Improved defense, more help from the bench will benefit Pitt on its trip to WVU

When Jeff Capel was asked where Pitt must improve on defense, he covered every aspect of good defensive play, short of building a wall at the free-throw line.

“We have to get back to being really good defensive rebounding,” he said. “Our post defense has to be better. We have to guard the basketball better, and our transition defense has to be better.”

It should be noted that Pitt hasn’t been playing soft defense, but there have been lapses that hindered the team’s ability to rally successfully from significant deficits.

In Clemson’s 79-70 victory Sunday at Petersen Events Center, the Tigers’ shooting percentage went from 41.7% in the first half to 54.2% after halftime. In the game’s final three-plus minutes, Clemson outscored its hosts 9-2.

Capel’s contention that Clemson is one of the better teams in the nation received validation Monday when the Tigers (7-0) showed up in the Associated Press Top 25 (No. 24) for the first time this season.

Pitt’s competition has been more difficult in the past four games, and opponents’ points have increased from an average of 60.5 through the first four (4-0) to 71.8 the past four (1-3).

That will continue Wednesday when Pitt visits West Virginia. The Mountaineers (3-4) are the last of Pitt’s five consecutive opponents from power conferences.

“I felt like our effort was there. Our guys fought,” Capel said. “We committed some fouls, reaching, going over someone’s back. We have to be smarter in those situations.”

Capel leaned heavily on his starting lineup against Clemson. Reserves William Jeffress, Jaland Lowe and Guillermo Diaz Graham were the only players summoned off the bench. Jeffress played more than the other two at just less than 12 minutes.

“When guys get opportunities, whether they’re starting or they’re coming in off the bench, they have to be ready,” Capel said. “And they have to be able to impact the game in a positive way.

“I don’t think our bench played particularly well. We have to be better there, and there are good players there. I thought we had some effort plays, but we have to get more from our bench.”

None of three scored, but Capel never measures a player’s worth by how many points he scores.

“Block out, rebound, be all over the defensive glass, you can’t judge yourself by if the basketball goes in the basket or not,” he said.

The trick is playing well in all areas — and not just for brief periods of time.

“Being able to sustain it, being able to sustain concentration and focus and discipline,” Capel said. “We have to get better.”

After the West Virginia game, the schedule lightens with the final three of the nonconference games. Canisius shows up at the Pete on Saturday, followed by South Carolina State and Purdue Fort Wayne.