Pitt will be Robert Morris basketball’s first opponent at new arena
Pitt’s men’s basketball team will be Robert Morris’ first opponent next season when the Colonials open 4,000-seat Peoples Court, their new on-campus home at the UPMC Events Center, officials from both schools announced Thursday. The game will be Nov. 12. “We’re extremely thrilled to open the UPMC Events Center against...
Franklin Regional grad Jonov has ‘surreal’ experience at Pitt Pro Day
As a graduate transfer walk-on from a Patriot League school, Colin Jonov did not envision getting a chance to someday work out in front of dozens of NFL scouts. When the opportunity arose, the Franklin Regional three-sport standout and academic overachiever prepared as hard for the Pitt Pro Day on...
Ryan Shazier appearance provides thrill for former Pitt players at pro day
Pitt’s football players train in the same facility as the Pittsburgh Steelers, so it’s not uncommon for players from both sides of UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to cross paths on a regular basis. That doesn’t mean Pitt players still don’t get a bit star struck when they see Steelers players...
It’s real now for Pitt wrestler Nino BonaccorsiVideo
When he was 5-years old and his brother, Nick, was going to wrestling tournaments, Nino Bonaccorsi tagged along. He became such a fixture that tournament officials started weighing him before the start of the matches – as if he was one of the wrestlers. That was for fun, but now...
Darrin Hall gets chance to make his mark at Pitt Pro DayVideo
Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall are trying to follow in the footsteps of LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis and James Conner as Pitt running backs of recent vintage who have achieved success in the NFL. Ollison got an early start on the pre-draft process three weeks ago in Indianapolis when he...
Coaches open to renewing Pitt/Penn State wrestling rivalryVideo
If Penn State calls about renewing its wrestling rivalry with Pitt, Keith Gavin will be happy to answer the phone. “Yeah, I’m good with that,” Pitt’s coach said Wednesday when asked if he would like to schedule Penn State in the future. But Gavin also knows it’s easier from his...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel will be guest analyst during NCAA Tournament
Pitt coach Jeff Capel, who has been a part of three teams that played in the NCAA Tournament, will be a guest studio analyst for CBS Sports and Turner Sports during their coverage of the tournament’s first-round games Thursday and Friday. He will join the Atlanta studio team of host...
Pitt line coach Dave Borbely starts working on his ‘jigsaw puzzle’
Dave Borbely has coached offensive linemen at 14 schools for 40 seasons. It’s safe to assume he’s had more than a few challenges in his career and even some more difficult to solve than what he’s dealing with at Pitt. When he was asked about replacing four starters on Pitt’s...
George Aston vs. the bench press may be highlight of Pitt’s pro day
When 13 former Pitt players work out for NFL coaches and scouts Wednesday on the South Side, one of the more intriguing storylines will involve fullback George Aston and the bench press. Long considered one of the strongest players on the team, Aston has done 30 bench-press reps of 225...
Pitt will unveil new branding marks April 7 with Bigelow Bash outdoor party
The cover will come off Pitt’s new branding marks April 7 as part of Bigelow Bash, an outdoor party entitled Nike Reveal and sponsored by the university’s athletic department. The marks will serve as what Pitt officials hope will be the enduring punctuation marks to a two-year collaboration with Nike...
Pitt’s search for next 1,000-yard rusher starts with A.J. Davis and Todd SibleyVideo
When it comes to Pitt football building a brand, Pat Narduzzi isn’t as worried about becoming RBU — Running Back University — as the Panthers coach is about becoming ACC champions. Where Walt Harris embraced the Wide Receiver U reputation with Biletnikoff Award winners in Antonio Bryant in 2000 and...
Mt. Lebanon grad, former Pitt wrestler Hnath set to officiate his 10th NCAA D-I wrestling championships
When the NCAA Division I wrestling championships begin Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, there will be one official from Pittsburgh among the 20 picked to work the event. John Hnath, a former Pitt wrestler and Mt. Lebanon graduate and resident, will be working for the 10th consecutive season. Hnath, 51,...
NCAA Wrestling Championships by the numbers
By The Numbers The 2019 NCAA Division I wrestling championships will be held Thursday-Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. Here are some interesting numbers: 3: Franklin Regional graduates who are entered in the event: Iowa sophomore Spencer Lee (125 pounds), Arizona State junior Josh Maruca (149) and Arizona State junior Josh...
Latrobe’s Ron Schirf set to return to NCAA Wrestling Championships — 62 years later
No matter how hard he tried, dutifully attending practice every day for four years at Latrobe, Ron Schirf never could master the game of football. But Schirf had another talent that got him into college and onto a national platform. He was that school’s best wrestler in the 1950s (the...
Pitt tandem choose wrestling over basketball, become championsVideo
When he was 14 at McCluer High School in Florissant, Mo., Pitt wrestler Demetrius Thomas thought he wanted to play basketball. Lucky for him, two McCluer coaches conspired to make sure that didn’t happen. Years earlier, Micky Phillippi — just like any 6-year-old would do — dutifully followed his father...
Pitt will open 2019-20 ACC schedule Nov. 6 against Florida State at the Pete
The ACC’s move from an 18- to a 20-game conference schedule means games that matter most occur sooner next season, and that includes Pitt’s 2019-2020 opener Nov. 6 against Florida State at Petersen Events Center. The date is nearly two months earlier than the opening to the 2019 conference schedule...
Dick Groat’s hunch about Jeff Capel comes true for Pitt
When Duke visited the Petersen Events Center last year to play Pitt, Jeff Capel couldn’t wait to get there. Then a Duke assistant and now the head coach at Pitt, Capel carried with him a bag of Duke gear he wanted to give to Dick Groat, one of the greatest...
Pitt hires new marketing firm for its 19 sports
In a move intended to help grow Pitt’s brand among its 19 sports in terms of what matters in big-time college athletics — corporate sponsorships and multimedia rights — the university’s athletic department signed a long-term deal Thursday with JMI Sports, a collegiate marketing firm. The new agreement is set...
Pitt basketball gets its 3rd verbal commitment
There’s an empty spot on the wall in Edwin Gonzalez’s office at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Next to it is a photo of former Pitt guard Ronald Ramon. If Gonzalez has his way, Justin Champagnie, the most recent member of Pitt’s 2019 recruiting class, will be joining...
Pitt has no answer for Buddy Boeheim in ACC Tournament loss to Syracuse
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Buddy Boeheim had a career-high 20 points, and Syracuse defeated Pitt, 73-59, on Wednesday night in the second round of the ACC Tournament despite playing without leading scorer Tyus Battle. Elijah Hughes and Frank Howard scored 18 points each for the Orange, who will face No. 5...
In 40th and final year, Dick Groat reflects on broadcasting Pitt basketball
When Dick Groat got the news not long ago that this will be his last season offering analysis of Pitt basketball games on the radio, he didn’t immediately think about what he was losing. His thoughts first turned to his broadcast partner of 40 years, Bill Hillgrove. The two comprise...
Why Pitt’s 36-21 halftime lead in ACC Tournament win brought back memories
Did anyone notice the halftime score Tuesday night when Pitt defeated Boston College, 80-70, in the first round of the ACC Tournament? Boston College scored the first seven points of the game, but Pitt was dominant for the remainder of the first half and went to the locker room at...
Freshman duo combines for 49 points as Pitt tops Boston College in ACC tourney
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pitt coach Jeff Capel gave his freshman backcourt simple instructions Tuesday night: Attack the hole. The strategy worked as Trey McGowens scored 26 points, Xavier Johnson added 23 and the Panthers defeated Boston College, 80-70, in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Pitt faces Syracuse on...
Boston College staggers into ACC Tournament date with Pitt
Pitt players, coaches and fans won’t offer Boston College sympathy, but perhaps there’s another team in worse shape than the Panthers heading into the first round of the ACC Tournament. Pitt already shoved Notre Dame into last place with a 56-53 victory Saturday at Petersen Events Center. Next up is...
3 reasons Pitt might be fun to watch in ACC Tournament
The ACC is loaded with talented teams, with five of them ranked among the top 15 in the Associated Press poll and three — Virginia, North Carolina and Duke — legit Final Four hopefuls. Guess what? Pitt won’t meet any of those five if it’s fortunate enough to play two...
