307 thoughts on “Pitt at UNC Basketball Thread”

  4. Tickets were still available at game time….as low as $14 online. Probably $5 outside.

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  13. I wonder what the breakdown is for Pitt in shooting percentage when they make 4+ passes before shooting vs <4. I would bet it’s substantially higher for the latter. Cummings and Elliott carrying the load right now.

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  17. After a 10 -0!run by Pitt UNC has had the ball for 7 straight possessions, over 3 minutes and about to take the lead. Pitt playing very stupid ball and completely out of sync.

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  18. We’re in trouble if all of a sudden the refs aren’t going to let us play. Both teams were hand-checking and banging inside.

    Now a bunch a brush calls keeps the ball on the UNC side of the court.

    Pitt needs to keep it close and make the necessary adjustments at the half.

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  26. Up one at the half in spite of the refs. Gotta be pleased with that. But foul trouble looms in the 2nd half

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  27. Watching Diaz-Graham tonight it is really easy to see what an additional 15 lbs and some muscle will do to make him a top line player.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Wow, what a half. Seemed like a 7 on 4 set on each end of the floor.

    Santos with 3 fouls – I actually never saw him in the game…

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  36. This oaf/thug bacot is just pushing/shoving Pitt players out of the way. Yet no fouls.

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  48. Pitt Guards stepping up….Sleepy on Fire, best I’ve seen him ! Take that Tarholes !

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  49. Cummings can have as many as he wants. He’s almost unguarded. That may change out of this TO. Maybe Burton can have an easier time now.

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  50. UNC with 15 FT’s and Pitt with just 7.

    Stay hungry, keep hustling and hang tough on every possession.

    This W is within reach…

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  52. We need Hinson’s D and rebounding down the stretch. There is a 3 coming though and we’ll be jumping out of our seats when it hits…

    Let’s Go PITT!

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  53. Burton can take any of these No Class oafs off the dribble.
    Funny how Hubert takes off the faux glasses when the Holes huddle. lol

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  59. This really is our most hated ACC rival in both sports. Peel a Heel !
    So in that regard having a Dookie as HC fits.

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    1. Dan Bonner being a Pittsburgher, lost his Pittsburgh citizenship imo. Sold his soul. Like many if not most in the media.

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  67. That person of color ref is killing Pitt. I could list a half dozen calls that were bs.

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  68. Knew the refs would get Pitt’s hottest shooter out. Terrible awful call. Can’t beat the refs and UNC.

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  76. The oaf/thug Bacot also palmed the ball, as it bounced over his shoulder on that walking call.
    So many violations these unc players commit….hard to keep track !

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      1. LMAO>….yea my Cat noticed the palm too. It’s well trained in hoop rules. If nothing else !

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    1. I saw that too – the replay verified that Nike sky-ed high but did hit the hand of the shooter.

      I’ll take the no call as pay back for all the other touch fouls that should have been no calls…

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  96. Burton the Ice Man after Cummings and Nike missed their 1 and 1’s. Thought that would be the difference, they both owe him a cold one tonight.

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  99. Two wins vs UNC and 5 road ACC wins, anyone arguing with Capel’s contract?

    What a one year turnaround, the man is a portal genius.

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  100. The campus hotline in Chapel Hill….will be working overtime tonight……for Hurt Feelings.
    and feelings of non-worthiness. Such a shame, such a shame.

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  101. Feels great beating UNC with Hinson throwing up bricks all nite. Glad that’s out of his system. The real Blake Hinson will be back next game.

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  107. A hundred posts above called this Pitt’s “best EQUAL match” at this point of the season.

    A one point differential would seem to lend support especially considering the last TWO calls of the game could have gone EITHER way.

    Still call me IMPRESSED.

    It just might be the era of the “transfer portal” and NIL was made for one Jeff Capel!

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    1. More players ‘up for grabs’ every year. Should make it a lot more easier to land a few (and you only need 3 or 4) real playas. And then it becomes a Number’s Game on a Grand scale.
      Capel if nothing else can bs with the best of them and come across as sincere. Whether he is or not.

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  109. I think the two early fouls on Hinson got in his head. He seemed to lose focus. Hard to pick the intensity back up in the second half.

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  112. Props to Tim O’toole for the performance of F2. No way he was playing those concepts on offense or defense in Juco or Sweden.

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    1. It’s Finland. You mean you can’t tell the difference between a Finn & a Swede. For shame on you . lol

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  113. Burton and Hinson need a mid-season rest to heal their bodies:

    “Pitt has won three games in a row, all by three points or less. The Panthers are now 6-2 on the year in one-possession games. Pitt is off this weekend, and will return to action next Tuesday as they welcome Louisville to the Petersen Events Center for a 7:00 p.m tip.”

    Taken from a PSN post-game blurb.

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  114. Question for Coach Dan: does it appear that Santos is progressing? Will he contribute next year or is he just taking up a scholarship?

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  117. I love this team…Burton is the constant and it seems like a different player compliments him with a big game of their own every game. Today it was Cummings…I did not know you could catch an inbound pass, take a step, and get a jump shot off in .6 seconds, that’s impressive or impossible…If this Pitt team is not one of the best 65 teams in the country then there are a lot of exceptional teams out there…Our Panthers have sure won a lot of close games this season. That is going to pay dividends in the ACC and NCAA tournaments…H2P!

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  118. I’m still holding my breathe waiting for the refs to call a foul on Nike on that last play!!

    Fortunately he got some ball. Heck of a play by him – as it turns out.

    To get beaten for offensive rebounds by 19 to 7 and still win is crazy. Congrats to Nellie – this game must feel so good to him.

    Another amazing finish for the Panthers.

    Go Pitt.

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  119. And on our last possession, I was sure Burton had waited too long to make his move, but I was wrong. If UNC had another couple seconds on the clock they probably get a better shot and we may have fouled them…

    And how about UNC calling timeout with 0.6 sec on the clock. Thank you, Coach…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

  120. Question: How many basketball players have dreamt of stepping to the foul line down one at Carolina with 20,000 fans screaming at you to miss it with seconds to go in the game? And you calmly sink both shots.

    Answer: All of them!

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  121. There are so many ways last nights game would have gone south in prior years. But it didn’t. This team is special. And easy to root for.

    H2P!!

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    1. prior years and include this November and Dec 7th,

      but since then shockingly good basketball(FSU notwithstanding)

      I was far less thinking we’d continue the recent momentum at an away game and particularly because of how the home game went with UNC, plus it being UNC

      and I thought Love was mainly going to slap us around for anyone thinking differently and it looked like that might happen early

      .
      I wasn’t going to say anything but iirc, I was the one to call out Elliott and he responded so do I need to remind anyone of my recent call out of another guy? yep, NC

      so if someone needs it, I’m at the ready 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Total lack of professionalism and class from Jason Capel. He is 43 years old. Be better. The win was not about him; it was about the team and the university.

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  125. Nike played a great game has an amazing nose for the ball, especially rebounds. However I’m pretty sure it was him that that fouled on that last three point shot vs. FLST that was the final dagger and all I was screaming was don’t foul on the last two plays. Whew!
    All that crap reffing and they let that one go….

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  126. For those of you still upset about the loss to FLST, Clemson lost to Boston College, a team with the same record as FLST. It happens. TCU beat by WV etc. Michigan creamed by PSU.

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  128. can’t say enough about the Fx2 play and feel while everyone else has shown they can be huge contributors on any given night, Fede will be able to be counted on every night

    his trajectory of progression has been nothing but upward but that’s not to say that his place and role should be counted on apart from the other 4 on the court with him

    what I see happening is exactly that including the quick doubles with JB or Hinson and others as well as the quick hedges that require both Fede’s athleticism and the Pitt defender he’s helping to work together precisely

    outside the bombing range threes and the attempt to run offense through Bacot, the rest of UNC’s offense was rendered ineffective by the Pitt team

    this all should be expected to continue and counted on going forward but what is really nice to see is the small but continued added effort to get Fede to score some by some(Nellie for sure) with lobs and also pick and roll passes which keep the defenders honest and unable to help

    of course add in the hustle rebounding of Nike and Elliott and JB along with the twins and Nick in their minutes, all of which can be relied upon and should increase as the season continues and makes it easy to be optimistic

    probably nice for a couple guys to get some extra recovery time with the gap between games now but damn it’s nice to not have to wait a week between games all season when things are going well 🙂

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    1. It didn’t take away from the win or the team. It’s the media trying to make something out of nothing as usual.
      Here is how pathetic the media is now. Most that write about this weren’t even at the game. They write stories based on social media posts that they think will get clicks. Tim Benz writes articles for the Trib on crap trending on social media. That requires zero talent and zero effort. Journalism is dead. 👎😀

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      1. Didn’t say it took away from the win…not a way for a 43 year old man to behave on the job…”dissed!!!” Give me a break…. He needs called into Heather’s office this morning…

        Happy Groundhog Day !!!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Why would anyone let on that something someone else said or wrote affected them? Capel is just rewarding the UNC crowd!

      He’s notorious for his emotional outbursts at practices. STFU

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  132. Great great win on the road.

    Burton is fun to watch. Can’t remember Pitt having a go to guard like him, a guy they purposely spread the floor for so he can go one on one with his defender and get to the hoop.

    The younger players and Hugely need to take note of Burton’s physicality and physique. His strength is a huge factor in his game. Hit the gym hard boys. Take whatever PEDs are fashionable these days 😀

    Fede is going to be exceptional. His D has improved greatly and he has the athleticism to get so much better on offense.

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  133. Big B has high standards in life for himself, family, friends and his old school PITT! I agree Big Brother B.

    Mark, right you are. PITT stands Tall this morning. Great call.

    Liked by 2 people

  135. It was interesting to see Heather Lyke behind the bench at North Carolina rather than attending the National Letter of Intent event at Acrisure Stadium. I think that was a good decision under the circumstances. Football is chugging along, almost on cruise control, and basketball is on the rise.

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  136. PSN article says the UNC player didn’t get the shot off in time on that last play.

    Making whether there was a foul on that last shot a moot point. But if you contact the ball and then hit the shooters hand, it’s not a foul, is it?

    Go Pitt.

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    1. on review(multiple) I agree

      but had a very hard time stopping at the frame with clock at 0.0 and Nike’s hand not yet touching the shooter’s

      without the foul call, couldn’t be overturned

      Nike and his superb motor on defense had a great game while also shooting well, that drive late to the basket on the UNC turnover was full on determination and WILL

      I didn’t notice during the game all his rebounds and ended up leading the team

      Liked by 1 person

  137. OT – Nice job by Pitt on the LOI event. Doesn’t have the same pizzazz as it used to because of the early signing period, but still fun. And a chance to see some POV celebs including Fran, Annie, Scooter and Richman.

    Players attending included Rodney Hammond, David Green, MJ Devonshire, Ben Sauls, and Gavin Bartholomew.

    The incoming freshmen look like a pretty typical class to me. The DBs are athletic and fast; the WRs looked fast and with decent size, the DL guys looked quick and aggressive, the QB was tall with a strong arm, the LBs looked typical except for Bass who was tall, quick and ultra-aggressive; and the OLinemen looked large and needing of some work on their agility…

    Coach Underwood is a cool guy to talk to, even if he didn’t give us any inside info. He was good-natured even when Scooter gave him heck for not convincing Jared Wayne to come back. Course, Scooter was just kidding – well sort of…😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. One other note – OLine recruit BJ Williams might be a name to remember. Listed as 6-3 and 280, and likely a guard. The kid has massive looking legs and in a couple highlights, appeared to play nasty…
      I wouldn’t be surprised to see him starting as a Sophomore – just a guess…

      Go Pitt.

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  138. Major I understand Underwood compared Zion Fowler to Lynn Swan and Cignetti compare Dieffenbach to Justin Herbert. That would be nice if both played at those levels for Pitt going forward.

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  139. I think if Pitt would promote Fx2 as FedEx2 the young man might get a nice NIL deal.
    Can’t say enough about Coach Bates as a person. Answers every dumb question we asked him 😄.
    Tailgated with Richman and Scooter in Gold 1 Lot pre event and actually attracted a few hearty souls over for some soda pops.
    Missed seeing Heather and Billy Hillgrove who were attending the hoop game but saw some old friends including the Lacko Brothers. They gave a shout out to Big B!
    H2P

    Liked by 2 people

  140. George Michael nominated for RRHOF but not Guess Who or J Tull?  Send Lawyers Guns and Money

    Sent from my iPhone

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    Liked by 2 people

  141. I am not looking at the stats. Just basing this on what I remember, which is often not as correct as I think it is. But, the Heels were awful on 3-pointers and free throws. And, that rim sure made a noise like the old days. Thunk. When did they last update that court?

    pmdH2P

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    1. certainly ended up with poor stats on 3 pt % and FT % but the way Love started hitting the first few from NBA 3 pt range I thought it might be a long night 🙂

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  143. Where is Emel when you need him?!
    He would relish this win and the season sweep.
    Oy Vey!

    There is nothing finer…than beating Carolina…in the Dean Dome.

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  145. Didn’t hear anything about Yarnell. But as jrnpitt mentioned above, Coach Cig did mention the strong arm and mobility of recruit Ty and did compare him to Justin Herbert…. Yikes.

    What I liked was that in talking about the 3 new QBs, Coach Cig mentioned that you’re looking for a strong, accurate arm AND mobility. That description did not fit Mr. Slovis. Cig did laud Duzz for helping to recruit Phil J. Is that good or bad? 😊

    And when talking about Phil J., Coach Cig did show a highlight where Phil escaped a rush and then threw a TD pass – and Coach mentioned that the play was Big Ben-ish…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. The mobility comment is very interesting in that Slovis at least lacked the “will to run” at almost every opportunity. Slovis could run but I think he feared any concussion would eliminate him from NFL draft consideration. That he did by himself with is play at Pitt. Did Narduzzi actually try to convince him to return to Pitt for another season? If that’s the case my respect for his QB evaluation abilities has taken a major step backward. Looks like Cignetti was not unhappy to see Slovis enter the portal.

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  146. Did I see that Lunardi (at least as of 1/31) had Pitt as an 11 seed play-in against PSU? Hmmm.

    H2P!!!

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  147. While it is great that Pitt has UNC’s number, I will remain a skeptic. The last game I sat down to watch while it was live was the Florida State game. I have scrolled through the highlight reels of the subsequent wins.

    This team is winning by the smallest of margins. On paper Pitt should win all of their remaining games but the one at Miami. We all know that is not going to happen. They will most certainly lose at Florida State. I am also leery of their chances against Syracuse, Boston College and at Virginia Tech. Pitt will probably lose at least one but more likely two of those games.

    I continue to believe this team will be in the NIT and not the NCAA tournament come March. That is still a step in the right direction for the Capel coaching staff based on past performance. I just do not want everyone to really get down when that happens.

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    1. They need 64 teams to play and the B1G has only 2 ranked teams and they lost to the ACC in the challenge. If Pitt wins 2 game in the ACC Tournament they are a lock to get in.

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  148. Won’t get down John if they don’t make NCAA..
    But I think they will.
    Just a bigger party than NIT.
    I’m up for a party either way.
    🥳🥳

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  149. cbs sports

    Jeff Capel, Pitt: The program was a peat bog when Capel got the gig, but nobody thought he’d be 27 games under .500 in the ACC (29-56) midway through his fifth season. In 2022-23, Capel’s finally created something worth watching. The 16-7 Panthers are pacing toward at least matching their win total from the past two years combined (21). Pitt’s a bubble team for now, sitting with a No. 11 next to its name earlier in the week. After the Panthers’ fifth win in their last six vs. North Carolina — and their third straight at the Dean Dome — the arrow is pointing ever higher

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  150. Amazing win. This team really does have fight. Great to see Fed’s continued development. His defense was stellar. And fantastic to see Cummings have such a great game. You can tell the difference when he’s playing with confidence. Some games it feels like it isn’t there. It does feel like this is a close-knit team.

    That said, I honestly think some of these close games wouldn’t be so close if they ran the offense more instead of some of the clear-out sets for Burton. Love Burton, love his fire and leadership, but too often the ball is in his hands for too long. There’s no passing or moving the D, he drives to the hoop, gets stuck, and we end up getting a bad shot, or he commits a charging foul (an aside, but I’ve never seen a team where not just one but two players — Burton and Hinson — get an offensive foul literally every game!).

    I hate to complain after these wins, and Burton has been huge, I just think there are times when the team doesn’t need him to be THE man, just one of several men.

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  151. Too bad this team didn’t come together earlier but it is much better to finish strong.
    That is the downside to all of the new parts, plus adjustments when two starters could not start.

    It is rather amazing the results that Narduzzi has gotten relative to recruiting rankings.

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  152. Not amazing GC, Narduzzi has been unfairly maligned since the day he came to PITT. Constant name-calling and criticism for just about everything he said and did. All of a sudden USC is willing to pay millions to steal his 3 star recruits. You’re right though GC, Narduzzi is amazing after-all.

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  153. all the grousing about the disrespect in ranking is nuts

    Pitt has lost 7 games and one recently that’s inexcusable

    trending up and I’d say they control their destiny but everyone should grasp that the ACC is down a bit and getting little national respect and imo rightly so and without a strong finish Pitt might still miss the Big Dance, along with a couple other ACC failure surprises – looking at WF if they don’t clean things up immediately and UNC if they lose 6 more which is very possible

    again, it’s in our hands, but probably a couple of turnovers away from giving it up and we have shown without a very good PG that we are clearly turnover prone 😦

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  154. Hard to believe Capel has been unable to recruit a very good PG to this point. Even one that doesn’t score more than 5 points a game if his dribbling and passing skills made eveyone around him that much better.—Anyone what to guess what the Pitt BB win total would be if our two missing links were playing all season long?

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    1. What am I missing? Burton is as good as 95% of Pitt’s point guards ever, certainly as far as production and leadership. While we are lamenting no true point guard he has willed this team to some amazing victories.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. He has beaten the teams with the better point guard the last three games. Of course it is not just him, Sibande, Cummings and Elliott have all made major contributions but he is the Alpha dog.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. JB is definitely the Alpha dog, Fede moving up from the Omega

          JB is certainly a better PG than Jamel Artis 🙂

          there HAVE been years where Pitt’s PG position was given to the best available, thinking Lamar Patterson was one who turned out to be a great passer and adequate otherwise along with being the great passer that we knew

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  155. Tommy, it disturbs me a little when a PITT football or basketball team wins it’s only because the other teams aren’t good that year? When you do that, it makes it impossible to be satisfied with “your” teams’ season.

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    1. personally VERY satisfied already and barring a collapse will remain very

      for different reasons this year’s loss of Dior and Hugely as and when they happened make me appreciate what Capel has had to reconfigure

      there’s no doubt this team seems to be getting the best out of each guy while the youth progresses and the experienced adjust their game as needed and always with team success in mind – I sure didn’t “see” that with Hinson’s affect(noun) on the floor early

      so anyway, there are SOME times that a team or individual benefits and has “artificially inflated” success due to circumstances that don’t require superior abilities to achieve

      it happens often, some try to apply that possibility any chance they can with Pitt, I can’t imagine why 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  158. Pitt battles another UNC team this Friday night in Pinsburgh when our #18 ranked wrestling team takes on the tarheels in a battle for 1st place in the ACC.

    I wish I was going to be there.

    Go Pitt!

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  160. Not surprisingly, the Pitt women basketballers drop a game to #16 Duke, 53 to 44.

    Pitt shot 31% in averaging just 11 points per quarter – a number that will not win games. To go with the poor shooting, Pitt was out-rebounded 45-28.

    Been a long, bleak winter for the women’s team. Outside chance for a victory next week against UVA (3-9 in ACC) and there’s a later game with GT (2-8 in ACC). The trouble is that Pitt is 0-11 in the ACC…

    Wonder which women’s coaching candidates Heather has been checking into…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  161. On that last shot and block by Sibande…. I spoke to a Ref who’s done some MD Games.

    Basically with 1 second left, the refs will allow a finger touch of the basketball which is why so many of those plays are designed around the rim. If it goes to the palm of the shooting hand …. Game over.

    With .6 seconds left, once the ball is touched in any way it’s game over.
    Nike could have punched him in the mouth and it would be no call/ game over.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Thanks, Dan, that’s interesting.

      That was another coaching strategy that Coach Capel mentioned on his show tonight. He said they didn’t want to let UNC throw the inbounds up to mid-court. By making them inbound it short and dribble to half-court, they ate up precious seconds…

      Go Pitt.

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  162. Did Jeff Capel suddenly learn how to do some in-game coaching? I’ve seen him blasted on here. Lately he seems to be pulling some correct strings, no?

    I heard a bit of his radio show tonight. He talked about Pitt setting a pick to get the defender they wanted on JB at the end of the game. He said his instructions to JB were to go at 8 seconds, which seems crazy to me. Wouldn’t you want a little more time to maybe get a rebound? Anyway, it worked.

    Maybe it’s the input from Pitt’s nerdy analytics guys kicking in…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  163. It doesn’t seem like this Pitt team gets to the line enough. And when the opponent’s top players get 3-4 fouls there doesn’t seem to be the awareness to foul those guys out. This is an experienced team that should get more free throws and attack the guys in foul trouble.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. that’s not the team Pitt has

      we have 3 point shooters mostly

      the guys that can are JB and Nike and Nellie but JB often gets separation or pulls up for a midrange 2, Nike has some success and Nellie a bit less due to his size and that he’s not quite as quick

      obviously Hinson continues to struggle driving with the ball and Fede we don’t want at the line but I do love the few pick and rolls he’s been able to convert on with Nellie

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Pitt did not sign anyone new, correct?

      I believe we lost out to Ole Miss on a 3 star DE who made an official visit to Pitt on January 21st

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  165. UNC hoop game clock at 0:0 before Love released the ball. Great photo on PSN.
    Pitt /UNC Wrestling match that Rick mentions above is on ACC Network tonight at 7:00.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Pitt a #9 seed playing #8 seed Michigan State for the right to face #1 seed Alabama in Birmingham. Hope not.

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    2. Ironic that when we were considered an 11 seed bubble team fighting to get into the tournament, we would not meet a #1 seed until the Elite Eight. But as a #9 seed, we could meet one in the second round.

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      1. Rivals shows him at 6ft 160lbs. Add 15 more pounds and some muscle…sounds very familiar with the Canary Island twins. Hmmm maybe Hugley could donate a few pounds LOL

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    1. Keep your eye on your wallet GC. That Dr. Tom guy is an assassin. Make sure you negotiate the proper number of strokes, accounting for his local knowledge. Take it from someone who knows. I didn’t have enough money left for the UBER ride back to Hilton Head after he got done with me.

      Liked by 6 people

    1. Annie: He only attended to do the interviews with teams (I do know that he met with the Steelers). He never intended to participate in the actual practices or the game, due to his injury.

      Liked by 2 people

  178. Seven years ago Dr Tom and/or Savannah Panther recommended Pearl’s Saltwater grill. Sad to find it burned down last summer. Need some new recommendations.

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  181. It is great to see Pitt Wrestling back on track as a top program. The season is far from over, however, the team is maturing and like basketball, they appear to believe in themselves. H2P!!

    Liked by 1 person

  182. Narduzzi on a Sirius Radio interview “we knew there was a chance that maybe we wanted to lose our quarterback.” I guess it took Narduzzi until after the bowl game to come to that conclusion when there was plenty of reasons in the season for him to figure out that Slovis wasn’t going to be the answer for Pitt.

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    1. Can we stop bashing Slovis now that he is gone? He won seven games including beating WV and Miami in the same year a rare accomplishment. If he doesn’t get concussed who knows? He came here with the expectation of throwing to the best receiver in college ball, which would have made a considerable difference in his success.

      Although I am not sorry he is gone and I think we are better off moving forward, he did contribute to a nine win season, far above the bar at Pitt over some time.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Agree GC. More to the point though, why does HCPN feel the need to throw everyone who leaves the program under the bus? The guy just needs to shut up and just coach football.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. The sports information folks always help transferring athletes compose a statement: makes them look better; makes Pitt look better.
          Why can’t they get through Pat’s thick skull and stop him from bashing former coaches (Chubs, Whip,Marion), and now former players.
          Makes him look petty and small.

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      2. Narduzzi was bashing Slovis – I just heard it replayed on 84 XM College Sports radio.

        Not a good sound from a HC who during the season was the #1 supporter of his former QB he is now bashing on national radio.

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    2. It’s hard to measure the size of the heart in a warrior … I just wish Narduzzi would have changed pitchers once in a while…. Glad Nick went out like he did… I wish things went differently for him… but that’s all water over the dam.

      Liked by 1 person

  183. I admit that I have not been in the Lyke fan club, however, credit should be given to her for what appears to be a rising tide for Pitt athletics. Soccer (men & women), wrestling, volleyball, basketball, and yeah, football are no longer bottom feeders. I do not follow track although I ran freshman track at Pitt (we need a track for our athletes//shame on us). I am not up to date on swimming or gymnastics and lacrosse is still a new work in progress against very stiff competition. Last but not least one of my favorite sports (not including ice hockey) is baseball/softball. Northern teams tend not to do well, but there are MANY EXCEPTIONS.
    It is time to show improvement in both programs! So isnore have you forgotten womens basketball? The DUMPSTER FIRE continues and there is nothing to say until Heather hires a new coach. Onward and upward. H2P!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The overall state of the athletic program is significantly better than when she arrived.
      Facilities, fund-raising, branding, on-field performance…. yada yada yada. She’s done a very good job at raising the overall profile of Pitt athletics.

      If one’s first reaction is to point out 1 or 2 exceptions to that (she didn’t pick this coach or that one) or that what has been done isn’t good enough for you, I’d argue that person isnt being open or objective.

      Liked by 2 people

  184. Panthers could be in a 3 way tie for 1st place by dinner time today

    Holiest need to follow thru and finish off UVA. Then Miami needs to beat Clemson. Very doable.

    Liked by 1 person

  188. Lowe has a head on his shoulders and a great attitude. If DJ can stay straight coupled with Lowe and the development of FF and the Canary Island twins we will have a pool of young, talented players for next year (Yes, there are other promising recruits too). The H & H boys are much more than simple icing on a cake. Pitt 2023-2024 could be a force to be reckoned with ….I have a very strong belief that next year IS THE YEAR for the true rebirth of Pitt Basketball.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Federicko Federicko will be 22 in May. And he has two more years of eligibility.

      And remember that Federicko had committed to WVU. Apparently they decided to take another player, a 6-9 center, instead of Federicko.

      Federicko has been an excellent find, much like Mo G. last year but with a lot more eligibility…

      BTW, FF was listed as 6-11 and 210 in Juco; now he’s listed as 220…. Maybe next season up to 235?? 🤔

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

  189. Extra pounds and muscle plus the benefit of playing high level American basketball equals a formula for a path to possible stardom for our prized import. Bring on his brother too..by all accounts another gem.

    Liked by 1 person

  190. Narduzzi can’t resist running his mouth. That clown show comment about the NCAA was not necessary. Heather has to work with those people and it makes her job harder..

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  191. Narduzzi has more of a reason to bash himself for being blind to the situation at QB for Pitt. The buck stops at the head coach on all decisions for this Pitt FB team. He cost us a return trip to the ACC Championship game and for that I’d rather not forget that mistake. People have been fired for less at many companies.—But then again he had quite a few here on the POV that also couldn’t see the light of day at the Pitt QB position. But they were not getting paid the big bucks to make those calls.

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  196. Anyone who has questions about Kenny Pickett and his place in the heirarchy of current-day NFL Quarterbacks, please refer yourself to the 2023 Senior Bowl.

    A year ago, one NFL Executive put it “Pickett… GAP… everyone else.”

    This year, one POD puts it “Pickett… GAP… GAP… and one MORE GAP… everyone else.”

    It just might turn out that Pitt sharing facilities with the Steelers ultimately lends the BIGGEST benefit to the Steelers!

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    1. KP8 is going to have a good career if he can stay away from another concussion.

      Wrestling powerhouse Iowa State tonight – Go Pitt!

      Like

  197. I’m watching the Indiana vs Purdue game and find myself rooting for the Hoosiers.

    Purdue is number 1 and we could hang with them IMO.

    There will be 8 or so B1G Joke teams in the tourney – if Pitt makes the NCAA tournament, we are bound to run into one of the “jokers” or two.

    Beating them would be mighty fine…

    Liked by 1 person

  200. I’ve now watched every top 20 team play at least one game. This Pitt team can hang with all of them and beat most. I see Pitt winning 7 of their last nine and at least two in the ACC Tourney. I think we’re a 6 seed at worst in the tourney and the sky is the limit!! I like this team better than any other Pitt team because we can shoot, make FTs and play defense. H2P

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    1. Dan; I agree with everything you say. But it worries me that we have no inside scoring. And no depth with our Bigs. If Federiko gets into foul trouble (which he regularly does) we are in big trouble.

      And I’m also convinced that our lack of a true point guard will catch up with us at some point.

      Like

  201. #157 kid for ISU is another wrestler Will worked with in his travel team room, Jason Kraisser

    Will never beat him but competed , Kraisser was one of the best in the room during his time but a year ahead of Will and nearly 2 years older

    last kid I’d mentioned out of the travel team room here in MD Will wrestled, the #125 on VaTech didn’t work out so well for him(Flynn, is younger than Will) v Pitt(Camacho) but I expect Kraisser to be tough tonight and give Kesler or Castro a match

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  205. tied 2-2 after first, gave up first takedown but reversal and rode him out – up 1 minute riding time now in 2nd

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  207. lost it with takedown in last 10 seconds

    really NOT smart as he had no stall calls, bad finish by Pitzer

    Like

  208. what do you think Erie,

    it’s like he had a chance to stall it out and just gave the kid a chance

    then either needed to give it up and try for the escape or reversal far sooner

    seriously stupid wrestling to lose the match

    Like

    1. Agree – ten seconds in wrestling is not long – easy to stall your way to a W.

      I’m speechless as to how we lost tonight. Goes hand in hand with wvcc and maryland.

      Coaching? Last night Pitzer did not listen to his coaching, still won. Not sure about tonight.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. anyone “Lyke” Heather more now after Jimmy’s whining?

        guess Indiana offered quite a bit for Hood-Shifino, he looks worth it

        and btw, I agree with missingwlat 100% aside from Dior who’s probably been getting paid for years hence the movement although I have no real knowledge of that

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  209. Boeheim interview:”This is an awful place we’re in in college basketball,” he said. “Pittsburgh bought a team. OK, fine. My [big donor] talks about it, but he doesn’t give anyone any money. Nothing. Not one guy. Our guys make like $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team. … It’s like, ‘Really, this is where we are?’ That’s really where we are, and it’s only going to get worse.”

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      1. Somebody for sure will poach Mintz if he is only getting 20 grand, sounds like a whole lotta sour grapes to me from a guy that was proven guilty a few years ago.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Pitt plays Jimmy’s (ex)cuse team on February 25th at the Pete. The cost for a ticket just went up regardless of what these two teams accomplish in February as they march to madness.

      My goodness, does Boeheim not have a conscious? We know now that “he has a guy”.

      Like

  210. Maybe he can use his Depends to soak up his crybaby tears.

    I highly doubt that we paid significant money for any of our portal transfers. None of them were top tier players. Maybe Dior Johnson, but he’s not even playing.

    Liked by 2 people

  211. Like it or not (I don’t like it) NIL is part of the game. Old Jimmy can deny it if he wants to. Good luck with that. But the premier talent today can play for a host of great basketball schools with famous successful coaches AND get paid to do it. Jimmy will keep Cuse in the middle of the pack, at best, until he wakes up or retires.

    And who believes that he was able to steal Mintz for $20k?

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  212. Seriously Pitt loses Addison for 3.5 million plus extras. Capel does an outstanding job putting together a raftag bunch and gets accused of buying a team when Kentucky and many others have been getting one and dones for years.

    NIL and the portal while far from perfect are leveling the playing field to some extent and guys like Boeheim who has been buying guys for ever can’t stand it. I wonder how much he paid his kids.

    Liked by 2 people

  213. Seriously other than DJ, who did Capel have to outbid for any of his guys? Hinson hadn’t played for two years. Burton was totally inconsistent last year. Cummings came from Colgate, Elliott was not a star at Marquette. Sibande? Not elite players like Mintz. Boeheim is a total Putz.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. a whining putz which is far worse because he’s also arrogant

      he’s always been buddy of Tony Kornheiser who I find exactly the same with an emphasis on the arrogant part

      Like

  214. Jimmy B’s comments have made me stop and realize how wrong I was again. At least in college basketball, the blue bloods have taken a major hit since the legalization of NIL money. I was convinced that the elite would buy their way to super teams and leave the rest of us in the dust. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

    While Kansas, UCLA, Gonzaga, and Indiana have remained in the top 25, they are nowhere near the dominant forces they were. UNC, Duke and Villanova have new coaches, which probably impact their results, but not enough to put them completely out of the top 25, as they are now. And Kentucky, the bluest of blue bloods, is not only not in the standings, they are not even in Others Receiving Votes.

    While I still hate the whole concept of NIL, it seems to have turned the world of college basketball on it’s head. Will the same happen in college football? We’ll see.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Interesting analysis, It also appears that there are fewer dominant players these days and the 3 point shot has totally changed the game. The one and dones were great when they were surrounded by solid upperclassmen. Not as effective without a solid supporting cast.
      Plus integrating new guys every year requires a different level of coaching. When you had two years to get a guy prepared for your system things were different. Now you have to be ready to plug and play.

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  215. 18 years olds will always have a hard time beating 22 year olds. 22 year olds will be less expensive than the 18 year old too. Definitely a balancer. The one and done schools are spending a lot of money on kids not mentally and physically mature. It worked in the old era because you had who you had. In the portal/NIL era you can get a do-over. Ideally, you have a mix of kids in the program a while and transfers in.

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  216. Pitt women basketballers finally get a win, 60-51. After losing 20 straight in the ACC, eleven of them this season.

    They beat UVA at the Pete. UVA isn’t good either, but I’m happy for the young Pitt ladies. Pitt is just maddening to watch – even in victory. Today they started slow and Coach White subbed all the starters out maybe half way thru the first quarter. That move seemed to work.

    Go Pitt.

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