124 thoughts on “Georgia Tech at Pitt Open Basketball Thread”

  1. This game is a serious need for Pitt. Lose this one and any tourney post season is in jeopardy.
    Hope Skippy plays. H2P

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  8. It’s almost impossible to play this bad!! No offense. No defense a carnival of turnovers and charges
    What do these guys do the night before games???

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    1. Pitt made a mistake in not taking his brother also. If his brother is just half as good as Champ Pitt would have hit the jackpot.

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        1. Hard to say on his brother. He could have been just as good with the coaching we have. Do not underestimate how good our staff is developing players.

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  15. Pitt lost on O and D without Mcgowens. Are we truly just cursed as a city with injuries to our sports teams ?

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  16. Wow, this team is so thin, now if McGowens is hurt they’re toast. They really need everyone on the roster. GT is so bad. Shame if they let this one get away.

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  18. Any kudos out to Terrell Brown for his efforts today? Did the coaches figure out he needs to drink a 5 hour energy drink before the games?

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  21. JeanieB watched a part of the last game with me against ND… after a McGowen and X-man drive to the basket she screams…”WTF kinda basketball is that!!!!!! She averaged close to 30pts a game playing for her nursing school….

    These guys have reached their ceiling… bad habits die hard with Mcgowens and X-man who BTW
    has terrible shooting mechanics on his jumper…,

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Though he missed the shot, that was a nice drive late in the half by Drumgoole. First time this season I thought he showed signs he could be a player…

    To me, this season continues to be all about preparation for next season. Would like to see Drumgoole get involved and gain some confidence…

    Go Pitt.

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  25. Could see it coming, but still LMAO! Thx, Rex!

    Hulu is out here, so I’m not watching the game. But it sounds like everyone could use a little comic relief in the middle of this farce.

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  28. We’re in big trouble. Hamilton having a horrible game. Rug cutting time for Pitt. Tech crushing us inside.

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  31. If we lose this game we have Clemson then probably 3 straight loses after that. We have to win this one.

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  38. I am so proud of this team!! Gutty win! Capel has instilled a real sense of fight on this team.
    Best free throw shooting team in years! H2P

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  39. Things are looking up for PITT basketball. Not all that impressive but a win, PITT could have used a nice outside shooter today against another zone. C-Penny is special. He plays like he’s 6’9″ with a good shot. Not many players like that around. << Get his brother to come over to the Burgh!

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  41. 1) the most appropriate technical foul ever. A terrible call by a ref completely out of position to make the call, yet turned the game around.

    2) Champagnie, a Brooklyn native, seems to have that savvy and court smarts that we Pitt fans saw a lot back in the 2000-10 decade from NYC/NJ players. Note that we have another Brooklyn native coming next season

    3) While not a Woodford win, I am enjoying Jim Beam Black Label right now.

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  42. for fun I had the opportunity to do what I have wanted to for a while, that is read these comments without knowing the outcome of the game

    it was great and of course NO F’in WAY COULD I EVER HAVE GUESSED THE FINAL SCORE

    some of you guys must be pretty rough to…..
    nah, nevermind

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  43. TVax plus one. Didn’t sound much like a winning effort.

    Box score looks pretty good though.

    It is nice to have five guys that are capable of big games, but Champ is the most consistent.

    With the guys on deck for next year it should get pretty interesting.

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    1. I normally stay away from game threads. Keeps me out of trouble……………… sort of. Game thread articles should be called, the sky is falling thread.

      Liked by 1 person

  44. Heck of a job by the coaches today to win this game while being so limited on personnel. I was beginning to think we might see Samson George today!

    Go Pitt.

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  45. Interesting that on his radio show last week, Coach Capel talked about how when he self-evaluated himself at the end of last season, he realized that he didn’t like the way he had interacted with the refs. Said he thought he was too hard on them and it didn’t help his team…

    Said he was trying to stay calmer this season…

    (IMHO, one must realize that a decent percentage of foul calls in BB are pretty much random…😊)

    Go Pitt.

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  46. John and everyone else, you notice right before Capel was tagged for the technical foul he laid his hands on the ref and immediately apologized?

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    1. Saw that ike.

      I thought I heard them say on the post-game show that what got Coach Capel the “T” was that he threw a towel…

      Go Pitt.

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  47. Just got home from the game…I dont read the threads during the games. Dan posted Champ reminds him of Billy Knight. I agree and BK was in the building today.
    We moved at halftime to club seats and I got 2 texts asking if Scooter was evicted. Haha.

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  48. The threads are always funny to read after a win.
    Kind of like those episodes of “Pittsburgh Dad” watching a Steeler game.

    Missed the game – played golf in balmy 45 degree weather. Glad the good guys won!

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  49. Listening to Coach Capel’s post-game interviews, and having caught a few of his radio shows, my thought is that there just aren’t many coaches out there who are as thoughtful and articulate as he is.

    Our timing was really, really fortunate in being able to hire Coach Capel. He’s like the perfect coach for Pitt BB, IMHO.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 7 people

  50. Liked by 2 people

  51. Still thinking in terms of an NIT bid for Pitt. I’m guessing they need at least 2 more wins and maybe 3. But they are growing up as a team and are learning how to win the close ones.

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    2. They probably need 23 wins. The ACC is down this year. Pitt with only one good win and a few bad losses.

      But should be a number 2 seed in the NIT allowing them to get at least one home game.

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  55. All signs are pointing towards a bright future for Pitt basketball…Today was an important building block…Simply put, we beat a team we should have beat and did so with no real threat of losing that game.

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  56. —Pitt has now won 4 in a row at the Pete. Starting the process of taking back the Pete…

    Scooter pleased!

    Go Pitt.

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  57. Missed more of the game than I wanted to. First 10 min or so were brutal. This game and last were two that Skippy could definitely have helped.
    Capel now sees life on the other side, and doesn’t much like it. ACC has some of the worst officials in college sports, football as well. Guys totally out of position making calls. Crazy.
    Be nice to get 20 wins this year. NIT team, but next year could make the dance. Hard nosed, but not real bright. Still make really bad decisions. Legit PG would be nice addition. I’m beat, cooked CNY for group of friends as it was postponed due to illness. Good,day,overall. Nite.

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  59. FYI: Champagnie was a 3 star and labeled as the 248th numbered recruit for 2019. Pitt could use a couple more of those talented 3 stars on both their BB and FB teams.

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    1. He was originally ranked as a 94 composite grade but slipped to an 88. A 94 is a top 50-75 recruit. Not sure why the drop.

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  60. Going into yesterday I was 0-2 at Hoops games I attended. Saw 2 debacles (WVU and Wake). Yesterday was shaping up to be a third. But once I saw Fran and Scooter before the game (also Wolfe), I knew Scooter’s jersey wouldn’t let us down. I got scared though when I looked over at their seats late in the game and they were missing. Like George and Weezy, they apparently were moving on up to the club seats.

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  62. As for the game, first the positives… I’ve said it several times, Champagnie is our best player. He was terrific yesterday. Brown played well, but he cannot play with his back to the basket, which is maddening. McGowens and X continue to perplex me. They clearly have talent. But neither of them make their teammates better. They make a lot of poor decisions. I will say that X was very good defensively. Anyone know why Coulibaly didn’t play until Brown and Hamilton we’re both fouled out?

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  63. One other thing, through some impeccable sources, I learned that Murphy cannot stand X. To the point where he is thinking about transferring at the end of the season.

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    2. Makes sense about Murphy since Capel is still pursing two players: Jeffress and a point guard who is 6-foot-5. There is only one scholarship open and someone would have to leave to add two more players.

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Murph may also be seeing that Horton is going to be taking a lot of his minutes next season…

      Go Pitt.

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  65. ^^ I can see that Eric, X-man rarely passes the ball to Skippy when he is in position to shoot the ball. Plus Johnson is constantly being admonished by the refs for his attitude on the court. He likes to stick his chest out at the opposing players. You now, “giving them the business”

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  66. Someone please get me an edit button! or a assistant to proofread my comments. I’m an old dog and I can’t learn new tricks.

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    1. As part of Heathers community service initiatives, Capel had the boys saving black cats caught in the high tree tops on the Cathedral lawn. One fell down and hit him on the head. Capel now known as the King of Pain.

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  71. GT coach thinks Pitt BB could be one of the top 3 or 4 ACC teams going into next season. Sounds like he thinks Pitt getting Hugley to commit is a game changer the team. I still would like for Pitt to add a true PG before next season tips off.

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  72. Rumor has it Erie McDowell’s William Jeffress has reclassified and will graduate this spring. I know Pitt in the running for this kid and may have a very good chance of landing him.

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  73. I read a lot of Pitt fans saying next year the NIT would be a good step, but I say hogwash to that. This team should be in the NCAAs provided no one leaves early. Four starters returning and a year stronger, plus Brown coming back as a senior. Add in Horton and his shooting, Coulibaly’s improvement and added strength and Hughley in the post.

    If Jeffress is added that is another talented piece for Capel to work into the rotation, along with Drumgoole.

    I’d love for this current team to make one of the play-in games of the NCAAs.

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    1. They are NIT bound this year. Top 25 team next year. Probably a number 6 seed in the NCAA.

      Pitt is a basketball school once more.

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  74. Skippy would be crazy to transfer again but maybe he wants to move closer to home. I just think he would be damaging his reputation so I don’t think he leaves. Especially over not getting along with a player on the team.

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    1. I don’t know, ike, he might want to find a situation where he can be the go-to shooter guy – I don’t think he will be that here next season with Horton becoming available… Plus Horton has a size advantage on him for defense…

      Murph’s minutes will be down next season, possibly substantially, I would guess…

      Go Pitt.

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  75. Putting a little damper on things, but we did get lucky with UNC’s injuries. I still say we are a better team than last year, but how good are we really? Tough to say. If Hugly’s game transfers to the ACC, like Champ’s we will be much improved, but will still be weak at the point and inconsistent from the three point line.

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    1. X being a junior means he will be a better player as he is as a sophomore.

      Horton is going to help tremendously from three-point land.

      You can say ACC teams got lucky that Pitt has been way down since the end of the Dixon era. We’ve been in rebuild mode for a while now. That ends in 2020-21.

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        1. He’s also still an a-hole unless he matures. Skippy is right. I hope this year humbled the kid. His head got too big thinking he was NBA material.

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            1. In sports, selfish players who think they are good are a holes. I don’t have to talk to an a hole to know what one looks like. Skippy would probably use an even harsher expletive.

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            2. Selfish ball hog who thinks his crap don’t stink equals an azzhat.

              Those kids arent allowed on the court for pickup games

              Pitt really would be better without him unless he matures and plays with more control and discipline.

              Pitt needs a true point guard or else they are going nowhere fast

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          2. Next year there should be a nice improvement in both the men’s and the women’s BB teams…

            Go Pitt.

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    1. next year should be fun

      Azz kicking is actually a class offered by Pitt in CAS.

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        1. I agree JoeL, some like to say it’s painful and or excruciating to watch this PITT BB team play. For the first time in a few years, I’m getting a big kick out of watching this team play. I see how “maybe” a Steelers fan could be a little spoiled but a PITT fan in any sport? Two short years ago, yes, that may have been counted as painful to watch. I find this years team very entertaining to follow with a bright future.

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  77. I don’t mind X-man playing with a little playground/streetball attitude as long it’s against PITT’s opponents. I’m not saying he acts the same way towards his teammates but I wouldn’t be surprised. He certainly likes to get in other players face on defense.

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  79. Larry Fitz wins the Pebble Beach pro am for the second time with his pro partner Kevin Streelman.
    33 under par.

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  80. All I’m saying is without the two UNC wins, our record would not be much better than last year. We might not be feeling as positive about next year.

    We got lucky with the schedule as opposed to football, when it was kind of stacked against us, playing VA first getting VA Tech on an emotional day, etc.

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    1. I completely agree, Gordon. Luck, both good and bad, plays a large part in sporting events. Some outside the game, like scheduling, weather, injuries. Some inside the game like questionable calls, no calls, injuries within a game, banked 3 pointers, etc.

      That’s why, when I hear someone state an absolute like, “if Narduzzi does not win at least nine games next year, he should be gone”, I cringe. I think you need to take into account the many circumstances, good and bad breaks, all the various aspects of a season, not just the won-loss record. And I trust that the administration will do just that.

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      1. Well said Wolfe, I’ve been fighting this side of the story for years. The season is not a straight line of a four lane divided highway but a very narrow winding road. It can be treacherous at times.

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  81. I think X’s game is developing. Adding a pullup jumper and playing tough D. Mcgowens and X not getting to hoop as often. Must be all of the zone D’s. . Champ is for real.
    Adeus Toney deserves more credit. Need someone who can play high post vs zone. The Wake Forest and Louisville home losses and ND loss difference between good season and breakout season. Need to beat Clemson and finish strong The program is headed in The right direction. Thank you JC! Coach of year iin ACC?

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    1. We’re fortunate to have X, Trey, and Toney — especially getting such outstanding athletes at the time they came to Pitt.

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

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