Jeff Capel concentrating on defense, rebounding as Pitt prepares for Jacksonville
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The Pitt Panthers are scoring at 91.7 points a clip through their first three games, but Jeff Capel is making defense and rebounding a “huge point of emphasis” in preparation for Jacksonville.
The Dolphins (2-1) were dominant on the boards through their first two games and rank with Pitt (3-0) among the nation’s leaders in rebounds per game (49.7), rebound margin (16) and offensive rebounds per game (17.3) entering their 7 p.m. Friday visit to Petersen Events Center.
Jacksonville is led by 6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore guard Robert McCray V, who averages 17 points and is one five players who average at least 5.7 rebounds a game. Their top rebounders are 6-foot-7 redshirt senior Bryce Workman (9.7) and 6-9 sophomore Stephon Payne III (6.3).
“That’s one of their best offenses is to get it up there,” Capel said of the Dolphins, who are averaging 84.7 points a game. “They rotate in four, five bigs that are physical, that are relentless on the glass. … Hopefully, we can do a good job of being physical and blocking out.”
Pitt ranks 12th nationally with 50 rebounds per game and is tied for fifth in rebound margin (20) and had a 42-29 edge over Florida Gulf Coast in an 86-74 win Monday.
“I still think we can get better,” Capel said. “As a coach, you’re constantly trying to be perfect. But I do think we’ve done a pretty good job with it.”
The Panthers will count not only on their frontcourt of Blake Hinson and Federiko Federiko — who are combining for 27.3 points and 14.4 rebounds through the first three games — but also concentrate on learning from mistakes made against Florida Gulf Coast. Where FGCU shot only 29.2% on 3-pointers, it made 48.3% of its field goals, opting to attack Pitt inside when it couldn’t connect beyond the arc.
Capel rattled off a checklist of corrections for the Panthers, from creating the habit of sitting down in a defensive stance to finding consistency in having active help side, communicating and playing post defense before the entry pass.
“Those are the big areas where we have to really become consistent,” Capel said. “We’ve been good at them, but we haven’t been consistently good. That team was able to expose it maybe a little bit more. That was a point of emphasis. We’re trying to create those habits.”
To illustrate his point, Capel showed the Panthers a highlight where redshirt junior forward Will Jeffress made three switches to defend four players in a late-game sequence against Florida Gulf Coast. Capel did so knowing that Xavier scored 23 points off 17 Jacksonville turnovers in a 79-56 win over the Dolphins.
It was part of a greater message, that of embracing a role and playing for the team, as Pitt enters the more challenging part of its schedule next week.
The Panthers play Florida in the Preseason NIT on Wednesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, followed by the Baylor-Oregon State winner Friday, then return home to face Missouri in the ACC-SEC Challenge on Nov. 28 before opening conference play against Clemson on Dec. 3 at the Pete. That’s why Capel is focused on the details, starting with the next opponent.
“We better be excited to play Jacksonville because I know they’ll be excited to play us,” Capel said. “The thing we constantly talk about is being where we are, not looking behind, not looking ahead, being where our feet are and focusing on this moment and just trying to be 1-0. At times I know that’s easier said than done, I understand that. Sometimes, it’s the opponent, human nature.
“For us, those first couple games, even the exhibition game, it went well, we played well, it was exciting. People around here are excited. We have to stay even. We can’t overreact either way, good or bad. We have to stay focused at task at hand.”