81 thoughts on “Pitt at Virginia Tech Open Basketball Thread”

  3. It’ll be interesting tonight if Pitt Offensive players can get the Tech zone defenders to move their feet and position. Only way to beat a zone. Don’t give us much of a chance. VTech is very disciplined and Pitt is coming off a rout.

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  5. Brown has an opportunity to score. Playing a team that lives by the three means you need to challenge them. When driving they need to look for Brown or Champagne. That means awareness not blind to all but the bssket.

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  6. Glad to see Capel’s message got through. Or not. Same old garbage. I understand why we are limited offensively. I DO NOT understand how we are so inept at defending the perimeter.

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  8. I think this game is more about PITT shooting up bricks than anything else. Plus they are lazy getting to the VT outside shooters and not getting back on D. Capel’s coaching is leaving me wondering????

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  9. Oh my, so glad to see PITT made a small comeback at the end of the first half. Both teams left me unimpressed. When the score was 5 – 5, I thought I was watching a bad High School game. Let’s see some “D” on the perimeter for heaven’s sake ! At one point early on, after a stupid turnover, Capel looked like he was going to get physically ill sitting on the bench.

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  12. One thing I do like about Capel’s coaching is his benching of X to start the second half. It will give X some time to think about which NBA city he’d like to play in. Ike, there is only so much a coach can do when players are lazy and selfish. And have limited skill sets.

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  13. Went to my local watering hole to watch first half. There’s not enough water in the hole to make me watch second half. Utterly disgusted by Pitt’s lack of effort and team play. Missed FTs very unhelpful.

    I’ll say it now. There’s something very wrong with this group of players. Not a team for sure.
    I see a lot of animus towns X. lucky they’re not down 25.

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    1. Another rout in progress. Pitt playing like it could care less. This one’s over. If I’m Capel, I sit the starting 5 or 6. Outright embarrassing

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  19. VT’s Cone is 4-5 on 3’s off the bench. That’s the difference. We have no bench….including Skippy.

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  21. “Off game question” Does PITT take motor coaches or chartered flights to ‘close’ games. Pgh to Blacksburg is 5 hrs – 19 minutes. Pgh to Charlottesville is 5hrs – 11 minutes. Only Louisville, South Bend and Syracuse is under 6 hours. When do they drive and when do they fly.
    I counted about 20 people on Pitt’s bench. Add in a couple administrators and Bill Hillgrove & Co. and you’re talking 25+ seats.
    Small regional jet or bus ?
    What’s the answer ?

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    2. Well, a couple years ago we went to the UVA game down there and passed two Pitt motor coaches on the interstate. All painted and logo’d up. One for the players, one for the equipment I suppose.

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  22. First game this year I was able to watch from start to finish. They showed a few flashes, but overall, they were horrible. I did not enjoy watching this poor effort.
    “C’mon man !”

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    1. You saw who they are. A bad basketball team. Coach Capel keeps getting a pass from the fans / these are his players, except for Brown.

      In two years, Capel failed to bring in a big man and PG.

      Next year we get a big man. In two years we get a PG?

      SMH!

      EE

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  23. I felt better about this team last year than this one. I expected a huge improvement out of X and Trey but I am not seeing it. I do think Toney has improved but I’m am afraid of a 6 game losing streak to end the season. Kind of glad I couldn’t watch.

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  25. One of the commentators made a statement with about 4 minutes to go.

    He mentioned that the Pitt players were playing with more intensity, denying easy passes and contesting shots, he was puzzled why Pitt didn’t play focused like this the entire game.

    Hmmm, anyone else notice this ?

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    1. Heather…for hiring Capel

      Capel…for recruiting and coaching these 💩

      Gallagher…for the Stallings debacle and that rotten front porch

      The BoT for giving us SOP for decades

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      1. And up at psuX they are playing for a B10 championship.

        Pitt is an example of how low a top notch BB program can fall (and quickly) with a lack of administrative leadership. Pitt still has none, IMO.

        EE

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  27. No leadership on the court. Nobody to control the ball and distribute. Both Trey and X were off-guards before coming to Pitt. X hasn’t made the necessary transition as a leader point guard.
    The result is that they don’t move from the traditional outside weave into cuts inside and more passing. Neither has a good 3 pointer though Trey is better if he sets his feet.
    X needs to focus on assists rather than scoring. They all need to hit their foul shots. It would have been a 3 point game rather than 10 with more energy generated by being close.

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  28. Ike…let me answer your question. Capel is responsible for setting the tone pregame. But he can’t be responsible for the in game play of the players. There is absolutely no excuse for this team being lazy and outworked in the first half of this game. None…that’s on Capel. And it pains me to say it because I love Capel. It’s up to the HC to find the answers.

    I can’t imagine how difficult it is to coach 3/5 of a team….and to manage their youth. Young teams do stupid stuff. Over and over. Pitt proves that game in/out. The level of frustration I see by players and coaches alike has reached a Zenith. There’s no time for Kumbayhas or team building exercises. The whole lot of em have to suck it up and figure it out or 0-6 to end the season is a reality.

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  29. Just look at the box score: Brown 21 minutes and 2 rebounds; X plays 26 minutes with 1 assist; Murphy only 9 minutes and zero points. Team shooting: 35%. What’s wrong with this team?

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  31. X and McGowen know they can’t be benched for long. They can get away with alley basketball without fear of benching due to no depth. Next year will be different. Capel took players with issues in his first year because he had no choice.

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  32. Pitt baseball lost to #24 Ohio State 4-1 today.

    Worst part is that the Buckeye’s pitchers struck-out 18 Panthers… Ouch!

    Go Pitt.

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  34. Knew we were going to lose, so no reason to bother tuning in. See it was another 1st half where they got down big, 14 points….16 minutes into game. Seems to be a common trend. Get behind big, expend some energy, get it down a little, but not enough firepower(bench) to overcome these large deficits.

    After getting zero shots against Clemson and 1 against Duke, Murphy only took 2 tonight in 9 minutes.
    Pitt was 0-3 in those games and 2-5 since his game winning shot against BC.
    Kid has not been the same since the concussion, which they say happened in practice.
    Wonder who leveled him at practice ? And why won’t they pass to him now.

    This team might not score 30 points against UVA. Only see one more possible win, possibly GT.

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    1. And Capel lost to a coach in his first year with the Hokies.

      Embarrassing end to what should have been a decent season.

      There is nothing entertaining about this team.

      Some used to say there was no quit in this group of players. Quit must have finally joined the team.

      EE

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    1. Recruiting helps.

      Why did Capel keep roster spots open when he could have brought in a shooter, PG or big man?

      Perplexing –

      Also, teams are supposed to get better as the season progresses under good coaching – what are you all witnessing?

      EE

      EE

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      1. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the hokies lost 5 straight ACC games prior to pounding our Pitt men’s BB team tonight.

        I know it has been said before that this is a down year for ACC basketball – why does it have to be a down year for Pitt too?

        Former Pitt PG Marcus Carr is having himself a very nice year at Minnesota with Ricky Pitino –

        Minnesota has winning programs in both money making sports (FB & men’s BB) and they have a new on campus stadium for FB.

        Good choice Marcus.

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    1. I really don’t give a toot about a directors cup… just win 10 FB games a year to go along with our highly ranked VB and up-coming wrestling….

      Just orders my son and myself a couple of custom PITT hockey sweaters supporting the clubs fund raising effort… wouldn’t a D1 hockey club be great but instead
      PITT goes with a ladies LAX or field hockey team….

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      1. Yes – no reason Pitt couldn’t add men’s & women’s hockey, that I can see.

        Western PA is a hotbed for hockey. Instead we let the nits beat us to it…

        EE

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        1. Pitt will build a 3500 venue for volleyball instead
          what they should do is think bigger

          if a MPC’s time hasnt come, then at the very least build a facility that can accommodate a future hockey team
          so build a 5000 seat venue with a large enough floor for a hockey rink, create adjustable seating so you can expand and contract the bottom seating tiers, install the pipes and refrigeration components or at least make it configurable so future installation is easy, create that sub floor

          but do we really think Pitt is thinking this way?

          will add about $30M-$50M to the cost but worth it

          they are already committed to spend over $200M with 90% of it financed through debt

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  37. I’ve previously said Pitt BB is unwatchable. Pitt is just not ready to play this game with not having a competent PG and good Center. We have had a few very good game performances from individual players to get us the wins we got. Beyond that they really are a very bad team in most games for the above stated reasons.

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  38. That was brutal to watch.

    This team will be lucky to win another game the rest of the season. I don’t think this team has the maturity to even hold on to win a close game.

    The Wake and Nicholls losses really loom large now because that would be 17 wins and ensuring a winning record, which now is what is most important.

    Four consecutive losing seasons is a terrible look for Chancellor Gallagher, who allowed this mess to happen.

    The missed foul shots and bunnies were just brutal. Toney seems to have crashed back down to earth after some really strong games. I guess one could say how this is still a young team but at what point does ithat excuse be thrown out the window? Do the three bigs coming in make us young again next year?

    I thought after his first bucket Brown was going to have a good game versus a small team and he was awful. Please get healthy, Hamilton. How crazy was his injury versus Clemson? Looks like the bad luck is still hovering over athletics at Pitt.

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  39. It’s just going to take time. Capel inherited a totally empty cupboard. And as we can see, he’s finding it tougher to recruit than he anticipated. Considering how limited this team is personnel wise (no point guard or center), what I’m seeing is not surprising. Plus there is no experience or leadership. Not one player on the team has experienced success in college (maybe Hamilton, not sure). I’m not saying Capel is the best coach in America, but I’ll begin to judge him once he has a full compliment of players. For now, he’s doing his best with a bad situation. Consider this: Think back to the prosperous Dixon/Howland years. Not one player from this team would be getting significant playing time. Champagnie would probably redshirt, and he’s our best player. Toney, X and McGowens might get some minutes, but certainly wouldn’t be stars. We are just not very talented now, bottom line.

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  40. ^^ Eric and Dan: maybe I am being a little rough on Capel, after-all he does sit Johnson down a good bit. I’m supposing it’s because the X-man is not doing what he’s coached to do. I also know HCJC is not coaching his players to shoot so miserably from the field. Second game in a row they have shot poorly from the “FREE” throw line as well.

    Yet one thing I noticed against Clemson and now VT. Both teams moved the ball much better than PITT. Quick snappy throws where they find the open man.

    I can see where there may be a lack of cohesiveness within the team as well and I’m talking about team chemistry. I really wouldn’t care if Skippy decides to move on but then again, I wouldn’t care if X Johnson turns pro either. << Like in the professional Paraguay league.

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  41. X and McGowen are the type of players who would stand out in high school ball. Their speed and ball handling would be enough to dominate at that level. In the college game, however, where everyone has speed and taller front lines, these advantages are taken away. Additional skills are needed that can be taught if players are willing to listen and adapt their game. I don’t see it happening with them.

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  42. Pitt Bench Points: 10 //Coulibaly
    V Tech: 25 4 players

    Pitt has no bench and our team is playing with tired legs — burned out!!
    Next year can not come fast enough.

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  43. I now watch our BB scores on ESPN. You always see the same trends as teams go on early runs against us and pull away. We come back briefly and fade at the end. A pattern that will continue until the season is over. Hopefully we may buck the trend once.

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  44. —BB teams look like crap when they don’t shoot well.

    —Our team normally doesn’t shot well.

    —But why couldn’t we bring in a lights-out shooter and big-time PG after going winless in conference???

    I say give the Coach a reasonable chance. Sounds to me like some pretty good players are on the way…and the current players will be able to play better, and play better longer into the season, when we have a fuller roster…

    Go Pitt.

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  45. I was out to dinner with family last night. Glad I missed this one. Even the highlights (?) on the news looked bad.
    It would be interesting to know if the team busses or flies to these games, and how long before the game they get to the hotel.

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  46. I agree that the lack of a bench causes tired legs among the starters. But why the frequent slow starts and then a later run to get close? Followed by an inability to close games out. This team has structural difficulties that cause problems at crunch time if the opponent has a couple of decent defenders.

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  47. Close out at the end? This team is pooped. Skippy must have had his brains bashed in because he is a no show. Our guard play is terrible. NBA dreams?? 👹👹👹

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  48. Pitt lost to a team that shot 55% from the charity line. I don’t get the ACCN because I have
    Comcast and there is no reason to spend $$ on a team that needs a major infusion of talent, Hopefully we will see some living and breathing athletes joining the team who CAN BE COACHED.

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  49. Per PSN, Pitt has offered a Junior QB from Fort Worth. He’s 6-5 and 215. He’s ranked as a 3-star. Says going to a school far from home is no issue to him.

    His unusual name is what caught my eye.

    Hamp Fay.

    (No, nothing to do with auto-correct; I typed that correctly…)

    Maybe Tex can fill us in…😊

    Go Pitt.

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    1. It’s a prep school that plays other religious prep schools. Mediocre team in mediocre conference. But what Whipple likes besides the mediocrity is this kids size and arm. Probably reminds him of Big Ben.

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      1. Actually Big Ben didn’t play QB in high school until senior year. That’s why he kinda slipped through the recruitment cycle and ended up at Miami of Ohio.

        Saw him play when I worked in Minster Ohio, he played in Findlay Ohio about 40 miles north.

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  50. The play of x and trey has been a major disappointment this year. Period. I don’t know if they weren’t as good as we thought last year or if they have regressed. They have a lot of pressure on them which may be part of the problem as they are always the scapegoats this year.

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    1. I think Jared Wilson-Frame made them better and was a leader. Also, teams weren’t as aware of their abilities and tendencies as they are now. Now teams defend us by taking away Trey and X and force us to beat them with someone else.

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  51. Kind of bored today what with football over & I despise NBA anymore. So let’s see how our Panthers rank in some stats nationally. And the other game, I think the announcer was Dan Bonner, cited how we are among the slowest tempo teams in America. Sort of like another version of Jamie’s slogball.

    Team Scoring is at 66.2 ppg which places us 303 of 350 teams nationally.
    Team FG % = 41% (305 of 350 teams)
    3 Point % = 30% (310 of 350)
    FT % = 72% (125 of 350)
    Rebound Margin = -1 (245 of 350)
    Defensive Rebounds Per Game = 22.85 (332 of 350)
    Blocked Shots per Game = 3.5 (126 of 350)
    Offensive Rebounds per game = 11.96 (44 of 350) cause we miss so many shots

    Team FG % mirrors last year 41.8 % (2019) (although down)
    3 PT % is worse this year, down from 33%
    FT % is up a little from 69.7 %
    Blocks are down from 3.8% (Brown gets less playing time now)
    Team Scoring is down from 69.9 ppg (over 3 ppg down)

    Many have posted, they don’t see improvement in the team, and the stats certainly back that up.
    And you could also say the stats suggest they’ve regressed.

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  52. Pitt baseball comes back to beat Iowa today in Florida. Makes them 3-1 on opening weekend.

    Wins over Indiana State, St. Joe’s, and Iowa, with a loss to #25 Ohio State.

    Not a bad start.

    Go Pitt.

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  54. Just like a good OL can cure a lot of ills in football; rebounds can cure a lot of ills in basketball …. and IMO, Pitt is lacking in both. And the rebound stats in PittExpo’s post above confirms Pitt’s futility in this area.

    I see the CBI in out future … maybe. I say give Coulibaly more minutes … what the hay? Same for Drumgoole

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  55. PGA West was all that. Photos don’t do it justice.

    In Las Vegas tonight for five nights. Any recommendations? Keep them clean.

    Glad to not witness the BBall troubles.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Gordon, Brad Garrett has a comedy club at the MGM Grand which is good for some laughs. If he would happen to be there, he is absolutely hysterical.

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    1. I could definitely lose gc lots of money BL. (actually I’m not a gambler) I know when to fold them.

      But I use to ramble.

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