make much sense, it is only spring practice

    D) I don’t follow Pitt football

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I thought this game started at 9:00 but here it is starting at 7:00. Hope I was the only mistaking the start time.

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    1. Hey if anyone wants to know of good fish fry I know a 2star place in Altoona. Word on the street is if you talk it up enough and with the rite coaching it will become a five star!!!!

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  9. In the ND game, ND reminded me of Pitt, missing out on at least 10 points they should have had…

    Only way we win tonight is if Xman, McGowens, and either Toney or Brown, all have a big game. Since that combo is highly unlikely, I’m expecting a 10 point loss. ☹️

    But I’ll be rootin’.

    Go Pitt.

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  18. You have to laugh when a visiting player scores a TD…. they give the shhh sign with their finger on their lips? Same thing happens when a PITT sports team is doing well. shhh, it gets quiet round these parts.

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  19. Awesome first half. I can’t remember the last time everyone played well for that long. Seems like usually 1 or 2 guys have sucked each game. Not so far!

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  20. Here’s the story…

    Boston College vs Pitt

    FG% 25.0… 48

    3PT% 18.2… 42.9

    FT% 63.6… 69.2

    Bottom line at Halftime… Boston College shooting ICE COLD!

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    1. Now if the NCAA would only prohibit Zone defense, Pitt would have @ least 7 more wins this year

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  24. Yesterday’s indoor golf was enjoyed at Corsi’s Golf in Greensburg owned and operated by Joe Corsi, scratch golfer and instructor… his real claim to fame- his first cousin is the POV’s very own Annie….

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Bernie: I used to live 3 minutes from Corsi’s. Was a member at Ligonier CC for a few years when Joe was a member there. The guy could play!

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  29. Glad you made it back safe Biggie…I’m enjoying the heck out of this game.
    Need to hang tough.

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  31. Odell Beckham to the Browns. Is that the move that counters the Stillers ridding of A.Brown?

    Next you’ll see Leveon Bell signing with the Ravens.

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  34. Looks Lyke a win tonight. Two straight.

    Can this team stay hot and beat cuse? Tune in at 9pm tomorrow…

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  39. AB will be disruptive in Oakland. Bell will be disruptive wherever he goes. Steelers couldn’t win the big
    game with them. Time to move on!

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  42. Bad news for Pitt baseball – losers of 5 straight. The D is suspect and the pitching is weak.

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  43. couple observations:

    No I ain’t no Dan, he knows his stuff.

    The freshmen lost their confidence during the season. McGowens more than Johnson. Toney will be ok as he is a tweener right now playing a part he’s not physically suited for. Help is on the way and he could be the next Jaron brown.

    Great to see Johnson/McGowens get back their confidence but more importantly, it looked like to me, they showed more of a chemistry between each other tonite.

    I don’t expect PITT to win tomorrow night but I’m happy with this season and happy moving forward with this basketball program. This team makes me smile. After-all, what else can you ask for? . . .. . …ike

    Liked by 2 people

  44. Chuk with 9 rebounds and hustled all over the floor. Despite his limitations, he’s a favorite of mine.

    JWF also had 9 rebounds.

    It’s fun when Pitt wins! 😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  49. Dan… How about the Players? Do they REALLY stink as bad as you and others have been saying all year?

    Don’t think so.

    See my Post way back at 7:39 when the Game was still in question.

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    1. I never said the players stink. Ever. They’re young and I love the three frosh. Especially X who I think will end up being the best guard in Pitt history.

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      1. Dan, I’ve never heard you say anything close to the players stink. In fact the biggest critic of this PITT team and coaches has been POD himself. The guy never shuts up about Capel being terrible.

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  51. Only thing that troubled me tonight was that our guys seemed to lack urgency and quickness in creating room for inbound passes when BC was pressing.

    Something to work on…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

  52. The difference is McGowens. He has given them a third dimension on offense (X-man and JWF being the first two) in the past two games that had been missing for months. I realize that the caliber of our opponent had a little to do with it, but we looked like a top 25 team in the first half. I’m excited to see what they will become in the next few years if Coach Capel can land a few more recruits. With my daughter enrolling as a freshman in the fall, she gives me an extra reason to brave Route 80 to come see some games next year.

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  53. A reminder — last year at this time, Stallings was still our coach…

    I’d say we’ve come a ways…

    (And we even got a glimpse of Heather in the crowd tonight…😊)

    Hail to Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

  54. What a fun game to watch tonight. Especially nice that it was a ‘feature’ game on National TV. Listening to professional announcers was a treat after a season of Raycom.

    Making the second round of The ACC is huge for this group of young men.

    Capel has them clicking on all cylinders more and more. Liked the early timeout when they got down 7-0. Whatever he said lit a fire under the guys – their D was tenacious and they suddenly were running lots of plays successfully. Methinks The Trey & X Show is going to get rave ratings in the future and has the potential to be the best backcourt tandem seen around these parts in several years.

    What a difference playing 3/4 of the game with a lead instead of struggling from behind. I’m sure it relaxed them and took some of the pressure off the occasional miscue. If nothing else getting that feeling back for just a few games at this time of will have a big carry over for next year.

    Think we have a good shot to beat the Orange…if they are looking ahead to Duke Pitt could steal a win if they keep their composure and enforce their will.

    It will be a fun one for sure.

    H2P

    Liked by 3 people

  55. What I think is the most important aspect of these past two games is that any decent transfer type player would now more strongly consider PITT as they are looking more like a team that is only few good players away form being very competitive. If they would have lost the past two games to end the season, a player like Kahim Sy < sp would have passed, although he still might but he would be the game changer this PITT team needs.

    Liked by 4 people

  57. OK, after the euphoria of last night, now back to reality/ Tonight Pitt plays the best zone defense in the nation. Enough said

    Silver lining? …. two years ago, Pitt had 6 seniors including two who would sign NBA contracts, as well as Ryan Luther and Cam Johnson. They finished with 16 wins overall and 4 wins in the ACC.

    This year Pitt has one (or two) seniors and 14 wins overall and 3 wins in ACC. I think now the sun is rising and not falling

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    1. Agree on the reality comment. But, this is cuse we are talking about and we will be on PRIME TIME TV. Rivalry or not, for us Pitt fans, we really dislyke the cuse.

      If I’m coach Capel, I ride the hot hands until they beg me to come out of the game for a rest. Last night we saw a bunch of fresh legs, renewed energy and a BC coach that forgot Pitt has trouble with a zone D.

      Go figure?

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  58. Got the basketball season ticket renewal email yesterday. Perfect timing by the Athletic Department! I’ll renew mine today. Can’t wait for the Pete reseating process. It’ll be the proverbial Christmas in July!

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  59. A very tough season with a decent ending. Doesn’t change a whole lot, other than attitude. Still need more better players for next year. Nice to see JWF finish strong after some times he looked like he did last year. The resurgence of McGowen made all the difference in the last two.

    Really great start to the Capel era after the misery that Barnes and Stallings brought to Pitt. That level of ineptitude rivaled any ever seen at Pitt and that says a whole lot. Great to see JWF, Brown and Chukwuku see some success, after living through last season. Didn’t have the personnel to compete with the top half of the ACC, and played most of the teams they had a chance with on the road. No road wins says a lot about the team’s youth or vice versa.

    George is probably gone and question whether Ellison or Davis will see much PT next year, especially if N’Dir gets another year.

    The last two games should help recruiting a little, makes the case that the future is bright.

    Attendance will be up next year. Pitt going to reverse the seating next year, not sure why? Thought they were going to get rid of the stupid court level club seats, but no, they stay. Will the Zoo be behind the benches, that would be interesting.

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    1. The Zoo will loose some seats directly behind the new visitor bench in the corner in front of 110 – 112 – I think around 500. I can just see the opposing coaches loosing their hair in clumps at the thought of being right in front of the mayhem.

      I believe the press area is moving up to the mezzanine near where the Pitt suite is now and the Zoo will gain that section. The Band will move behind the basket opposite the club next to the aisle leading to the practice gym.

      I think there will be a super premium on court section this year too in front of the lower club section at midcourt where the scorers sit now.

      Hope they rebrand the Pete with the new colors too – it will be a great environment!

      H2P

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  60. Pitt doesn’t have the players to play with Syracuse, would take ridiculously hot three point shooting to have a chance. The zone shuts down our guards drives and we don’t have a forward that can make a high percentage from the foul line. Next year could be different.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The only way we beat cuse tonight starts with tough D. This group of players can check that box.

      The next thing would be a hot hand or two from the outside – JWF and McGowens could check that box. Sid and X with possible hot hand nights, but very unlykely.

      Lastly, we need someone to hit from the middle of the screen – my vote is Toney. Any chance Kham Davis returns tonight? I hear he is out with a concussion.

      If all three aspects have to happen for Pitt to win, count the season as over. But, it’s not over til it’s over.

      H2P!

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    2. Mentally Pitt is in a great spot. Syracuse HAS to be thinking about Duke. Time will tell if they are thinking too much and overlook a dangerous Pitt team.

      If Syracuse is slow getting out the gate, and Pitt can jump the shark offensively right from the opening tip, play tenacious D throughout and force their will against the interior of the Orange zone – and I mean get physical – and dictate the pace then they will have a chance at the upset.

      Chuk is playing with an extra added step I haven’t seen since November. Brown is showing signs of confidence again. Toney is working hard and getting open looks underneath – he just can’t score the ball.

      Not predicting a win but I believe this is a fair bracket matchup for Pitt and will not be at all surprised if Pitt pulls of the upset.

      H2P

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  61. GC, I think the flip refers to moving the TV cameras to the opposite side of the arena. That way the TV audience will see the antics of the student section instead of guests in the floor boxes, many of whom are only there for the free food and drink and rarely show enthusiasm for the game. The students will stay essentially where they are. The media seats and pep band will be moved.

    I think the announced reseating was intended to encourage people to buy season tickets this past season as they will get first pick of the seats this summer. It also encourages folks to contribute more to increase their priority point total and improve their standing in the seat picking order.

    Speaking of the floor boxes, I never understood why Pitt has not had the football coaches use those to entertain recruits attending a basketball game. Pitt apparently maintains “ownership” of at least two of those boxes. Put the administration’s guests in one of the upper boxes and move the recruits out of the student section and into the luxury floor boxes. Maybe there is an NCAA rule against it but if not …

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  62. The City of Pittsburgh just announced that open containers of alcohol are banned in the Market Square St. Patrick’s Day celebration and will have police enforcing the ban. Is this a prelude to a similar ban at Pitt and Steeler tailgates?

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  63. A BTW on Kham, I saw a team photo of them gathering during a recent practice and Kham was in it. He was dressed in a different attire and from afar, it looked like his face was still swollen up. I read where he had a few teeth knock right out of his head.

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  64. Anyone else having trouble with their sleep after this spring forward time change? A haven’t had a good nights rest since Sat. Golden years my ass.

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  65. On the Poll I pick (A) spring break OK for the football team.—–On the BB front I say only 4 more wins and Pitt is in the NCAA tourney.

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    1. That stuff about one team winning because they “wanted it more” always seems to me like a crappy excuse for the losing side to make…

      Go Pitt.

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      1. It can be true. But it can also be a THROWAWAY Line by a Coach or Players in place of actually spelling out the actual reasons for a BAD outing and sounding like you’re making excuses.

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  67. You guys are funny. We just beat Notre Dame who is tied with Pitt for the worst record in the ACC and a conference winning percentage of 16.7 percent. We also beat Boston College, who is not ranked last, but close to it and a conference winning percentage of 27.8 percent. Let’s say those are good wins, but to me, there is nothing in these last two games that shows we are improving.

    Better recruits and better results will show we are improving. Just being real fellas. Not being a debbie downer. Only US Pitt fans can take two victories against the bottom dwellers and say we have established momentum. What we have established over the season, is that we are a bottom dweller with an ability to beat another bottom dweller if we have a hot shooting night.

    Do I like our team better, yes. Do I like our coach better, yes. That’s it. I can’t get excited beating those two teams. I think we tend to look at ND and BC and say they are solid programs (because they were in the past), but the season says they are not. Will I be excited when they beat Syracuse, dang skippy. Am I glad we have the chance to play Syracuse, dang skippy. Will they beat Syracuse, dang skippy! On any given night they can. Hopefully, it’s tonight!

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  69. ^^ Huff the Third, while I agree with you that ND and BC are pretty much the bottom dwellers, along with PITT in the ACC and beating them is not much to pound our chests about. That said and I reiterate my point above that the two wins created a perception that PITT basketball is salvageable to prospective recruits. Graduate or transfer recruits are not just looking for playing time but winning basketball games at the same time. I think the wins have demonstrated to a good player or two that PITT could supply both of those things.

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  71. Wins are always better than losses against any team and I am glad we won them.

    I just Tepper the enthusiasm for now. We will be nationally televised so for momentum sake, it would be great to beat the Syracuse Orangemen (not politically correct).

    Hopefully we get another commitment soon. Go big Capel III.

    Tex, you are a funny one brother! OCS, OCS, OCS, OCD! I think we are aligned on the overall state of athletics, except you are a little softer on our AD as we progress from being a baseball school to a lacrosse school. College Athletic/Admission Departments getting another black eye today as they accept money for listing players as athletes, taking bribes etc. And we wonder why corporate scandals occur!!

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    1. LOL Huff the Third, did you have feather soup for lunch? Lot of little innuendos in your last comment.

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  72. BTW just noticed that the classic 2011 Big East Tourney game between Pitt and UConn is on ESPNU – over at 1 PM.

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      1. I was at that game in the Garden with my son. Heart breaker – Syracuse was the game that followed and I believe it was against St Johns. I looked at my son (who’s birthday it was) and said it is your call if we stay for the second game – he was just as deflated as I was and we shanked ars out of NYC.

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  74. —Noticed the “Family” shirts Pitt was wearing last night. Recruits will often say they want to go to a school where there’s a family atmosphere on and around the team.

    —Hats off to Coach Capel for being a class act thru this tough season. Same for Coach White with the women’s team.
    I think you can see that the players really like these coaches.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 3 people

  75. Great point John, too bad the PITT football team has so much infighting and all the mutiny within their ranks…. oh wait a minute, they don’t.

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      1. Steelers have had a decent run – though they squandered having a HOF QB…

        Cleveland should be loaded for a while with all the high draft choices, finally finding a QB, and now opening the pocketbook…

        Go Pitt.

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  80. Right NRS, I could have never worn those baggy ash shorts that went down to the ankles. They certainly are not aerodynamically correct. You look good, you feel good and you play good.

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  81. speaking of Bill Knight …. if that picture above of Gallagher and Tepper was expanded, you would have seen him also

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  83. Hey if anyone wants to know of good fish fry I know a 2star place in Altoona. Word on the street is if you talk it up enough and with the rite coaching it will become a five star!!!!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Hmmm…

      I guess that news on Battle trumps (not political) one of my three musts for a Pitt win tonight.

      Let’s Go Pitt!

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  89. I had seen Pitt favored by 1 prior to the game, Mark. But CBS Spotts has it as a pick in the postgame stats.

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