101 thoughts on “Notre Dame at Pitt Open Basketball Thread”

  3. ND is a 3 point machine. If they’re hitting Em Pitt’s in trouble but they’ll get nothing inside with Guiye and Hugley. If Burton is on, I like Pitt!

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  4. Reposting from the last thread. Hate when that happens.

    Looking forward to the hoops game. I realize they may get destroyed, but the reason college sports are great is the possibility of new players having break out years.

    I like Odukale off the ball. He can certainly drive. He’s 6’5” and if he can get just a little consistent from outside he is a big bonus.
    Hugley will keep improving.
    Maybe Gueye keeps playing aggressive and adds a nice element to the team. That kid should juice up and gain about 80 lbs. He’d be a force, lol.
    Free Horton!

    Liked by 2 people

  7. wow, doesn’t look like this year’s Pitt team at all,,,, early on anyway

    thought Dan’s comments recently were crazy about these kids but maybe something to them

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  8. I like that we’re not in the Holiday bowl, cancelled due to Covid. What a joke.

    What I don’t like, is Whatever the excuse is for Capel having 0 recruits. But yet, happily rooting for the Panthers. H2P

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  9. Pitt has to stop attacking the 2/3 zone like it’s a man to man D.
    Start overloading areas. Stop trying to drive thru 3 defensive players.

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    1. Very little ability from the outside…they can only drive. They need to be better passers off those drives.

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  11. That last play Pitt ran w 3.5 seconds should look familiar. It was the same inbound play Villanova beat us with in the NcAAs. Dixon did not know how to defend it!

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  12. I liked what they had to say about how UCLA should be criticized for the way they handled the bowl game. The Holiday Bowl committee should sue them.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yea that was good. He said UCLA had no problems with the free trip to Sea World and the other bowl perks. They should have their bowl swag taken back.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. The Quarter Zip shirt….both coaching crews wearing. We wore those 50 years ago in 7th & 8th grade.

    So nothing new in Fashion either ! lol

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  16. The way Goodwin started the game for them, 2 buckets in game’s first 2 1/2 minutes. Looked like he was going to blow up with a huge game.

    But after that 3 & 2, he only took a couple more shots in the half. Leads them with 8.
    Twig & Femi lead Pitt with 9

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    1. where HE has gotten hit with the body on previous trip and no call

      officiating looks a bit shaky

      we’ve got to stop missing those many close shots, 3 or 4 so far misses through contact

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  18. Pitt up by 4 has just seen some ND homer calls. Blatant no call on Femi
    and then a blatant call in a no foul on Gueye.

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  22. 7 Team Fouls on Pitt….in the 2nd half….So they shooting fouls now on every foul.
    And they shoot 76% as a team.

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  29. I can’t tell you how much rehearsal it took Pitt to implement a very complex defense to deny ND 3 Pt shots! Pitt switching 1-2-3 but not 4-5. Very hard to play but very effective.

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  30. This Pitt team has heart. They won’t quit. Even in a loss they are fun to watch. Hopefully they can pull this one out.

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  41. Brutal 1 point loss after leading by 8
    most of second half. All I can say is Pitt played their asses off! No shame. Just not quite good enough.

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  42. Brutal 1 point loss after leading by 8
    most of second half. All I can say is Pitt played their asses off! No shame. Just not quite good enough.

    Liked by 2 people

  48. Coach Capel said defensive mistakes in the second half killed them. Said they weren’t supposed to leave the corner open when ND drove the ball – but they did….

    Players trying to do things they think will help – when it’s just the opposite…

    Go Pitt.

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    1. imo partly what happened was Pitt had 7 Team Fouls with over 10 minutes left in the 2nd half.

      Therefore Pitt couldn’t guard as closely or as aggressively….cause every Foul became a shooting foul.

      Liked by 1 person

  49. When you’re not expecting much….the losses are much easier to absorb.

    Now onto the March on Atlanta !!!

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  52. When you shoot 16 of 17 from the FT line like ND did tonight, you are going to win close games. Pitt played a very good game. A lot of those three’s ND made were contested. On a side note, I love how those announcers were commenting as if ND just beat the No. 1 team in the country “ND takes down Pittsburgh”…”What a win for ND”…It should have been more like “ND struggles to beat a depleted Pitt team”. H2P

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      1. Yep, one of the tipoffs(of many) was; referring to us as Pittsburgh most all the time.

        You have a GIANT PITT scrawled across the basketball court…and this clown won’t call us Pitt.

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  53. ND shot a higher 3 pt percentage than total shooting percentage. But what lost this game was that Pitt couldn’t draw a foul with the last 5.6 second opportunity. Even a floor foul would have given them 2 shots. Their big guy was out and a drive to the rim would probably have done it. Just not mature basketball.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It was a good play call by Capel and Burton just missed the shot. Every top ACC team gets a foul call on that play.

      I’m all in with Juggs. Refs made a bunch of questionable calls late second half. They all went one way!

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  54. Pitt got behind the 8 ball (or jobbed if you like)….by all those foul calls in about a 5 minute period in the 2nd half by the Refs as well.

    Check this out from the 16.39 mark to the 11:49 mark. Not even 5 minutes…..the Refs called 7 fouls on Pitt.

    Putting ND in the bonus. Every foul called on Pitt thereafter would result in FT’s for ND.

    Not only did that cause Pitt to defend less closely, less aggressively.

    But since Pitt has Guards that drive to the basket,….having 7 Team Fouls also caused them to not drive to the basket so much and when they did it wasn’t as aggressive. As an Offensive Foul Charge against them would result in ND shooting FT’s.

    So you had a stretch where Pitt in 4 straight possessions….threw up four 3’s. None went in, 3 weren’t even close to going in.

    So all those Fouls (many garbage calls) on Pitt in less than 5 minutes, took away Pitt’s aggressiveness not only on Defense……..BUT ON OFFENSE too. !!

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    1. Pitt’s starters all played from 34 to 39 minutes. Lack of any quality depth has to have a negative effect on defense (and shooting), I would say…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes certainly MM, Pitt got only 2 points off the bench from the only 2 bench players who played.
        The Walk-on kid played 16 minutes, took a charge, got the ball stolen. Ying & Yang. Collier only played 6 minutes and had the 2 points on a putback.

        So little to nothing off the bench. Oladapo ? Santos ? Didn’t play a second. avg 18 and 12 minutes/game.

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  55. Femi 5-7 FT’s but was one a front end of 1 and 1?

    can’t have our best ball handler not be able to be given the ball at the end of the game because he can’t be relied on for hitting FT’s if fouled

    real perspective

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      2. it was a play on Dan’s comment but if you want to continue being an a-hole, please do

        I don’t pay specific attention to YOUR posts but if you wish me to for some reason, carry on

        Liked by 1 person

          1. now that’s more like it, respect, LOL

            I do agree with most of and am on board with your CV19 commentary on the other thread, so there’s that 🙂

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  57. Dan, Burton tried to avoid contact on that last shot when he should have attacked the rim. It was a good play call but poor execution by an experienced player.

    Liked by 1 person

  58. Heavy rain and T storms all day Thursday in Atlanta. Supposed to let up some for game time. Certainly should favor the Spartans huge athletic lines!

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    1. No problemo bro dan…..it apparently has a Roof.

      The stadium’s signature feature is its retractable roof, which features a “pinwheel” consisting of eight translucent, triangular panels. Each of the eight panels operates on two straight, parallel rails; one rail is responsible for moving the panel while the other rail stabilizes the panel.[17][18] Closing the roof takes slightly less time than opening the roof,

      Liked by 1 person

  59. Hopefully the VTech game gets pushed back with the Hokies COVID issues and Horton is reinstated after his hearing tomorrow.

    Pitt desperately needs his shooting and another body in the thin rotation.

    Liked by 1 person

  60. Tough loss to the pretentious domers…
    No students in Zoo was a factor…
    One sided officiating at a home game…AGAIN…
    Leaving a heartbreaking loss to find out its raining hard and sideways…
    75 minutes to get home due to rain and traffic…
    BUT I HAD A GOOD TIME! 😎
    Free Horton!!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I think the focus for Horton and his family right now is to avoid a jail sentencing.

      Basketball is the least of their worries right now.

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      1. I don’t think jail is in Horton’s future and the charges will be reduced. I mean, how did Levance Fields lunge and try to grab a cop’s gun and get zero charges filed and missed no games?

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  62. I am surprised at every game that Pitt has a chance to win. I think Capel is doing a remarkable job with the talent at hand. Never thought they would be this good defensively. Just hope that he can keep these guys together and convince some decent guys to come.

    When you look at the starting five, Hugley has exceeded expectations as has Gueye and probably Burton, Odukale is pretty much as expected and Jeffress just can’t get to the next level where he needs to be offensively. There is no depth, no one from the bench that can be counted on to add a spark or fill a need.

    I know everyone wants to blame Capel, but has there ever been a coach as snakebit as this guy?

    He gets Trey and X, but it turns out neither ones game matures to where it needs to be. Champ turns into a star but because of the Hugley fiasco there isn’t enough of a supporting cast to have much success. Then X and Champ start the mass exodus, leaving the cupboard bare. Then you have the Horton fiasco and Sibande’s injury contributing to next year’s star recruit changing his mind.

    And all of this while coaching during Covid and actually getting it.

    So how much of this is Capel’s fault? Certainly he is not blameless, but what a tragedy of events.

    I still think that Heather should have demanded some coaching changes, after the mass exodus but who knows what goes on behind the scenes?

    And the question still remains, what happens next?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is all Capel’s fault. I make far less money than Capel – but we are both CEO’s and everything about our organizations is a result of he and I being the leader. What happens under our leadership, good or bad is our responsibility.

      Liked by 3 people

  63. How is he doing on the recruiting front this year? He might have to fill his roster spots from the transfer portal shortly.

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    1. He has a decomit, no known prospects and one highly rated PG with Pittsburgh ties that he pulled the scholarship off the table.

      I’d say he is asleep at the wheel when it comes to recruiting.

      Liked by 1 person

  64. Yeah right Gordon, “who knows what is going on behind the scenes”… I simply don’t understand how we had only 1 freshman recruit last year, and 0 this year thus far. Capel would have to pull a rabbit out of his hat to salvage things for next year (ala his first year here), and the trajectory of the program suggests we are not going to be pleasantly surprised. Has Capel given up, and already has one foot out the door? Makes me wonder what discussions Heather has had. It’s a shame too, because he appears to be coaching hard, and I think he’s a much better coach than Stallings.

    Liked by 2 people

  66. In the 3 most important BB games of the season so far (B10 and ACC) we lose all 3 by 1 point. Is it effort or being outclassed or out coached or mental or refs or? The team needs to find out very soon or?

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  67. Um…no real point guard, few shooters and lack of depth are huge factors.
    Like myself walking 18 holes on a hot afternoon, finishing strong can be a struggle.

    Liked by 2 people

  68. My shekels are on you Fran.

    Right now I’ve got my fingers crossed that we have a PITT football game to watch tomorrow night!

    I remember three years ago during the season when Narduzzi was asked about the ACC championship game and Pat responded. “I’ll see you there” or something like that?

    Liked by 2 people

  69. Pitt’s Kenny Pickett Wins Prestigious Senior CLASS Award

    PITTSBURGH—Pitt All-America quarterback Kenny Pickett has been selected the recipient of this year’s Senior CLASS Award®, annually presented to the most outstanding senior Football Bowl Subdivision student-athlete. Pickett was chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I FBS football coaches, national media and fans.

    An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

    To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: classroom, community, character and competition.

    Pickett is the first Pitt student-athlete to win the prestigious award.

    “Kenny Pickett has succeeded in fulfilling the greatest of expectations that a student-athlete can have,” said Erik Miner, Executive Director of the Senior CLASS Award. “He has created a standard for others to follow at the University of Pittsburgh and deserves all of the recognition he has received for his terrific season. We are proud to offer our congratulations to Kenny for winning this award.”

    “As student-athletes at the University of Pittsburgh, it is continually impressed upon us to be multi-dimensional,” Pickett said. “We are far more than just football players, and we should always strive to achieve and impact the world well beyond the field. I am so thankful for those lessons and experiences because I know it will serve me throughout my life. That’s why I am so incredibly honored to be the 2021 Senior CLASS Award recipient. To be recognized for achievement in those four areas—classroom, community, character and competition—is really the highest honor. Although my name is on the award, it really is a tribute to the many people who invested their time and talents in me while I was at Pitt, including my coaches, teammates, professors and our university administrators.”

    “Kenny Pickett truly represents all of the qualities that make the Senior CLASS Award so great,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. “On and off the field, Kenny set a high standard that inspired our entire program. He is incredibly deserving of this honor and I have no doubt that he will continue to make us proud in all that he does beyond Pitt.”

    On the football field, Pickett achieved the most prolific season ever by a Pitt quarterback. In 13 games, he completed 67% of his passes (334 of 497) for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Including his five rushing scores, he totaled 47 touchdowns this season.

    Pickett’s passing yardage, passing touchdowns, total TDs and completions are all Pitt season records. He also set an ACC season record for touchdown passes (breaking the prior mark of 41 set by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016).

    Pickett even eclipsed the legendary Dan Marino in each of the Panthers’ major career categories. Pickett stands as the Pitt’s all-time leader in passing yards (12,303), pass completions (1,045), total offense (13,112), touchdown responsibility (102) and passing touchdowns (81). His 20 career rushing touchdowns are also a new standard for a Pitt quarterback.

    In addition to his athletic excellence, Pickett is accomplished academically and from a community and leadership standpoint.

    Pitt’s two-time team captain earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and is enrolled in the Katz Graduate School of Business.

    He has been nationally lauded for his NIL initiatives, which have emphasized philanthropy as well as his teammates. Pickett’s volunteerism while on campus has included efforts with the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the Dollar Energy Fund and Voting Matters campaign. Pickett also donated his student-athlete per diem so that local youth teams could have resources to purchase bottled water for practices and games.

    In addition to the Senior CLASS Award, Pickett garnered a number of other national honors this season.

    He was named the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Pickett was selected a first team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Walter Camp Football Foundation, becoming the first Pitt quarterback to earn first-team status since Marino in 1981.

    Additionally, Pickett was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s overall Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.

    An invitee to the Reese’s Senior Bowl all-star game, Pickett is considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.

    Liked by 2 people

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