Tim Benz, Jerry DiPaola take deep look into Pitt athletics violations
Pitt’s athletic program has been placed on three years’ probation, and both the football and men’s basketball teams were given penalties for rules violations and cover-ups between August 2015 and March 2018. Oh no! Does that mean the legendary 7-7 football team that went to the ACC Championship Game has...
NCAA announces violations against Pitt football, basketball
The NCAA placed Pitt’s athletic program on three years probation Thursday and issued penalties against the men’s basketball and football programs as a result of rules violations — and cover-ups — between August 2015 and March 2018. The violations occurred while Kevin Stallings was basketball coach — before Jeff Capel...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel still trying to fix ‘dumpster fire’ he inheritedVideo
If Pitt’s sixth loss in the past eight games didn’t offer a clue, Jeff Capel gave a clear look Tuesday night at what he inherited two years ago and what needs to be done to fix it. “It was a dumpster fire that I took over,” he said after Pitt’s...
Pitt struggles at No. 8 Florida State, loses for 6th time in 8 games
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Patrick Williams scored 16 points, Anthony Polite had 10 points and six rebounds and No. 8 Florida State pulled away in the second half, beating Pitt, 82-67, on Tuesday night. Williams, a freshman forward, scored in double figures for the 10th time this season as the Seminoles...
Pitt spring game will played April 11, televised by ACC Network
Pitt’s Blue-Gold spring game will be April 11 at Heinz Field and televised by the ACC Network. Pitt has played the spring game at Heinz Field every year since 2016 after former coach Paul Chryst canceled it in 2014. Previously, Pitt played its spring games under Chryst at the North...
Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton, 71, ready to face Pitt with no hint of retirement
The reporter couldn’t bring himself to use the word retire when speaking to the coach with 555 career victories. So, he asked the question in the most respectful way possible. “Did the ‘R’ word ever cross your mind?” he said, addressing Leonard Hamilton on Monday on the ACC basketball coaches...
Pitt will see a different Florida State team in Tallahassee rematch
When Pitt opened the basketball season Nov. 6 with a 63-61 victory against Florida State, there were still four games left in the football season. As far as Pitt coach Jeff Capel is concerned, that was another time. Literally, it was another place. After opening the season at Pitt’s Petersen...
Panthers’ road woes continue with loss at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. — During Virginia Tech’s recent skid, its fans and players had been searching for answers to help the Hokies solve some of their recent end-of-game issues, particularly after two close losses to Boston College and one to Florida State. Pitt had been searching for answers to its road...
Pitt starts run to the finish line in road test against Virginia Tech
Pitt’s last six games prior to the ACC Tournament will go a long way in determining whether Jeff Capel’s second team will be labeled a success or failure. If the Panthers (15-10, 6-8) win four, that puts them on the threshold of 20 victories, a milestone they have reached twice...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel laments distractions of social media for players
The issue is one that clearly weighs on Jeff Capel’s mind. It’s not as bad as the problems of ball movement and identifying the opponent’s best shooters that surfaced Wednesday in Pitt’s 72-52 loss to Clemson at Petersen Events Center. But it matters to Capel. “Young people today, they are...
Oakland Zoo serenades Jeff Capel, 45, with chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’
Jeff Capel didn’t smile much during Pitt’s 72-52 loss to Clemson on Wednesday night. But Pitt’s coach couldn’t help but feel good — and, especially, grateful — when members of the Oakland Zoo serenaded him with a chorus of “Happy Birthday” before the game. Capel turned 45 on Wednesday. “It...
Pitt sleepwalks through home loss to ClemsonVideo
Jeff Capel left no doubt Wednesday night how he felt after his Pitt players stumbled through their worst loss of the season, 72-52 to Clemson. “This kills me,” he said. “I won’t sleep tonight.” Now, the trick for Pitt’s second-year coach is to get his players to feel the same...
Pitt needs to start stacking victories leading up to the postseason
Since Pitt’s victory against Georgia Tech on Saturday, there has been talk about what the Panthers needs to do to reach the NCAA Tournament. That’s a sign of progress for what Jeff Capel is building or excessively optimistic thinking. Pitt hasn’t been to the tournament since the 2015-16 season, Jamie...
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie, teammates tackle long season by staying hungryVideo
Pitt sophomore guard Trey McGowens recognized the look on Justin Champagnie’s face as the 18-year-old freshman left the court Saturday at Petersen Events Center. “Kind of like the same I had in the Louisville game (last season),” McGowens said, “when I hugged coach walking off the court (after scoring a...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel has learned, taught more than basketball in his 45 years
Jeff Capel makes all the tough calls during a Pitt game. Zone or man-to-man? Don’t forget to box out. Shoot the 3. Pull it back and run the weave. Those are basketball-related matters he has employed as a player and designed and taught as a coach for most of his...
Justin Champagnie scores 30, leads Pitt to win over Georgia TechVideo
If things seemed beyond ordinary during and after Pitt’s 73-64 victory Saturday against Georgia Tech, here’s a couple of reasons why: • Jeff Capel felt the need to apologize to his team for getting a technical foul late in what was at the time a five-point game. “That was really...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel on losing: ‘I don’t like the feel of it’
Jeff Capel has been a winner on a variety of levels. He won a North Carolina high school championship as a player. As a coach, he came home from international competition, including the 2016 Rio Olympics, with gold medals around his neck. On Mike Krzyzewski’s staff at Duke, he was...
NA grad Chen swims short, long courses in same meet
North Allegheny alum and Pitt freshman swimmer Jerry Chen made the most of an opportunity to compete on long and short courses in the same meet. Chen, 19, posted career-best times Jan. 31 against Ohio State at home in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke (2 minutes, 21.29 seconds), 100-meter breaststroke (1:04.38)...
First Call: Jim Rutherford cooling on Penguins trade talk?; Pat Narduzzi on MSU rumors; Duquesne wins
This edition of “First Call” gives us Jim Rutherford’s view of Matt Murray and the trade market. Tom Brady keeps playing coy. Pat Narduzzi is talking himself in circles. And a big road win for Duquesne. Standing tall During his Wednesday night radio show on “105.9 the X,” Penguins general...
Justin Champagnie’s 20 points go for naught in Pitt loss to Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After T.J. Gibbs and John Mooney kept the offense rolling in a third straight home victory, Mike Brey is anxious to see how his Notre Dame team fares in the heart of the ACC’s Tobacco Road. “Johnny and the guys talk about February being our month....
How Pitt administrators helped Pat Narduzzi decide to remain Pitt’s coach
When news of the coaching vacancy at Michigan State reached Heather Lyke’s office in Petersen Events Center, she made the most logical, reasonable and — as it turns out — crucial move possible. She called Pat Narduzzi. “I wanted to make sure he knew we wanted him to be at...
Pitt lands cornerback, kicker on signing day
Pat Narduzzi has lived, worked and fretted through several national signing days during a college coaching career that spans three decades. Now, under NCAA rules adopted three years ago, he gets to do it twice per year. But the 53-year-old Pitt coach rolls with the times and said, “Sometimes, you...
Kicker identifies himself as `Pitt football commit’ on Twitter
Kicker Ben Sauls, who gave Iowa State a verbal commitment last week, now identifies himself on his Twitter account as a “Pitt football commit.” He can make his Pitt commitment official Wednesday by signing a binding letter of intent. Sauls, who attends Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio, committed...
Kevin Gorman: Timing would be terrible for Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi to leave for Michigan State
We’ve always known it was only a matter of time before Mark Dantonio would leave Michigan State and speculation would surround Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s name to surface as successor. That countdown started only seconds after the news broke. And the timing is terrible. When Dantonio abruptly retired Tuesday —...
Pitt set to face Irish scoring machine
The reality Pitt must contend with Wednesday night when it visits Notre Dame is the simple fact the Irish can score. They are second in the ACC with an average of 76.8 points per game. But Pitt has been good at keeping opponents’ point totals at a reasonable level. The...
