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

  1. As noted, I’m very happy for Coach White and the Women’s team for their big upset today. One of those games where the shots were falling…

    Been a long tough season for the coaches and team, but it was some necessary dues paying for the freshman.

    BTW, I sent a modest donation to the Women’s team on the Day-of-Giving. Yesterday I got a card from Coach White. From what he wrote, you’d of thought I had donated thousands more than I did!

    (I’m also happy for Coach White’s wife. I sit near her for the games and she’s fun to talk to…)

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Another game where the BB team shows up unprepared – this time against a bad GT team.

    EE

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  8. Dan, I just can’t believe how this Pitt team has regressed. They make so many bad decisions and are literally afraid to take an outside shot. How many blocks does it take before they realize some outside shooting is needed? X is playing his typically bad game and Trey has NO confidence. There is no one else willing to step up.

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  11. I’m not sure how anyone can say unprepared when they totally bungle 3 fast breaks, are 50% from the line, and can’t finish from 3 feet. Dumbledorf needs to transfer to lower level, just is awful on both ends. McGowens is either sick or totally lost confidence. Stunningly bad play.

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  14. Good night I have to get up at 5:00 am to travel tomorrow, not staying up for this fiasco.

    Also echoing the sentiment of what happened to this team?

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  15. Make that 9 points in 15 minutes. Pitt going for the record. I’m having a very hard time not putting this on Capel and staff.

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  17. Put players in that want to compete – let all 3 FR play together – sit X

    This is really embarrassing. We scored 9 points in the first 15 minutes.

    The Carrick 5th grade girls do better than that.

    EE

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  18. These guys are clueless. Not moving, can’t catch, can’t pass, can’t shoot. Getting beat up physically. Bad team, bad coaching. Mercifully one more game.

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  19. Agree that Dumbledorf might need to go to Div 3. Looks really uncoordinated, flat footed and oaf like.
    Other than that, he’s great.

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  20. This is a team that has totally lost confidence. They can’t score and their defense has totally slipped. The turnovers are ridiculous.

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  21. Sad does not begin to describe how bad and how selfish this team is.

    Two years in a row we have collapsed. I’m still a big Capel supporter, but the coaching staff is not pressing the right buttons with these kids.

    Really tough to watch.

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  22. I know you shouldn’t say It when getting beat this bad, but these refs might be worst of year, missed that kick. BoJangles league.

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  25. Somebody must have put a homing pigeon in the ball for Pitt to get to 21. Seen better fraternity league games. Just a horrendous comical display of basketball. James Naismith must be in hysterics.

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  26. Leave McGowens on the bench. No coincidence that’s when we made our comeback. He looked totally disinterested. And I don’t think he or Johnson are EVER going to learn that you can’t shoot layups over 7 footers.

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  27. Most good PGs would drive and dish. Not X man. He prefers to have it shoved down his throat. I have never seen a PG make such bad decisions.

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  28. The more I watch the more I’m convinced Pitt will never be successful in the BoJangles league. If GT was playing any of the Tobacco Road teams they wouldn’t have enough kids to finish the game. Pitt getting no calls on one end, and all tricky tacky against them on the other. When you are this bad the other team doesn’t need any help.

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  29. The moment the last game is over we need to say goodbye to X, McGowan and Skippy. Start fresh next year.

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    1. Agree, about the first 2 for sure. They can play professional in Tanzania or somewhere. Murphy at least has some fundamentals.

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  30. It’s MADDENING!!! We get a great steal, come on a fast break 4 on 2, and X pulls up for a three. It’s just terrible.

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  31. The last 3 minutes of this game has been a microcosm of the whole season.

    Awful, awful basketball.

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  32. Hard to believe GT most likely will win 10 games in the ACC with this horrendous team. That’s how bad the ACC is this year(yep Pitt is gonna finish last or next to last such a down year). But lots of fundamentally horrendous teams in ncaab anymore.

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  35. In my 16 years if coaching, I’ve never had an uncoachable player but I’ve seen players on other teams who were. xMan is uncoachable, McGowan is incompetent and Skippy doesn’t have the chops to play at this level. Terrell Brown is a bench player. Bring in new talent next year and start over with Toney, Penney et al. Enough!!

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    2. Which one is Skippy? I haven’t paid much attention this year. I’ve been down on the poor coaching (control- discipline- no team play)

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  36. If you don’t bring in some new guards, all the plays (?) are gonna be directed by X & Mac. And they only know street ball. And apparently, will never change. Dixon was right, these guys need micro-managed on every play. Cudos to Jamie for beating #2 Baylor the other night.

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  37. They closed the gap by hitting a few 3s. So it makes sense that they take Murphy out and stopped shooting them!

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    1. Right Murphy had two 3’s when we had 9 points to make it somewhat respectable at the half. Haven’t seen him much since then. Did notice they threw the ball to him a couple times at his feet.

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  38. Pitt baseball lost to Youngstown State in its home opener / worse than Paul Chryst loss to the same school.

    UGLY – Pitt sports with not much to be excited about.

    EE

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  42. Ok St fired Capel because they say he got outcoached night after night and lost the team.
    I can’t wait til Pitt gets enough talent to see if Capel can, in fact, coach!

    They are not off the hook with this year’s team.

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    2. That not entirely accurate Dan.
      Capel was fired because after filling the roster with talent, he failed to refill.

      He actually enjoyed some success at both Oklahoma (not OSU) and VCU. At one point during the time Griffin was in Norman, his team had a ridculous record (24-1 or 25-1) before Griffin got hurt. Following that, he lost three guys at one time to the NBA (none of whom was Blake Griffin, btw) and the guys behind just werent of the same pedigree.If you want to call that outcoached, fine but it was the recruiting aspect that did him in.

      The folks at VCU think very highly of him to this day and he did a great job there.

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      1. Don’t forget JoeL, Blake’s older brother, Taylor, played at Oklahoma as well and was pretty good. Capel had some players there. I’m not sure about Capel’s offense scheme but I do like his defense.

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  43. Which one is Skippy? I haven’t paid much attention this year. I’ve been down on the poor coaching (control- discipline- no team play)

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  44. GT is an example of a team that got better as the season went on. They won their last 7 home games and have a legitimate inside game, plus they consistently got to the rim. Pitt’s play has consistently deteriorated as the opposition scouting reports learn that Pitt has a one dimensional team.

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  46. Disgusting how bad the basketball program has become. Gallagher should be awfully proud of how he allowed it to get to this point. The off-season will be interesting to see who transfers out.

    Virginia Tech sure looks like it made a good hire. Schools that take sports serious have smart people running athletics. The Hokies are depleted and play like they are well coached, unlike Pitt.

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  48. The BoJangles league just isn’t a good fit. They’ve screwed Northern teams for years. Pitt will never, ever fit in that league. They are not about to let some Yankee team have any level of success. It’s a battle you’ll never win. It is, however where we are. Take the money like good little …… ( bad word).
    Sorry, watching that hot mess is depressing. At least I got to enjoy the golden years of Pitt basketball. We are destined to become Duquesne, a team that was good a long, long time ago. Sad.

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      1. Yup, that man can flat out coach. I’m actually very happy for the Dukes, although Red Manning and their fans arrogance was often tough to take.

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  49. The seasons for both the men and women have been torture. I was hoping the women’s team would be done today, and they had to go and spoil that idea…

    Both coaches have a mountain to climb. Unfortunately, I suspect on the critical positions of Point Guard and Center, the Women have gone ahead on the development curve…

    Go Pitt.

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  50. Hold on! How is it Gallagher’s fault? Jeff Capel is not the right coach. Mistakes are made. Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you don’t. Look what Rutgers did in two years! I’m impressed.

    Lyke is still the best AD we had in a long time.

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    1. He hired Barnes …

      He knew Barnes had one foot out the door and allowed Dixon walk ….

      He let Barnes, who was intent on leaving, to make an awful hire …

      Pitt basketball shows no signs of getting back to the NCAAs anytime soon …

      Thanks for being our leader, Patrick.

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    2. Lyke being the best AD in a long time doesn’t say much.

      It’s embarrasing actually.

      To show how much pitt cares about sports in the ACC, pitt pays miss compliance $400k when the going rate is $1 million.

      On a good day, she might be worth $400k

      Tex

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  52. Pitt women BB 67 Notre Dame 65 something is upbeat to reflect on. Anytime we beat ND in any sport is a reason celebrate IMO.

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    1. So Capel is nothing special, not a particularly good floor coach, and his supposed recruiting chops aren’t doing much either. He’s got washed up assistants – the whole lot of them are unsuccessful head coaches and Capel has not improved this team – in fact he’s lead a regression. Ben Howland had a bad first year, almost won the Big East Tournament in his second and went to the NIT. I’m afraid Capel will meander around Pitt basketball with losing records until he is fired.

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  54. For 2 years Coach Capel has refused to even attempt to play 2 big men at the same time. Even given that all of our bigs are below ACC caliber starters, the same could be said about our guards and wings. We are always at a significant height disadvantage on both ends of the court. Coulibaly should have played PF every game until he fouled out.

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  55. Since last season, I’ve been trying to speak the TRUTH about Capel and what HISTORY says about his abilities as a Coach.

    I think maybe now even the Kool-Aid drinkers among us are starting to get it.

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    1. And some of us who are handicapped by WordPress don’t even get their comments to post – I sent one this morning well over an hour ago that still has not shown…

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      1. another attempt with a “cut & paste” version –

        Both high profile Pitt teams – FB and men’s BB end their seasons with giant thuds.

        The men’s BB team lost their 7th in a row last night to end a bad regular season. I heard Mark Packard on XM 84 Radio yesterday call Northwestern a doormat team this season – NW is one of Pitt’s “signature” wins this season along with K-state (another bad team) and FL-state (highly over-rated).

        Someone mentioned the other day that Pitt baseball travels to Miami for a series this weekend that should tell us how good our 10-1 Panthers really are. I think we found out last night as they lost their home opener to Youngstown State to fall to 10-2. They are not very good…

        Today, Pitt is hoping I renew my season FB tickets – not one phone call nor e-mail to encourage me to do that nor excite me with a marketing piece from our Athletic Department. Yeah, sign me up for that!

        Land that once housed a great FB program was “converted” to a basketball showpiece that was home to a 20 year run of entertaining men’s BB that has now become a dumpster fire that is burning out of control.

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        1. Rick:
          It is unbelievable that they don’t reach out at all. I would not have renewed buy you and Fran make it fun.
          Anyway, before I got to meet all you Pitt grads I had tickets. I was going to let them go, but Sam Clancy called and I renewed out of respect for him.
          The long and the short is the really don’t care or at the least act that way.
          KMan

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          1. I re-upped today

            The D hooked me for another year.

            There are a lot of Seniors – no excuses allowed if we don’t win 10 games.

            EE

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            1. I reupped too. This year Lucy will hold the ball and I will kick it for the winning field goal.

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  56. FWIW, my biggest criticism of Capel thus far is that he wasn’t able to bring in any decent big man, HS or JUCO, as yet. For any of you not to notice the difference last night was GT’s length, then I don’t know what you’re watching. Not only did they have 10 blocks, but they also altered maybe twice as many Pitt shots. As usual, Pitt was able to get to the hoop against the man-to-man, but they couldn’t finish worth a damn.

    I will reserve my final judgement on Capel for another two years until I see how this teams does with talented underneath presence. Again, with the exception of T Brown, Capel started from scratch less than 2 years ago

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    1. I should have added that when a big man drops off of his man to alter a shot, then the man he is watching should have the advantage of rebounding the missed shot …. but no, not Pitt. Yes, the stats says Pitt had 15 off rebounds but that was after 38 misses.

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  57. I didn’t even react this way after year 2 of Narduzzi and he had the talent…at least on O.

    I’ll reserve judgment until the end of year 3.

    But this was a bad year and the team has regressed. I was really hoping for some directors cup points for basketball this year. 🤠

    Pitt is a wrestling school. Get out and support your panthers at the ACC tourney. I’ll be there in spirit and if you see Ghost, tell him that I’m still trying. Ghost of Pitt Stsdium that is.

    Tex

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  58. It is incredible how totally inept X and Trey have become. Does make you concerned for next year.

    It also makes you wonder about Capel and his staff.

    Will Hugley and Horton be enough without a point guard?

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  59. Coach can’t coach to players without ears

    Tex

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I got in trouble here for using the word ‘myopic’ but the fact is that there many other programs in the NCAA and ACC where the public and media perception is that they are just as good, if not better, than Pitt. The last 30 years saw to that.

      Yes, we fans should expect a really good year in 2020, but so do the fans of many other teams… many of them with more recent success and better access to recruits.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Can’t disagree with the rankings. I think Pitt will probably end up tied for second in the division. Another cold weather bowl to put on narduzzis resume.

      Tex

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  62. X should take his pro dreams to Montenegro. And Trey should take his pacifier and diapers with him to a Mac school. Pitt will be far better off as a team without those earless and brainless athletes. They are grown arse men who don’t care about team. The free ride should stop. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

    Tex

    Tex

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  63. you people keep focusing only on the 2 guards. Champagnie and Toney were a combined 5-22 from the field, and had a combined 6 reb. The 5th starter was 1-2 with 1 reb.

    This is a very incomplete team. No reliable big men or upper-class leadership ….. I can’t EMPHASIZE this enough

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    1. Because those guards are the biggest problem. When you have a cancer, you cut it out. Capel needs to cut those two. Team would be far better off without them. Replace them with some transfers as a stop gap. Toney and champagne aren’t the problem. They had a bad game. The other two are just bad for the team. Big difference.

      Tex

      Liked by 1 person

  64. Two thoughts.

    This is the most disjointed BB team in many many years even if we have ex head coaches as assistants.

    Our 2020 FB team will have serious headwinds to overcome as UNC will be favored to win the Coastal in the southern ACC.

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  65. Well, I’m going to hold off on the criticism and give Capel the same patience and courtesy that Narduzzi received here at the POV. Oh wait a second, Narduzzi has been hounded to hell for years here despite winning his division. Which is also poo poo-ed.

    I agree with BIG Dan that it’s hard to believe that these kids are un-coach-able. imo a kid like that will not see the court period. This PITT BB team is very disconnected and I expect changes will occur with some of these players.

    Having said that, X has played exceptional defense recently, his problems aren’t for the lack of trying and hustle. He’s just too strong in the head and stubborn. Also, I’ve never seen so many asinine shots put up by a player as McGowens has attempted if that’s the right word. Attempted that is, even I could look every bit as bad as he has looked.

    So I’m confused with this whole situation.

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    1. Narduzzi is going on year 6. Capel year 3.

      Narduzzi inherited talent on O. Pro talent. And a stable program. And plays in the weakest division in all P5.

      Capel has to deal with a nuclear holocaust.

      Apples and oranges Ike.

      I’ll provide Capel a nickname after I see next season. Hopefully miss compliance didn’t hire a dud as a coach.

      Tex

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      1. Narduzzi has been given crap since day one Tx. Mostly because of semi-closed practices and not on the field critiques. Goes to show me that personal feeling can get in the way of opinions. Which is just my opinion. But I’ve been known to be wrong once…….. or maybe twice. 🙂

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        1. C’mon Ike. He lost to North Carolina when they had one or two wins. He kicked a field goal from the one foot line against PSU. He had first and goal from the one against Va Tech and pooped the bed on play calling and clock management. His first couple of years he tried to play a defensive scheme that he did not have the personnel to run. I could cite ten more examples if you wanted me to.

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          1. 2 things Eric:

            )1 The defensive scheme was the process that many made fun of. Narduzzi had a depleted Chryst roster to deal with. That roster was not loaded with big time 4 and 5 * defensive players

            )2 North Carolina was.

            As a side note, the only reason PITT won 8 games his first two years was Nate Peterman. Who was recruited by Chaney under Narduzzi.

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            1. No Ike. Guy named Conner? Some stud linemen. Peterman had sone talent around him. You are correct that the defensive talent was subpar. But to my point, he should have schemed according to his talent level. He was stubborn and it cost him.

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      2. sorry but your argument doesn’t cut it with me. Steve Pikiell head coach of Rutgers has only been there two years same as Capel at PITT. His guys improved as the season went on. Ours got worse. He plays Big Ten which played better BB than the ACC this yr.

        Capel showed me nothing!

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  66. I would respect Capel more if he got rid of those two selfish and low basketball IQ players who don’t listen

    Tex

    Liked by 1 person

    1. McGowans and Johnson attempted of 12 shots between them. Champ and Toney had 22. McGowans and Johnson had 5 assists total; Champ and Toney — 1.

      And how many freaking times did Toney try to force the ball up against their big men last night? He was 3-14,, more shots than the 2 guards combined.

      Are you people watching the same game as I am?

      Liked by 1 person

  67. So now we want the Coaches to cut players who aren’t playing well? Players the Coach recruited who aren’t playing well?

    That would do wonders for future recruiting.

    No, what you should do is use playing time. Once we have a full roster, that’s what you will see happen…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes. Scholarships are renewed each year anyway. Players get cut all the time for other players. Players who don’t buy in, should be shown the door. Evidently these two don’t listen and are selfish. Those aren’t my words. Those are their teammates. They can take their talents and attitudes to Montenegro and the Mac basement.

      Tex

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      1. Here’s the thing………. You have pro potential football players like Twyman, Jones the Second, Ford, Hamlin and Tipton aside wanting to play for PITT another year. To me? That speaks highly of the football coaching staff. Something is going right on the south-side. Plus I heard Pickett asked Narduzzi if he could get him his freshman year back. The rumors of mutiny on this PITT football team were greatly exaggerated.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. They are a metastatic cancer and need either cut out or isolated to the bench. Give them 1- 3 minutes a game next year if they won’t listen and play team ball.

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  68. BB has not created a “Happy Room ” to turn to in the POV meeting place today.. I am on edge too but thankfully I gave up on them a few games back..missing too many ingredients- now I am sitting here watching a malingerer go through the motions hoping a good acting job will lead to a regular payday without having to show up at work…makes me want to scream!!!!!!…losers everywhere I turn( POVerts not included)…my soundtrack today would be VERY DARK ….can”t wait ’til September

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  70. Maybe in a year or two Brandon Knight may be ready. I think he is doing a good job at Rutgers.

    I am not sure he would want to return to PITT.

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  71. JoeL …my bad. It was OK not OKst. My comments were in anger and frustration. Plus I gave up drinking for Lent thus I walk around in a confused daze!

    Starting to worry a bit about Capel. Inmates are running the asylum and that’s never good.

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    1. hahah – yes, when responding I was wondering if laying off the Scotch during Lent was making you cranky.

      I can appreciate the concern and I hope the guys he is bringing in have the necessary mindset to play as a part of a team.

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  73. The guys could have used this lady on the floor last night. She would have been our best player too….

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  75. Nobody’s mentioned it but Pitt women’s BB team playing on now (6:00 pm to 8:00) Showing on ATT Sportsnet & other regional sites (I have it on Fox Sports South). Pitt leading 24-23 with 3 minutes left in 2’nd Qtr

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  76. Thanks Bill. The Trib has 15 women’s basketball games listed for viewing, but not the Pitt game…wtf?

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  77. Women’s BB lost to GT by 10. They were down by three at the start of 4th Q.

    Day Harris had 21; AB Brown had 12. Twenty-two fouls called on Pitt; only 12 on GT.
    Pitt only 3-13 from three.

    The good news— the women’s season-of-the-freshmen is over. Course we still have to survive the season-of-the-sophomores, but that should be an improvement -especially with the three freshmen and red-shirt who will be added.

    Hopefully the upset win over ND inspires all of them in their prep for next season…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  78. To be clear on my last comment, I wasn’t suggesting Narduzzi didn’t and still doesn’t have his flaws as a head coach. I like Capel as well, it’s just that the prejudice towards each coach have different goal posts.

    Liked by 1 person

  79. Ike – thanks for Dion Dimucci (sp?) One of my all time favorites.

    I didn’t have much to say about the BB team this year. I could not bring myself to watch them very much. It seemed to me that last year X and Trey made a living driving to the hoop, and shooting free throws resulting from their drives. This year, the rest of the league had enough film of Pitt to know to stop the drives, and let us try to win via 3s. Cuse showed the rest of the league that we couldn’t beat a 2-3 zone (in our 1st game with them this year), so the rest of the league followed suit.

    We shot so poorly, and couldn’t rebound our misses – bad combo. I remember Jamie saying an offensive rebound is worth a point – i.e. you score from half your off rebs. It’d be nice to see a really good rebounding team next year.

    Liked by 1 person

  80. I think that EITHER Trey OR X has to go for the other to improve. Though reckless and selfish, X seems to have the better PG skills. Trey was the higher rated player, and might have a slightly better outside shot. Next year they must have a legitimate point guard if they are going to improve.

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  81. As frustrated as we fans are, I cannot imagine the level of frustration among the coaches and players who are living with this every day. Especially when they had some decent success through the first half of the season. I still say Murphy’s injury was the turning point, but why no rebound since he came back? It is like the whole team lost their swagger all at one time and no individual has had a complete game or got hot. In most of their wins you can point to at least one guy having a big game. X, Trey, Champ, Toney, and Murphy at least had one big game, but nothing since the swoon began. Even Hamilton, Brown and Coulibaly, contributed some decent performances in the wins.

    As WBB pointed out the losses have been a team effort, although X and Trey have taken the brunt of the criticism, because they should be the team leaders, but everyone forgot how to make foul shots down the stretch when they had the NCST game in hand, and no one has stepped up to make the big shot when it is needed.

    The frustration of crashing and burning in what started out as a promising second season has to be difficult to take for all involved. The question is how do they bounce back next year? Can they overcome this year’s individual and collective shortcomings, with a couple of new players? Will they, plus improvement from the existing guys be enough to turn the corner?

    How do you get back to having a winning attitude?

    Will Capel be able to close on the two future stars that have some interest in Pitt after this swoon?
    When will he find a point guard? Can they turn the corner without one?

    Liked by 3 people

  82. why does everyone on this site automatically assume that Hamilton was referring to X and Trey? I repeat …. versus GT, Toney took more shots (14) than did Trey and X combined (12). And he only made three. Champagne took the 2nd most shots (8) and only made 2.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. And most of those were contested inside shots, let’s hope that Hugley is all of that, because along with no three point percentage shooters, there is absolutely no power game.

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  83. X and Trey are always going to get the criticism, because they are the guys that run the offense, or fail to run it, but wbb’s point is valid, losing has been an all out team effort.

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  84. Changing the subject, I read the PSN article about Tipton this morning. I give him a lot of credit, he could easily shut it down, rather than risk more pain and rehab, but wants to take one more shot. I hope he has the success of Ejuan Price who had an injury ridden career but came back to make a big difference.

    Pitt’s offense needs playmakers in the worst way. Tipton is one when healthy.

    On a personal note, I made nine pars yesterday And if it wasn’t for those mudholes substituting for sandtraps would have had a pretty good round. Rehab coming along nicely.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. well being that I’m not sure if I made 9 pars all of last year, I would have to think it was a pretty good round

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    3. There are a few videos of Pitt practices floating around – in them you will see numerous pass catches by #3 trueFR Jordan Addison out of Maryland.

      T.Mack, Shockey and Addison will make plays as well.

      Nine pars makes for a nice round of golf – looking forward to playing soon myself.

      EE

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  85. Speaking of golf who is interested in golfing the day before the spring game? I’m pretty sure I can get a group off at River Forest that day but I’ll play anywhere if someone has a better option.
    Thinking sometime around noon to accommodate the out of towners.
    I have Wolfe and Gordon penciled in so far. Let me know at
    lokarfr@gmail.com

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    1. I’d like to play, but I may be moving some stuff out of my daughter’s dorm. I could do that at 9 am and be in Freeport in time. Put me in as a tentative yes. I’d likely have a foursome.

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  86. Before putting the lousy season entirely on the coaching staff, look at the players they had to work with. How many are ACC caliber talent? How many minutes were the top five players playing in any given game. Additionally, there was almost no help from the bench players. At the end of the season it is easy to see that the starters were physically run down to the point of not being competitive.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad slick hair is gone. His Cali style is wearing thin in Fort Worth. He really needs to go back to Cali and retire on the beach. The 🐟 🌮 ‘s are to die for in Santa Monica.

      Tex

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  88. Capel is a smart coach

    Not his problem that two players in particular don’t listen and don’t care about team

    If I were Capel I’d cut those two malcontents. Pitt basketball has two AB’s.

    Tex

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  90. I really do like Capel but he deserves some criticism. JC had the team rolling when all of a sudden their opponents figured out that they are a one trick pony with the mafia sophomores. Another way to phrase that is, he’s being out-coached. I get the fact that he is still short on players and help is on the way but I watched some pretty lousy basketball recently. I still think PITT will turn the corner in a year or two with Capel.

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    1. When two players who start aren’t coachable, that’s not the coach being outcoached. As coach you either bench those players or get rid of them. And I’m speaking as a former coach.

      And Pitt is probably damn glad they don’t have me as coach. Because X and diaper Trey would be the first two shown the door.

      There are plenty of transfers in the market that would be 300 percent better. Pitt needs a floor general and a shooter. They don’t need punks driving to the hoop who can NOT dribble, pass or shoot.

      Tex who knows coaching.

      And Capel is a keeper. Have faith yee doubters.

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  92. With Capel, it’s ALL about the talent. He wins when… and only when… he has the BEST talent on the floor.

    That’s what history tells us, still to this day.

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  93. And for those who like to point to his days at VCU as proof otherwise… save it.

    Do some homework. BOTH of the Coaches who followed Capel at VCU did BETTER!

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    1. And both of the coaches before him did worse. Seems to me Capel built the program at VCU up & left it in much better shape then when he took over.

      Liked by 1 person

  94. Poor free throw shooting has also hurt the team recently. At one time it was one of their strong suits.

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    1. Talent that doesn’t reach potential is an issue. Dependent on coaching and the individual. Plus injuries come into play. Paper matters not. Results on field look for.

      Tex the Yoda

      Liked by 1 person

  96. Gordon – nice round! Makes me wanna get my knees done so I can lower MY scores ….Who knew??

    Yeah, I know …. Joe knew!

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  98. Let’s dig a little deeper.

    Jeff Capel’s winning percentage at VCU .658.

    Sounds impressive until you realize that .648 is the AVERAGE for all 12 Coaches in the history of the school.

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    1. Capel’s record a VCU sounds a little better than average but lets dig a little deeper & actually do some homework. The overall average is.648 but the 3 coaches before Capel where .545, .517 & .533 or a combined .528.

      You can spin it any why you want but Capel took over a solidly average program & improved it. He built a winning program that has continued since he left.

      Liked by 1 person

  100. Bucket list golf course next week: Streamsong in Florida. They call it the Bandon Dunes of the East Coast. Plus a trip to Bradenton to finally see Pirates spring training. Week finishes up at the Players Championship. I’m living the life of Dr. Tom. At least for one week anyway.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Eric — very smart to go to Bradenton to get over the bad taste of Pitt BB with some yummy Bucco baseball! 😊

      Just kidding, of course. Best wishes for a super time — and some great golf…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  102. And for what it’s worth… beating an FSU Team with ONE returning Starter and the starting Center on the bench in the first game of the season… and a North Carolina Team that’s possibly the WORST of all time… is NOT winning.

    Neither is finishing last with a losing record.

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  103. Let me repeat again (yes, I meant to be redundant) … he started from scratch less than 2 years ago. Yes, we are now disappointed but it is still unfair to judge him for another 2 years IMO.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sadly the term “literally” as lost it’s meaning and impact due to overuse and poor use….

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  107. Thanks, PoD. I had no idea it was so easy to fill a roster with quality players after an 0-fer season. And create a competitive team with a winning record in two short seasons.

    I learn so much reading POV!

    Liked by 2 people

  108. Let’s not forget that ANY first recruiting class is a crap shoot. It’s the next two that will tell the story for Capel. He got a good one in Toney first year and Champ in year two. Now a couple more in class three. And a 5 star in year 4? Give the man some time and we will be reworded!

    Liked by 4 people

  109. Watched some Spring Ball interviews and video. Freshman WR Jordan Addison is getting a lot of mention – surprised at how many people mention his speed.

    Pitt has don’t a nice job of finding speedsters in guys like Q. Henderson, M. Ffrench and Shocky, to just name some WRs…

    Then I heard the freshman RB Abanikanda say he ran a 4.45.

    And don’t forget Pinnock — he can motor.

    Can’t wait to see these guys flying around…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 5 people

  110. you know that when you think about it, Pitt BB started from scratch two years in a row.

    You might recall that the 2 main holdovers from Stallings’ 1st year, Cam and Luther, couldn’t leave fast enough. And they were both LOCALS.

    I cannot think of any bigger rebuild project.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bottom line: he has to show notable improvement next year if Pitt wants to avoid a Stallingsesqu empty Pete. Next year’s tickets will be a hard sell as it is.

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  111. Capel came from Duke so he had that going for him. He also was recruiting to a well respected basketball league the ACC. He could sell the opportunity to start early on a team the had a lot openings. So I’m not willing to say he was so handicapped by having to recruit to Pitt.

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    1. But how many other coaches have to start from scratch? I’m sure there may have been others but the only other one I know of is Stallings …. and he went 0-18!

      I was disappointed that Capel didn’t bring in a talented JUCO or transfer big man. Instead he seemed to go after the type of players he recruited for Duke and learned a hard lesson. But I expect this year is the tart of some decent classes

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  112. I guess I am in the minority of those that have not given up on X and Trey and even Brown. They obviously have their limitations, but they also have a boatload of talent. It is up to them and the coaches to get the most out of that talent and limit the impact of their shortcomings. I have no crystal ball unlike some, but I hope they still have much to contribute to the program.

    Liked by 3 people

  113. BTW, last night in the state basketball playoffs, only 1 WPIAL team won. Meanwhile, in the state wrestling matches, only 2 WPIAL wrestlers lost

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  114. How does wpa hockey teams do. I’m assuming there is a playoff system as well.

    Pitt needs a hockey team. Not a club sport or member of some rec league. If the Nitters have one, pitt can and should.

    Make sure that new 3500 capacity venue can support hockey. Plenty of time before ground breaking. Start raising money now. I’d donate to hockey before I give football any coin.

    Tex

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  115. Tex:

    There is a WPIAL hockey playoff and the opportunity to go to states. Very competitive and a few teams have done quite well. Latrobe over the years being one team.

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    1. The NHL really wants more colleges as feeders to the pros. It costs the league nothing. And the quality of players now coming out is really good. Hence the feasibility study that the NHL commissioned with Pitt being one of the schools investigated and analyzed.

      Not sure why Pitt doesn’t air it to the public and to gauge the fan reaction. Pitt can always find the money and the new venue for volleyball would be ideal for a multi purpose rink. Another $30-$40 million added to the construction tag and another $10 million to support scholies and staff salaries/travel costs, etc. So for an extra roughly $50 million, Pitt could support 50 scholar athletes and have both a men and women’s hockey team that would be very competitive and be fun to watch in this hockey crazy town.

      Victory Heights is already a $200 million plus project financed primarily by debt.

      I figure pitt would have a far easier time raising money for two hockey programs than the highly successful volleyball team.

      Tex the Goalie.

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    2. Hockey just makes so much sense for Pitt and the region. But Pitt doesn’t know a great opportunity if it hit them in the face. BoT bozos.

      Tex

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    1. He still doesn’t win a super bowl right?

      If the Steelers drafted him, he probably could have won as many as Bradshaw.

      Damn shame his legacy is tarnished by shulas and the dolphins front offices inability to build a super bowl contender around him. He never had the running game or the defense.

      Marino would put up 60k yards and 60 tds today if he played given the rule changes.

      Tex

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  117. stupid me! I have been raging on Capel and comparing him to Rutgers Coach Pikiell. Pikiell has been at Rutgers for 4 years. I forgot completely about Stallings and the $9,000,000 Barnes cost us for his mistake. Apologies to Capel and crew. You get two more yrs. before I start calling you bums again.

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