173 thoughts on “Pitt at Virginia Tech Basketball Thred”

  3. Fact or fiction??? From the Lair one poster said his buddy just put a $200 bet on VT minus 14.5 for the game today. Sounds like fiction to me but the poster said he saw the bet ticket his buddy placed. Real strange IMO!!!—-By the way another poster followed up that he was at the game and in the pre game warmups all Pitt players were present for the warmups.

    Like

  4. 5.5 pt. underdog tonite. Sounds about right since VT has only lost once at home. Well, twice after tonite!

    Like

  5. As a follow up Pitt is now plus 6 on the Draft Kings betting board. Not 14 1/2 but never the less the betting money has definitely come in for VT.

    Like

  6. If we think we should be ranked, time to prove em all wrong with an emphasis tonight vs Hokies.

    All Hail!

    Let’s go boys! Gin has been poured!

    Like

  7. The line should be Pitt -7 Blow em out Pitt !!!!! Make people pay with their wallets for underestimating us!!

    Like

  14. What is this laughter from Bonner on VT baskets(3 times now already) ? Seems forced to me. I know these
    clowns hate Pitt….but this is too much !!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. not coached well for the second 4 minutes

    Pitt playing a bit too intense and VT hitting their 3’s

    the fouls on Elliott are huge to change the spacing potential for Pitt, Nike needs to have a good shooting game

    Like

  26. Hinson finally hits a 3 and Capel takes him out of the game.

    If he needs a rest call the time out you saved from the 13-0 run.

    Like

  27. We all knew they’re be these days. Pitt not playing well and the refs have completely homered out on Tech!

    Like

  28. VT is 11-3 at home and favored by 6 points by the sharks. So a struggle was expected.
    Pitt will hopefully heat up in the 2nd half….much to the chagrin of Durham/Bonner.

    Like

    1. Yea I agree and with these 2 (Durham & Bonner) most all the comments directed at Pitt are negative and even when complimentary (rare) it’s a backhanded compliment.

      Like

  30. Pitt has had trouble defending pick and rolls and switches all year but today they are being taken to the woodshed!!!

    Like

  33. just missing 3’s but really forcing a lot and looking different

    when they cut it to 5 needed to slow down a bit then Nike misses both a wide open good look 3 and then the FT

    that 3 as the half ended hurt

    Like

  34. Ok so this ACC halftime show starts…first words out of the eye candy’s mouth…..hey how great that VT is winning (or words to that effect). shouldn’t the ACC want more ranked teams and with a Pitt win….Pitt on the threshold of being ranked ??? Really sick of this
    anti-Pitt network and their scripted on air trolls.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Capel Otoole will need to earn their money today. Techs length on perimeter has held Pitt to 1 three and that was an NBA three.
    Can’t go zone, can’t press. Just have to play better!!!

    Like

  38. Another backhanded comment by Bonner….. ” he got lucky there”…..if it hasn’t been done before…….i hereby revoke this clown’s status as a Pittsburgher !!!

    Like

  39. 2 of 9 3’s and 4 of 8 FT’s

    if 3 of 9 and 6 of 8(one front end miss?)

    next few minutes are going to be huge without Fede

    Like

    1. That has NOTHING to do with why we’re not ranked. LOL
      It’s called Sports Politics. Do you think if Ped State was leading the big 10
      in mid Feb….and had avg or less metrics….they wouldn’t be ranked !
      Get a clue.

      Like

      1. You get a clue and don’t be rude. The point is that we are not there yet. Win and rankings take care of themselves.

        Like

  42. 4 on Hinson. Pitt doesn’t have a run in them. Very sad to watch us get thoroughly outplayed. Just stunning in fact.

    Like

  45. Virginia and Miami are laughing their heads off…

    We need to win 3 of the final 4 games left to get anything better than a 9 seed.

    Like

  46. If Pitt wins few will notice but when we lose, it may be the end of tourney hopes. We really look bad in every way. One thing Pitt has is heart and guts. We will see if it means anything very soon

    Liked by 1 person

  47. So Pitt went on one mini run so far. The Panthers need to dominate the last ten minutes of this game with Nelly carrying 4 fouls.

    Like

  56. This VT Coach has executed his game plan perfectly. Take away Pitt’s three point game and Pitt is a very ordinary team.

    Like

  59. A coaching clinic on how to beat Pitt. At least we’ll most likely win on Tuesday. The Pens are in the toilet now so this is all we have…

    Like

  61. I’m witnessing total domination by an ACC team with a losing record over a 1st place ACC team.

    Total domination – may not win another game?

    The Capel collapse was on full display tonight.

    Like

  62. I’d say our overly aggressive D at the beginning got us in foul trouble then things spiraled down from there with FT’s and 3’s missing, but our 3’s were defended and not many wide open misses

    Like

  64. This Collins guy should play Soccer….with the flops. Didn’t even leave the game after the last flop.

    Like

  65. Bonner even managed to throw in…..an excuse why Virginia struggled with lowly L-ville winning by a mere 3…..Pitt just crushed them by 21. UVA just also struggled with lowly ND winning by a mere 2 points at Home. No mention of that by UVA alum Bonner.

    Like

  67. Too much gloom and doom on here. BTW, Pitt scored more field goals than VT. The difference was they made 9 threes and we only made 3.

    We were due for a loss. Yikes.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

  68. Game felt just like the FSU game…I thought we did a decent job adjusting to their defensive plan to move us off the 3 point line. We just missed too many shots around the basket that their defense was giving us.

    Like

  69. Wow. Talk about some over reaction here. Pitt lost a game…not the season. It happens.

    Time to regroup – what an amazing run 2023 has been! Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, it has been special. We are enjoying it, that’s for sure. Gloom and doom can take a hike.

    H2P

    Liked by 3 people

  70. We have to have an excellent ACC Tourney or we could be toast. Miami is probably a loss so we must do well in Greensboro. If you told me that we would only hit 3 3 point shots all game I might have bet my house against the prediction. B A D as it gets today.

    Like

  71. as badly as Pitt played in many areas, they seemed to only need a couple breaks with bounces or to have hit either their usual 3’s or their usual FT%

    they really never got it to a point where VT felt any pressure

    worst part of this is stupid fouls and there were enough imo rather than just questionable refereeing

    Hinson’s 5th was close but he needed to make that step aside while finishing the 2 and not risk making contact,,,, if he does that and still gets hit, he gets the call for rather than against him

    can’t afford another bad game before Miami and no way do I expect anything in that last game but it will say a ton as to Pitt’s maturity and any expectations we should have for the tournament(NCAA)

    Like

  72. Pitt led 11-6 and VT went on a 13-0 run. For the rest of the game the lead was between 7-12 points. Pitt never got closer than 7. Have to admit on this night VA Tech was the better team. But boy was Pitt ugly in every way!!

    Like

    1. actually got it to 4 and 5 a couple times in the first half and 5 at one point in the 2nd half

      even though it didn’t feel like that 🙂

      Like

    2. Just checking in, Dan. Watched the game and was clear that VT knew how to hold onto a lead. Also looked like 3 pointers weren’t dropping like we saw the past couple games… it didn’t look like VT pressure that caused that… more that they just weren’t dropping.

      Burton fouls out with 4 points…hmmm.

      Chin up guys… this is till better than anyone other than Coach Dan could have predicted. Still some fun to be had.

      Liked by 2 people

  73. I am talking about getting a seed in the NCAA in the 10-12 range …I don’t think we will collapse. But, if we tank it is the NIT… and I believe that we are better than being knocked out of the NCAA.

    Liked by 1 person

  78. I’m back from the family affair and see the baseball team lost 11-7.

    That is 21 runs in two game to the Maine Black Bears.

    Did Capel really let VT go on an 18-2 run in the first half without calling a time-out?

    Say it isn’t so…

    Liked by 1 person

  79. I give a lot of credit to VT’s fans, they really supported a team that has had problems. Provide a strong home court advantage. Pitt fans need to show up for GT.

    Give VT credit they played hard nosed defense, made shots and took advantage of Pitt’s weaknesses on D. Pitt needs Hinson, and their guards to make threes. They just didn’t have it tonight.

    Foul trouble was definitely an issue. You have to play smarter when the refs are calling everything. I can excuse Fede who doesn’t have the experience but Hinson has been around a lot longer, that was the fourth time this year he fouled out and the last foul was idiotic.

    You have to admit at least for tonight their inside game was way better than ours and their three point shooters made the difference while ours took the night off.

    Liked by 4 people

  80. This is a very troubling loss. VT has lost 11 games and isn’t good enough to control play like they did. Hinton continues to lose focus. That last foul was inexcusable, he should have pulled up for a jumper or launched a 3 instead of forcing it.

    Like

  81. Is anyone else bothered by Elliott always debating with the refs? Can’t see how that is productive and seems like a distraction. Surprised they let him get away with it, oh maybe they don’t.

    Liked by 2 people

  82. The box score is brutal, what a poor showing by Hinson 1-8, 1-6, 1-2, 5 fouls. 24 total fouls.
    Hard to win with him having that kind of game. The one bright spot was Federiko’s offense, but then he got in foul trouble too.

    Like

  85. Looks like all of the ranked teams won yesterday, except in cases where the game was ranked on ranked, where someone had to lose.

    Good thing Pitt wasn’t ranked or this morning’s headline on ESPN would have highlighted our loss.

    I did not see the game, so I’ll look ahead to the next opponent, GT Yellow Jackets who beat VT handedly last Thursday and have two game win streak coming in to The Pete and are winners of 3 of their last 4. GT also beat Miami back in January, and even though they are 3-13 in the ACC, they are playing good basketball right now.

    Pitt needs to erase that Hokies game from their minds and be ready for a tough physical game where GT will defend the three point line like VT supposedly did last evening.

    If Pitt truly is one dimensional it will show Tuesday night if we can’t hit threes and GT defends the line well. If I’m the HC of the Panthers, I work on some different set plays that no one else has seen, like Fede and Graham on the court together with some back door plays for dunks and then only use that if we aren’t hitting our rhythm with threes. Save it for a game where change is needed – keep practicing the new set plays for a time when they are needed.

    While yesterday we were gunning for the ACC championship, I think today we need to find the right combo of wins to make the NCAA tournament.

    OT: Pitt baseball plays Maine again today at noon and HC Mike “Taco” Bell is looking for a pitcher who can get lower level hitters out on a consistent basis. Yesterday Taco needed six pitchers in an 11-7 loss to Maine – got to believe he has a depleted bullpen as on Friday the staff gave up 10 runs.

    Started my own Spring training for golf last week – I’m ready for that season to start soon – no southern trips planned until the end of April. Plenty of time to get ready…

    Like

  86. I said it yesterday, Capel had them too ready on the defensive side and they played themselves into trouble with fouls because of their intensity

    Elliott and Fede who don’t usually get into early foul trouble were overly aggressive and probably made some mistakes on D – Fede for sure has done that moving pick thing before too

    when Nike came in for Elliott early and showed he might not be “on” , the offense sputtered and nobody else could hit that shot to break VaTech’s momentum as has happened with Elliott or Hinson mostly before

    Elliott obviously is Pitt’s most consistent shooter and with him out, nobody else has to be guarded as consistently if Hinson isn’t having even an average game

    I blame Capel for having them TOO ready for Cattoor and Fede just making a few mistakes trying to do too much on D

    might be time to have Nike start the game IF the defense in going to be aimed at being more intense as his athleticism will help and if foul trouble happens Elliott comes in sooner

    btw, am I wrong? it seems like JB loses his man on the defensive end as much as anyone, although he does get tasked with playing tough D on some bigger guys and does it well

    missing FT’s early was disappointing and another piece of the game that didn’t let Pitt break momentum and help make Tech tighten up, maybe wouldn’t have mattered 😦

    Like

    1. Did Fede really get 3 fouls in a span of 23 seconds last night in the 2nd half?

      If yes…

      How does a HC not put Fede on the bench after 2 fouls in that short timeline to at the very least, get his head back together?

      Like

      1. they happened so fast frankly I don’t think any coach would have reacted that quickly and he’s been smarter with that, except for a little movement on some picks

        Fede along with others have had foul issues and if everyone recalls, the first 3 losses were littered with foul calls, I recall JB looking like a bull in a china shop in those games

        frankly IF that hadn’t changed, and I recall thinking about it after THAT, we weren’t deep enough with the guys off the bench to compete at all

        last night showed we aren’t quite there but imo, the twins are close and in some ways a nice change/switch, just need to hit that 3 also!!!

        big John might’ve been Huge last night

        Like

  87. I think it would help if Capel dialed back the number of interviews Hinson does. It appears to overstate his role on the team when he needs to play within himself.

    Burton is scoring points but doesn’t seem to be the go to guy he was earlier in the season. Since UNC other teams are figuring out how to defend him.

    Like

  88. Missed the game do to family obligations but road games are tough, conference road games even harder, conference road games against a perceived rival … you get my point. Pitt was an 5 point underdog for a reason and it looks like Vegas nailed it … again.

    Virginia Tech is not a bad team. They are battling through this era of parity just like everyone else.

    I’m as high on Pitt as anyone but as good as this Pitt team has been, I think recency bias is inflating how great they actually are with some fans.

    It’s a fun team. It’s a gritty team. They play 40 minutes. They don’t quit.

    It’s a great team compared to the Stallings/Capel era of Pitt basketball but it’s not a great team compared to Howland/Dixon era.

    That’s the reality.

    It’s a building block season. As I stated in the comment that got posted as an article, Capel may have accidentally found the blueprint to get Pitt back to being great. Because it was intended as a comment, it may have come across slightly more optimistic than it would have been had I actually drafted it as an article. I would have been a little bit more measured in my optimism.

    This team’s comp is probably Howland’s second season at Pitt. The NIT team. A down ACC season coupled with some things going Pitt’s way have bumped us up to a Madness team but stripped down to its core, that 2nd season is what sticks out in my head.

    We can see what success looks like now … how do we make the next jump? Hopefully, Capel can capitalize on this season … and if everyone comes back, with a sprinkle of new transfers, he certainly can.

    Dior can be that dude that carries a team. Hugely with FF2 down low … Like I said the blueprint is there …

    In the meantime … enjoy this team for what they are. They are the potentially the foundation of the program for the next 10 years. What future success was built on and modeled after. The team we’re celebrating in 20 years for starting it all.

    Plus, success can be fleeting … so, if that foundation crumbles … enjoy the moment. Live in the present.

    We have a fun Pitt team that we can be proud of. It’s been a long time since we’ve had that. That’s where I stand on the season. Hope for the future, but enjoying the moment.

    This team was not going undefeated down the stretch. Winning the ACC, as close to touching the sun as we are, was/is a stretch.

    Getting hot and winning the ACC tourney like that Howland team so long ago is more of a reality. One and done’s allow for luck to trump talent once in a while. Winning a regular season title is rarely won by the less talented team.

    H2P … win the games you’re supposed to from here on out and Pitt is fine. VT was not a “win the game you’re supposed to” game.

    Liked by 7 people

  90. Lady Panthers play against an excellent Irish team today at 2 PM. I have no expectations about winning, however, it will be interesting to see if our “teamwork” continues to improve and if we can stay within a 10-point margin against a vastly superior opponent.

    Like

  91. I watched a preview of Selection Sunday yesterday on CBS predicting the top 4 brackets and they still had Purdue as a 1 seed after going 1-3 in their 4 games. It must be nice being in a conference where loses don’t matter to the Committee. A conference who lost to the ACC this season to boot…. 🤬

    Like

  93. Pitt baseball losing 4-3 in the 5th inning with Pitt batters having 1 hit and Maine with 6 hits and they knocked out our starter.

    The Black Bears are on the verge of mauling our bullpen again.

    Like

    1. Score is now 6-4 Maine winning in the 6th inning with 2 on base and 2 outs.

      Can our pitching and HC keep this game close?

      Like

  94. I saw quite a few open looks for 3s that were passed by in favor of a short pass or dribble and screen. Passing until they run the clock down is not the answer. And Cummings driving the hoop into a tall opponent’s front court is not the answer either.

    It is really important that they get a high seed in the ACC tournament or they face an early exit and jeopardize their NCAA invitation. Now is not the time for a team slump.

    Like

    1. Agreed, they played right into VA Techs trap. Looking back, our lack of even attempting threes turned us into Dixon’s Pitt teams. We scored many easy twos while Tech was hitting bombs away, usually wide open. Pitt had no answer for Techs screen game!

      Much like Pitt ND ladies today, the better team usually wins. Yesterday the Hokies were the better team.

      Like

    2. Teams have figured out how to defend Pitt and they need to have Cummings/Burton pass the ball more and the other players play hot potato with the ball. Having the PG stand at the point waving his left arm around then trying to go to the paint isn’t going to work now. We need a lot more ball movement IMO.

      Liked by 1 person

  97. Pitt baseball and its HC Mike Bell lost the series today with the Maine Black Bears 8-5.

    In the 3 game series, the Black Bears scored 29 runs, winning the final two games over the Panthers to start the season 2-1, while Pitt dropped to 1-2.

    Imagine when Pitt gets to ACC play with this pitching staff facing the likes of ND, Miami, FL State, N.C. State, #5 W_F and UNC.

    Yikes!

    Like

  98. Rough day for the women basketballers. They made two threes in the final minute to avoid getting doubled-up. Lose to ND 80-43.

    I don’t see how Coach White keeps his job…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  99. Sad to say ESPN gives ND 3 more points…..83-43….a 40 point drubbing. Coach White is probably thinking about his next move…it will not be in the 412. I hope that Heather has been getting information together about whom to interview and hire. Women’s basketball has been a dumpster fire for too long.

    Speaking of Heather didn’t she extend Coach Bell’s contract? Cold weather teams can’t compete/////I guess Palm trees are growing in lobsterland. The ACC has tons of baseball talent and is not a cakewalk, but all I want is to see Pitt be respectable. I was a sandlot league pitcher in the same league that saw Frank and Joe Torre and a decent lefty, Sandy Koufax. They played years before me and they had just a bit more talent than me (LOL)_…I was lousy and the guy brought in if we were way ahead or behind to save our good arms.
    Baseball was my passion and Ebbets Field was my palace….Pittsburgh has always been a great baseball town and the mere fact that the Bucs can draw 1,257,000 fans to see a AAA baseball team is amazing. So, the Burg has strong hockey, a football teams with futures and a college basketball team that will get better, but college baseball like our college basketball is stuck in the mud. Hopeless NO!!! Coaching and recruiting badly needed.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. isnore – do you remember George “Doc” Medich? He pitched for the Yankees in the early 70s. He was the star of our team at Pitt. At 6-5 and 220, he was an imposing figure on the mound and had the heater to match.

      Back then, practically all of Pitt’s baseball players were from Western PA. Doc was from Aliquippa, PA. He pitched for 10 years in the majors, working for several teams, including a year with the Pirates.

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

    2. It doesn’t get much colder than Maine. The Black Bears gave Pitt HC Bell his first series loss since the 4 year contract extension Heather gave him last August.

      If you remember, we were considered a regional host (top 16) and lost like 8 of our last 10 games to end up not receiving a bid.

      Pitching has been Bell’s calling card as a FL State player and pitching coach. He has never been a HC until landing at Pitt. He has struggled to assemble any depth on the pitching staff. To start 2023, Bell’s pitchers gave up 29 runs in the first 3 games, all vs the Maine Black Bears.

      Like

      1. Fran – my son who used to come to your tailgates – before he moved to San Antonio and got married – writes articles for SABR…
        He’s a baseball encyclopedia guy…

        Go Pitt.

        Liked by 3 people

    2. I remember back when the Bucco games were on Channel 2 hearing the Gunner Bob Prince talking about Doc trying to save the heart attack victim in Philadelphia.

      Like

  102. I don’t see Pitt beating Miami, which is playing it’s best ball now. And ND will be a trap game with the coach retiring. Which could mean 2 more wins and then a mid-seed in the ACC tournament. Give them one win in the tourney. This adds up to an NCAA bubble team at best. Their front court is just too weak to compensate when the 3s aren’t falling..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frankly I don’t think the Syracuse game will be that easy for Pitt to win. And if they lose to GT tomorrow you probably can forget about the NCAA’s this year.

      Like

  103. How often do Pitt’s bigs foul out the other team’s bigs when attacking the rim? The blocks are good but it just gives the ball back to the other team.

    Like

  104. I thought we would lose this game and we did. VT very tough at home. Watched replay as family visiting. VT beat VA and Duke in Blacksburg. I call this game as a foul shooting fiasco with VT playing at home.
    We should win next 3 games and move back to second place. VA has tough games and Miami has us. Ranking should be the same but the media dislikes us. H2P

    Like

  105. Chris on the Lair this morning correctly blames Pitt defense or lack thereof for the VT loss. My point is the influence the refs calling the game so tight with ticky tack fouls made Pitt back off on defense just enough that VT had their way. Refs don’t have to make homer calls to influence a game!

    Liked by 1 person

  109. Pitt opens as an 11 point favorite over GA Tech tomorrow at 7 at the Pete. About right I think. Tech with very improved play last three games easily beat Va Tech last week. I think (Hope, pray) Pitt rebounds and wins with ease.

    Like

  110. I’m watching TCU beating #3 Kansas.

    Is the TCU strength coach the same one who was at Pitt for many years?

    Go Jamie!

    Like

  111. #24 TCU lost a tough close game to #3 Kansas 63-58

    During the game one of the ESPN announcers blurted out “boy isn’t the ACC just an awful league this year”.

    🤔 didn’t the ACC win the B1G Ten vs ACC challenge during this current season? Wait, let me rephrase that – the ACC DOMINATED the big ten in the challenge.

    Ok, Pitt plays GT tonight at 7pm at The Pete. The line still has Pitt favored by 11 – Pitt is going for it’s first 20 win season (in about 8 years) with a victory tonight over the Yellow Jackets.

    The veterans on this team need to take control early and carry this team to a convincing win for their HC. Nothing fancy, just boots to the throat, consistently good D for 40 minutes.

    Go Pitt!

    Liked by 1 person

  112. Tonight we find out if Pitt can rebound from their poor performance and keep trending upward. Especially need Hinson to have a bounce back game as well as Elliott. This team relies on the 3 point shot and pretty much is in trouble without it.
    Hopefully the VT game was a second outlier and overcome this evening.

    Liked by 1 person

  113. Playing Tidewater for the first time this morning. been playing Barefoot Fazio and the bunkers are kicking my butt. This place really tests your game.

    Don’t forget Pitt’s day of giving.

    Like

  114. GC keep that putter going!!

    Thanks for the reminder…Today is Pitt’s Day of Giving>>>winning on the court or field is something we all care about>>>winning in the classroom or laboratory is what really makes Pitt SPECIAL!! Hail to Pitt!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. My putting was as cold as Pitt’s three point shooting vs VT. Ball striking was good though and an amazing golf course.

      Like

  115. I was so excited for the start of the Pitt baseball season. I realize we lost some guys due to graduation, but I didn’t expect to lose two out of three to the Maine Black Bears. You can almost kiss making the tourney goodbye with losses like that. Up next is a four game set starting Friday with the Harvard Crimson.

    Like

  116. Doesn’t ESPN own the ACC Network? So why are the announcers trashing the conference this year? I think the ACC is good for TV, and so we will probably see 5 or more teams in the NCAA Tournament, including UNC. The likely scenario is that people will be complaining that too many ACC teams got in, but if 3-4 teams end up in the sweet 16, the decision will be vindicated..

    Like

  117. When two ACC teams are in the great eight, this nonsense will stop.
    ACC is not down this year! The blue bloods are not as good as they usually are!! That’s it !!

    Like

    1. That’s exactly what happened in last year’s Tournament and we had UNC in the finale. It doesn’t matter….few sports writers went to ACC schools. That and ACC cities draw poor TV ratings outside of the 2 Bluebloods. They will tell this lie long after we’re all dead and gone…

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Clearly there is more parity this year in the ACC. The Dookies and Tar heals are down, however, we see strong showings from the U, Tigers and Wolfpack. BC is BC and Louisville is in dumpster fire territory (The Cardinals will be back.) UVA is always dangerous and well coached, while the Cuse waits for a much-needed coaching change. V Tech and Wake have talent, but are works in progress, while G Tech with a good coach seems to have a recruiting problem??? Fla State and NDU should both be better….and yeah, Pitt is NO LONGER IN THE SEWER. Like Rodney Dangerfield (“I get no respect”) I believe the ACC will prove to be much tougher than the so called experts who vote for rankings. The bookies in Vegas know a ton more about basketball than the overpaid writers who rank teams. Let the bookies choose who gets into the Tourney.

      Like

  118. This was another example of where Capel seemed unwilling to make any adjustments. How about an extended zone for a few minutes? How about a 2/3-court press for a few minutes? How about, when a team is overextending its perimeter defense, running back door cuts and off-the ball picks? The latter is the most obvious change. You convert 3-4 easy 2-point hoops in a row off of back door cuts or alley oops from back picks, VT would have to adjust. Or just keep on giving up easy hoops.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love him or hate him Capel is not only not a micro manager but no matter what’s going on, he won’t tinker (adjust). All offense starts with a high ball screen, all defense is man to man.

      What drives many of us insane is his stubbornness to call a time out when the other team is on a roll! 18-2 run over 7 minutes vs VTech!!! Unreal.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I think that is more the system he runs. The one and done teams (I know Pitt is not that school LOL) don’t have much variety. That’s his background at Duke and he was hired as a recruiter. You win on talent and doing few things well. Reduces thinking so players can play on instinct and maximize talent gaps. What has made this team so good is that they just go out and play. I agree that changing things up and adjustments are nice but that’s not who we hired. With the lopsided roster, I’m not sure how many adjustments Pitt can really make. I agree on timeouts. The entire team is new. You can’t run a very complicated system or have too many plays. Plus, with injuries to Jeffress and Hugley, they dont’ have a full roster for practice. This is the team we have. Timeouts are great if you do have an adjustment to make. Lol. But, if you’re taking a TO to take a TO I also kind of get that. What is he going to say … keep doing what you’re doing but better? Haha.

        Like

  119. The media and the metrics seem to have taken over this year. Duke and UNC have taken a dip in their standing but the rest of the ACC has taken a step up. So to say the whole league is bad is dumb.

    Liked by 1 person

  121. Gavin Thomson WR entered the transfer portal today. He was a walk on that received a scholarship last season. So I’m not sure he he entered on his own or whether Pitt pulled his scholarship for next season and then he decided to enter the portal.

    Like

      1. That and redshirt freshman who didn’t play last year season. Also, TP WR.

        Pitt had a walk-on to scholarship WR player who left before the 2022 season. Forgot his name.

        Like

  123. I’m at the Pete early and watched Coach O’Toole work with the twins on shooting threes. One of them in working around the 3-point arc made 34 and missed 13. I actually counted. Impressive.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.