Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 100
Rebounding, defense among chief concerns for Pitt’s Jeff Capel
On the list of matters that concern Jeff Capel, perhaps, the loneliness of Petersen Events Center might be the least worrisome (even though on game days it seems more like a big, empty barn than an ACC basketball arena). Still, he did comment Monday about what has happened to home-court...
After losing 3 in a row, Jeff Capel hopes Pitt can regain ‘mojo’
Even in the pre-covid days (and especially now), Pitt basketball practice is closed to outsiders. For strategic and privacy purposes, coach Jeff Capel understandably insists on conducting business behind closed doors. Too bad, though. Pitt’s practice Monday — the first after the 26-point loss to a sub-.500 Notre Dame team...
Hot-shooting Notre Dame sends Pitt to 3rd straight loss
Jeff Capel had plenty to say after Notre Dame did anything it wanted Saturday night in an 84-58 demolition of Pitt at Petersen Events Center. There were so many negative remarks that it was hard to pick out the one that told the true story of what has happened to...
Michael Hughes, Marcus Weathers hope to carry Duquesne to winning season
Through it all — the repeated covid-19 tests, cancellations, postponements, the unnecessary trip to St. Louis and the unforeseen roster upheaval — Duquesne’s Michael Hughes is sure of this: “I don’t want it to end,” he said. The senior center, who is just as happy recording an assist as a...
Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty leaving Pitt to join Chargers staff
Pitt’s football staff lost a valuable member Friday when wide receivers coach Chris Beatty accepted the same job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Thank you, Coach Beatty. pic.twitter.com/cNadOfO34T— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) January 29, 2021 Hired in 2019, Beatty has been one of coach Pat Narduzzi’s most productive recruiters, especially in...
Pitt venturing into tough portion of ACC basketball schedule
The covid-19 pandemic has created quirks in every college basketball team’s schedule, and Pitt is no exception. The Panthers played only one game from Dec. 23 through Jan. 15. Four games were postponed and two have been rescheduled, including the Panthers’ meeting Saturday with Notre Dame (5-9, 2-6 ACC) at...
Duquesne’s Cooper Fieldhouse set to open Tuesday for Dukes’ game against Dayton
After a 22-month construction project that was delayed in 2020 by the covid-19 pandemic, Duquesne’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse will open its doors for the first time Tuesday for the Dukes’ men’s basketball game against Dayton. The game starts at 9 p.m. and will be televised nationally by ESPNU, but athletic...
Closer look at Pitt’s 2021 football schedule
Predicting the outcome of football games is difficult enough in August when the roster is finalized and there’s been time to accept or reject the coach’s optimism. Attempting the same exercise in January — two months before spring ball — can be a waste of time. It also can be...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel hopes lessons from Duke career stand the test of time
Jeff Capel has played and worked at the pinnacle of college basketball for most of the 27 years since his freshman year at Duke. Blessed with that background, his talks with players can be as instructive as they are entertaining. Pitt is preparing to play Notre Dame on Saturday at...
Pitt’s football schedule features Clemson, North Carolina at Heinz Field
Pitt will play six-time College Football Playoff semifinalist and two-time champion Clemson in consecutive seasons, the second coming at Heinz Field on Oct. 23, according to the ACC schedule released Thursday morning. It will be a rematch of Pitt’s 52-17 loss at Death Valley last season. This season’s ACC schedule...
Duquesne basketball bounces back to rout Fordham
Duquesne’s 86-62 victory against Fordham on Wednesday night in the Bronx serendipitously coincided with Chad Baker’s 21st birthday. He scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting from beyond the 3-point line (23 overall) to help the Dukes rout Fordham in a game that was not as close as the 24-point margin...
For Pitt, more shots for Justin Champagnie could translate into more wins
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie believes he has the cure for what has been ailing his team, losers of two games in a row after an encouraging 4-1 start to the ACC season. “We have to get in the gym,” he said. Which is what Champagnie has done throughout his basketball-playing life,...
Pitt falls to North Carolina for 2nd straight loss
Short of setting up ladders in the paint, there didn’t seem to be much Pitt could do Tuesday night to combat North Carolina’s superior size. Too many times to suit Pitt coach Jeff Capel, the Tar Heels missed a shot and either Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks or Day’Ron Sharpe –...
Keith Dambrot finds ‘joy’ in efforts to rally Duquesne from losing record
There’s no minimizing the difficulties Keith Dambrot and his Duquesne players have confronted this season. Through the team’s covid-19 outbreak, displacement from its home arena for a second consecutive season, three players leaving the team, poor shooting and a losing record (4-6, 3-5 Atlantic 10), the struggles have been almost...
Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot said question was ‘fair,’ but he understands Coach K’s reaction
Keith Dambrot said he feels empathy for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had testy words for a student reporter after a loss last week. But he added, “I thought it was a fair question.” After Duke’s third loss in a row, 70-65 to Louisville on Saturday, reporter Jake Piazza of...
Pitt hires former Bucknell defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac to coach linebackers
Pat Narduzzi turned to a familiar face — and someone who played the position — when he named Ryan Manalac as Pitt’s linebackers coach Tuesday. Manalac, who was the defensive coordinator at Bucknell the past two seasons, worked with Narduzzi at Cincinnati and Michigan State. Manalac replaces Rob Harley, who...
Former Moon star Puff Johnson returns to the Pete with his North Carolina teammates
Only if the pain is too great, Puff Johnson’s sprained toe will keep him off the floor Tuesday night when he returns to Petersen Events Center with his North Carolina teammates. But coach Roy Williams has high hopes for Puff — born Donovan Christopher Johnson — as he progresses through...
Pitt set to confront North Carolina’s youth, rebounding prowess
The problems that plagued Pitt in its loss to Wake Forest — lack of focus, poor defense and questionable shot selection — presumably were addressed Monday at practice. But is there enough time for Pitt (8-3, 4-2 ACC) to deal with the new set of issues North Carolina will present...
Casual look suits Pitt’s Jeff Capel while he’s prowling the sideline
College basketball coaches are transitioning from wearing the traditional suit-and-tie and dress shoes on the sideline to more a casual look. Pitt’s Jeff Capel has been wearing pullovers in recent games. “I don’t mind the suits,” Capel said. Truth be told, however, he said he doesn’t miss the more formal...
Boxed out by Wake Forest, Pitt’s Justin Champagnie still finds ways to be productive
Perhaps it is an unfortunate commentary on the current state of sports that great players aren’t allowed to slip — even a little — off pedestals fans and media build for them. Which would explain the question tossed at Justin Champagnie after Pitt’s 76-75 loss to Wake Forest on Saturday...
Pitt follows Duke win with ‘lackadaisical’ loss at 3-point happy Wake Forest
Two days before Pitt’s 76-75 loss to Wake Forest, Jeff Capel stopped just short of throwing his team out of practice. Yes, things were that bad. “First day (Thursday) back from (beating Duke), we were very lackadaisical,” sophomore forward Justin Champagnie said. “Going through the motions. He almost kicked us...
From Hank Aaron to LeBron to the Bonnies, Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot covers all the bases
The Zoom call Friday started as a preview of Duquesne’s game against St. Bonaventure on Saturday. Yet, you’d have to know Keith Dambrot to understand how and why the conversation veered in other directions and ended up including references to Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Dambrot’s...
Pitt changes directions after Boston College postponement, heads south to meet Wake Forest
It’s a good guess — a guarantee, actually — that coach Jeff Capel didn’t spend much time celebrating Pitt’s victory against Duke. Perhaps a brief text exchange with coach Mike Krzyzewski and then off to his office or home to watch Boston College video (the team Capel thought was next...
Former Pitt soccer player Edward Kizza chosen in first round of MLS Draft
Former Pitt soccer player Edward Kizza, who set school goal-scoring records over his 53-game, three-year career, was drafted Thursday by the New England Revolution with the 24th selection in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. The New England Revolution have selected former Panther Edward Kizza with the 24th pick...
Pitt endured ‘terrible’ practice after beating Duke
When Pitt reported to practice Thursday afternoon after a day off and the big victory against Duke, the session didn’t go especially well. “Practice, it was terrible. I ain’t going to lie to you,” said junior guard Xavier Johnson, one of the team’s most experienced players. “It was kind of...
