115 thoughts on “Pitt at NC State Open Basketball Thread”

  2. PITT wins this game going away. Ezy Pezy. Skippy goes haywire and scores 35 pts then slugs the X-man on the jaw at the end of the game while screaming “wake the hell up”.

    SHHH….. yes I’m just conjuring up conversation.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Hopefully in the not too distant future, we are organizing a game watch for todays game and discussing how important it is to our tournament seeding. I just don’t know which will be a more important factor in the meantime: patience or longevity.

    Liked by 4 people

  5. for future reference …. Pitt all time FG% Leaders

    Rk Player, Year PCT [FGM-of-FGA]
    1. Brian Shorter, 1989 .600 [204-of-340]
    2. DeJuan Blair, 2009 .593 [226-of-381]
    3. Chris Taft, 2005 .580 [159-of-274]
    4. Curtis Aiken, 1986 .569 [177-of-311]
    5. Eric Mobley, 1994 .568 [155-of-273]
    6. Jerome Lane, 1987 .568 [187-of-329]
    7. Chevon Troutman, 2005 .566 [151-of-267]
    8. Aaron Gray, 2007 .565 [204-of-361]
    9. Rod Brookin, 1987 .564 [127-of-225]
    10. Charles Smith, 1988 .558 [211-of-378

    note only one guard

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Centers like Blair, Troutman, Smith, Mobley, Grey & Taft I don’t count since most of their shots were layups and dunks. Props to Shorter & Aiken.

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  6. The above was for one season; here is career FG%

    Rk Player, Years PCT [FGM-of-FGA]
    1. Chevon Troutman, 2001-05 .625 [486-of-778]
    2. Ontario Lett, 2001-03 .589 [245-of-416]
    3. Dante Taylor, 2009-13 .584 [271-of-464]
    4. Chris Taft, 2003-05 .569 [321-of-564]
    5. DeJuan Blair, 2007-09 .568 [394-of-694]
    6. Eric Mobley, 1991-94 .557 [371-of-666]
    7. Aaron Gray, 2003-07 .550 [434-of-789]
    8. Brian Shorter, 1988-91 .538 [540-of-1,004]
    9. Talib Zanna, 2009-13 .534 [251-of-470]
    Charles Smith, 1984-88 .534 [707-of-1,324]

    No guards or known shooters to be seen

    You want better shooting%, then YOU GET BETTER BIG MEN

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Again, all pure centers except for Zanna why was both a 4 and a 5. Shorter stands out as Pitt’s best pure shooter in that group.

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  7. Well Bill, who’s taking the higher % shots on that list? Shocked Aiken is on that list and Brookin was a big guard/small forward.

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  8. I am sure other PITT fans have noticed – today’s NC State game is being played at PNC Arena. PNC is no longer Pittsburgh Natl Bank. They are the official bank of the Bengals, Browns and many other teams outside of PA. They have branches from Michigan to Florida, including a bunch in NC.
    I’ve used the one in Duck NC (OBX) a few times.

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  11. Pitt up by 1 at half (following it on CBS gamecast) …. lately, Pitt has been terrible at start of 2nd half

    we’ll see

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  22. Well, a typical big let down and crash at the end . A nice lead with 8 mins left, and then crash and burn. Six losses in a row. Unacceptable.

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  24. Amazing we shot 47% FG & 43% from 3. So that was much better, (probably Keats playing Man Defense had something to do with it) what killed us besides the 17 turnovers and typical wild shots by X & Mac at the end, was the horrid FT shooting. Only 15 of 27 or 55 %. Synopsis, team wilted when NC State ratcheted up their defense in the last 8 minutes.

    We’ve seen this movie before.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. note that NCS was led by a guard Bryce who had 16 … but he was 5-15 from the field

    But forwards Bates, Funderbunk and Hellems had 13, 13 and 16 respectively …. and a combined 16 for 21 from the field.

    In crunch time for 2 years now, Pitt could not depend on feeding the ball down low for the higher percentage shot or getting a key rebound or defending down low.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Missed six consecutive FT down the stretch while NC ST was hitting 3’s and still had a chance to win that game. Never mind a Big, nothing is going to improve for Pitt BB until we get a PG that knows how to play the position under control.

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    2. Exactly. Pitt needs a true point guard first. Horton seems to be the guy.

      Good game by Toney. Pitts most improved player.

      Next year there is hope. That’s all I can ask at this point.

      Tex enjoying 76 degrees and a Shiner Bock by the pool

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      2. Tex weather in the DFW area is probably one of the worst climates I have ever lived in.

        In the summer 100 degrees, in the spring crazy softball sized hail that destroys your roof and car and ice storms in the winter with essentially the sun being your major piece of snow removal equipment.

        I moved to north East Florida, beautiful weather all year round, did my research on hurricanes and I’m in one of the safest spots “the Florida bite” regarding hurricane strikes.

        I liked Texas but the weather there frankly sucks.

        Going to the beach to enjoy the sunshine and work on my tan. Next time you pass this way give me a holler.

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        1. Texas does have weather extremes.

          And the hail can be bad and don’t forget the twisters.

          In the summer it’s like putting your head in an oven.

          Fall is the best season. In fact March, October and November are the best months. I like spring coming early and rarely if any snow. But Ice storms will shut down the city for days.

          Plenty of sunny days. Sometimes I could kill for a cloudy day. Windy at times.

          And air quality sucks. I actually go back to Pittsburgh to clear my lungs.

          But I hate the snow and cold and won’t ever go back east. I’ll probably retire in Seattle. Cloudy and gray suits my personality.

          Tex

          Liked by 1 person

          1. You probably are in paradise climate wise. Much like San Diego.

            When Pitt goes bowling in Florida, I’ll swing by. I’ll bring some shiners and pecan smoked sausages. You supply some fresh seafood and we’ve got a Tex/Floridian clam bake.

            Tex

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          2. Agreed 2 of my kids live in Pittsburgh I visit only in the summer if you are in north East Florida look me up

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      1. Does preferred walk-on Curtis Aiken Jr count ? Oh wait, he was coming to Pitt anyway. And we got another walk-on PG that played some this year, can’t remember or spell his name. So he’s an o’fer on any PG’s with stars attached.

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  27. I never tried a scissors kick 3 ball from 25 feet. What a ridiculous attempt and it was early in the shot clock, immediately after an inbounds pass.

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  29. TV was Malcolm Huckaby and Wes Durham from the Packer and Durham show.
    I once made a 25 foot scissor kick 3 in my driveway during a game of HORSE…with a nerf ball.

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Gave up drinking for Lent. Sorry can’t watch.
    Pitt played better but horrible fundamental mistakes down the stretch …. killed … again.

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  32. If Wake Forest wins 1 of it’s remaining 3 games, Pitt will finish in the bottom 2 of the ACC for the 4th straight year. Last year we actually beat 2 ACC ranked teams with winning records (louisville & fsu). This year we’ve beaten 1 ACC team with a winning record and that was the very first game of the year. And that was a fluke, as the very next game we lost to Nichols Somebody.

    Are we better than last year ? Draw your own conclusions.

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    1. Lots of Duke kids that Capel was apparently involved with recruiting, were 1 and dones. So just how much fundamental stuff was taught. They were just vastly more talented than most other teams.

      We’re supposed to have all these former HC’s on Capel’s staff. Are they all just contradicting each other ?
      Are the kids unteachable ? Can any of these guys coach ?

      Stay tuned for the continuing saga of Pitt Big-time conf. small-time performance major sports

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    1. It would be sacrilegious to give up alcohol. That would be like dissing miracles…turning water into wine or the legend of saint Arnold.

      Tex
      🍺

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  36. As some of you know I’m a UR Spider. Great year for us and it’s a team that is fun to watch. 22 wins this yr vs 20 losses last yr. A couple tough yrs in 19 and 18. Now they are all Jrs or less. It was about learning to win for us. So, keep that faith – things will turn in the same way for Pitt.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Pitt holds the tiebreaker versus Carolina. Does NC win its last two to finish with seven wins? Maybe, but that would mean beating Duke at Cameron.

      Pitt avoided finishing last by beating ND in the final game last season, so I’m hoping for the same by winning the tie breaker over Carolina.

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  39. Capel’s level of frustration tells me he is unhappy with some of the players, and their caliber of play down the stretch. Fatigue may be causing some of the FT misses, but two guys up front running the shot clock to zero and then freelancing will not get it done. Capel will fix this problem in the off season and will start with an infusion of new players.

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    1. That’s why proper shooting form
      Is so important! Anyone can make FTs when fresh but only those w good fundamental form can make FTs when the legs are gone and the body has taken a beating

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      1. Right you are Dan, any knucklehead from their couch should be able to hit FREE throws late in the game. 3 dribbles look up and shoot the ball while following through. SWISH! …… and Oh yeah, bend the knees a little and keep your shoulders squared.

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    2. Interesting post. I tend to agree Capel looks more frustrated then I’d think, perhaps due to some of the decision making, but at this late juncture I don’t see how we add an infusion of players for next season. Assuming Trey & X both stay (and I hope they do, I thought both players made more great interior passes today than they did all year), we really need a quality PG & shooting guard to have proper depth and substitution options for next year; right now we seem to have the shooting guard, which tells me our best bet is to add a quality PG for next year, and I’m not completely confident we will do that, just hopeful.

      -1618mt

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Don’t know what a scissors kick is but I’m sure Annie does. Although I was known to drop kick a football around 25 yards or so straight through the uprights aka (over the basketball hoop)

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    1. Ike, I have no idea what a scissors kick is. I DO know what a bicycle kick in soccer is, though. My hoops knowledge is very little since I only played intramurals in high school, thus never had any coaching. And I never went to a hoops game at Pitt because 1) they stunk when I was there and, 2) I worked for the wrestling team, so I was at the Field House all the time with them, and had to find some time to study!

      Liked by 2 people

  43. North Carolina crushes Cuse tonight. Pitt gets blown out by Cuse after beating NC twice. What’s wrong with this picture?

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  46. Why wont he do the bench press Dave Andrews? Same reason Paris Ford didnt enter the draft?

    Withheld comments during the bball game yesterday so as not to be deemed a negative blogger who only comes here when things are going bad for Pitt. I guess that whole theory has been debunked over the last few weeks with minimal comments during a bad game.

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    1. (1) so the 4 words you singled out of the entire article is ‘except the bench press’?
      (2) and you deduce that the reason Paris Ford didn’t enter the draft was because of the bench press?

      sounds negative to me. definitely a glass half empty approach.

      Just funning with you …. your comments are as valued as anyone’s else. What we certainly don’t need here are all yes men/women or all no men/women

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      1. Well, it wasnt a lengthy read, so 4 words was a lot. I try to read everything as is and if things seem appropriate, I say of course it’s appropriate and no need to comment. Its when I read something and go, hmmm, something doesnt seem right, that I mention it. Maybe he pulled a bicep or tricep or has tightness. Who knows. I do think Ford needs to get a stronger upper body if he wants to stay injury free in the league.

        Maybe the new dude can get the OL stronger and more nimble. No photos at kennywood with their milk bellies hanging out. Would like to see Warren at a nimble and muscular 300 pounds and not those florida abs…or Flabs

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    2. The negative blogger that only comes out after bad news on the pov is only a football phenomenon. Bad news brings out the Narduzzi haters like no other.

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  47. Basketball fatigue has settled in.

    I’m looking forward to how Pitts wrastlers will perform in the ACC tourney. The ACC is a surprisingly good conference for wrestling. I like Pitts chances. Winning this tourney would be hardware worth displaying in the case.

    No participation 🏆

    It’s at the Pete this year and not some too big off campus venue. I’m glad schools and visitors will get to see campus and Oakland.

    Think about that Pitt next time you tear down something good.

    Tex

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  48. Panthers have 7 wrestlers auto qualify for Nationals in Minneapolis. That’s 7 out of 10 weight divisions. Pretty impressive.

    Tex your source of wrestling from a non wrestler.

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  49. Annie, I mentioned you because I thought you came from a swimming family and I think that is a scissor kick is a swim stroke?

    Huff the Third, I don’t think you are a negative poster at all you, just don’t like Heather for whatever reason. On the other hand, I don’t think you any more of a realist poster than anyone else. Lastly, who gives a crap what I “THINK”……………. I think I think too much. 🙂

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  50. Interesting tidbit in the PG that our old OC Chaney told Jimmy Morrissey after a Pitt Camp that he didn’t want Jimmy because Jimmy was too short for an OLineman. Looks like Chaney had quite an eye for OL talent… Looks like Jimmy has used that statement for motivation, if he needed anymore…

    Easy to root for Mr. Morrissey. Look forward to cheering for him as a Senior at the Kickoff Luncheon…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  51. Remember what I think might have been Dane Jackson’s first start at Corner.

    Sitting right behind the Georgia Tech bench at the 2016 Homecoming. Immediately impressed with Jackson. Thought he had a PRESENCE about him and posted as much on the Blather.

    Fast forward, I think most would agree Jackson has been a SOLID contributor through the years. However, I’ve never seen him as being a FAST guy.

    My best guess today is that Jackson will run a forty in the neighborhood of 4.6. Hope I’m wrong and he’s closer to 4.5

    Despite a less than blazing forty, fully expect Pitt’s LONE participant at the Combine to do well for himself and put his name on more than one Draft Board in indelible ink.

    A good Pittsburgh Guy who stayed home and played for the good Guys.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. ^^ I would agree with that comment but Dane just might just go a little earlier? Meaning, you’re not the only one thinking that? Things that make you go HMMM??

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  53. OK so here I go again with something that boggles my mind. Apparently that’s not hard to do but never the less but why here at the POV in particular, posters get bent out of shape when being called negative? I think that’s telling imo. Myself? I’m constantly called, somewhat berated and often times made fun of for being some made up insult as a Kool-Aid drinker. I’ll always remain undeterred for the simple fact I don’t know some of you all that well and I really don’t care. I take pride in being oblivious. I actually thought I did know some of the POVers more that I actually did, I didn’t. Hello eye opener. Now if someone from the 5-A tailgate would get pissed off at me, I would be hurt like a shot through the chest! Friends are for life, true friends that is.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I haven’t read from one kool aid drinker on here including u Ike. If you disagree with some that Narduzzi should be fired immediately, then they call u a kool aid drinker. It’s silly

      Liked by 2 people

  54. Women’s BB team lost at Miami. The good news is it was the last game of the regular season. Pitt only had 1 Conference win. Ouch.

    Again 4 freshman started for Pitt. Freshman Day Harris scored 22 and Freshman AB Brown scored 14. Juco Gabby Green had a terrible game shooting 1 for 11. Another Ouch…

    Looks like Pitt will play ND in the ACC Tourney.

    Next season Pitt will be better as they will add a redshirter and three recruits (one rated as a top-100). The following year, when the starters will be juniors and sophomores, they should make some noise.

    Hang in there Coach White!

    Go Pitt.

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    1. missing — Ha-ha. All I remember are Fran and Tommie making some amazing recovery shots in that scramble-event we played in with them.

      They were outstanding that day.

      Go Pitt.

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  58. Hey that was my move, after I pointed to the sky and yelled out, Hey look at that meteor. Winter rules….

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  59. It’s funny how we all go through the cycle of life with Pitt sports. This is the time when reality sets in wrt Pitt BB, and we all say “bring on Spring ball”! Then we experience frustration over the lack of info coming out and hope for inspiration at the Spring game. Failing that, we tread water over the summer until Fall Camp where we get the same closed practices and curse Narduzzi’s secrecy. Then comes the tough OOC and SOP begins to seep in. By late October, it’s “bring on BB” again! Like I said, the cycle of life…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. U mean the closed practices designed to hide the stupid cheating

      If I were heather for a day, I would require him to open the practices. Nobody can tell me that the secrecy didn’t help hide the cheating.

      Once a cheater, always a cheater.

      Tex

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      1. Tex, the guy who has stated in print that Narduzzi didn’t cheat big enough. That’s called talking out of both sides of their mouth.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yes. If you decide to cheat, cheat big. But Pitt hires a compliance ad, and this happened under her watch. There is no way now that pitt can continue with closed practices.

          Remember I’m the guy who advocated for tressell. The president of YSU.

          Tex

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    1. Amen

      But before I resign I’d recommend a real AD with real pay.

      Heather is one of if not the lowest paid directors in all P5. U get what u pay for.

      Tex

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  61. I will take some hits for this post. Not sure Capel is the guy to will bring PITT back to the level we were. I don’t like the way he allows the guards to play their “street” game. I stopped watching a bunch of games before they went on this losing streak. They were undisciplined back then and evidently even worse now. They’re no fun to watch. Can’t handle the zone. No team play. Just can’t see improvement coming with Capel’s coaching style.

    I give Capel two more years before we hear rumblings to replace him. I just don’t see him as the right fit.

    More importantly how do we get the ACC brass to play fair with the Northern teams? The officiating in basketball is even worse than football because the ACC officials know what they are doing in BB.

    The ACC knows Syracuse, Boston College, and PITT really can’t do anything about it. None of us can go any place else for football and the money is good in the ACC. They would replace any of us in a heartbeat if we threatened to leave.

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    1. Pitt would be welcomed in Texas. We’re not southerners. We’re Texans.

      Tobacco Road can F themselves.

      Tex

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  62. I understand your point, Old Pitt Grad, but I’m happy to wait until Coach Capel has a full roster before judging his coaching ability.

    And there seems to be several college BB head coaches who are not considered all that good at coaching, but they win. You can win with talent; you can win with coaching. Be nice to have both but I’ll be happy to give the talent approach a try, if that’s all we have…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  63. Well if Capel hasn’t recognized Pitt is dire need of a point guard by now then he should be fired for sheer incompetence now and not wait for two more years. He should have recognized that fact from day 1 at Pitt.

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    1. And let’s not forget former Pitt PG Marcus Carr is having a fine year at Minnesota and will most likely be selected to the All-B10 2nd or 3rd team – the PG from MSU is probably 1st team.

      I know some have said Marcus left because he thought he could transfer and not sit a year. But he “could” have been guaranteed that if he stayed at Pitt (not sitting).

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      1. Carr and Stewart left because they received no support from anyone except the coaching staff.

        The fans dumped on the team, Heather never talked to them during 0-19 and the idiot most responsible for the awful state of Pitt basketball, Gallagher, certainly didn’t talk to the kids.

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  64. I’m pretty sure Carr left because he was reassured that he would not have to sit a year, and he wouldn’t have done so otherwise. I knw Minnesota expressed surprise and anger at the NCAA’s ruling not to exempt him.

    He transferred in the first place because the coach who recruited him was fired and, aside from himself, there was really not much to build on.

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  66. Major and Missing, that was Cousin Tommy that pulled off those trick shots through and around tree trouble at the golf outing. I dont have that skill or luck set.

    Liked by 1 person

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