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...
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 –...
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...
First Call: Support from Washington for new Steeler Dwayne Haskins; celebrating ‘Send it in, Jerome!’
New Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting some support from a former teammate as he leaves Washington. And it comes from a guy who helped keep him on the bench. We also flashback to a great moment in Pittsburgh sports. A Duquesne player gets a mid-season honor. And an update...
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...
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...
Pitt sophomore Justin Champagnie’s high school coach declares, `He wants to be great’
At home Tuesday night in Manhattan, Ed Gonzalez clicked on his TV to watch Pitt play Duke. Flashing across Gonzalez’s TV screen was former Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School basketball star Justin Champagnie, warming up inside Petersen Events Center. The game mattered to Gonzalez because he’s been the coach at...
Jeff Capel says Pitt on right road to ‘becoming good’
Pitt fans are already sending out text messages to friends that say things such as, “Great win. Might get to the tournament.” It’s fine to be encouraged by the Panthers’ three-game winning streak that includes victories against ACC blue bloods Duke and Syracuse (twice). Just don’t get coach Jeff Capel...
Wake Forest replaces Boston College as Pitt’s road opponent Saturday
Wake Forest has replaced Boston College as Pitt’s opponent Saturday after a positive test and subsequent quarantining and contract tracing within the BC program. The game, moved from its original date of Feb. 7, will be played in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the same start time (6 p.m.) and telecast venue...
Pitt hangs on to defeat Duke, 79-73
For Justin Champagnie, Pitt’s 79-73 victory against Duke on Tuesday night was all about gaining respect – for his team and himself. Playing in a nearly empty Petersen Events Center that would have been rocking under normal circumstances, Pitt survived a Duke rally that three times trimmed a 15-point lead...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel doesn’t need national rankings to tell him playing Duke is special
If anyone thinks beating Duke has lost some of its prestige, let Jeff Capel tell you about the 1994-1995 Blue Devils. “I was on the last (Duke) team that didn’t make the (NCAA) Tournament,” he said. “And even though we were 2-14 — we stunk — people still stormed the...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster stokes free agency talk via video game, Aaron Donald’s emotional response to loss
Monday’s “First Call” starts with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and his “virtual” flirtation with free agency. Cleveland suffered a bad break during the Browns playoff loss in Kansas City. Los Angeles’ Aaron Donald had an emotional reaction to his Rams losing in Green Bay Saturday. And the “Killer B’s”...
Pitt shows it can score, but rebounding might be the key to enduring success
Pitt’s flurry of points against Syracuse on Saturday can be quantified in a variety of ways. • The Panthers scored 96 points, the most in a conference game that didn’t go into overtime since Pitt recorded 98 against DePaul in 2008. • It also was Pitt’s highest total against the...
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie returns early from injury, scores 24 to help defeat Syracuse
At one point, Justin Champagnie just laughed at Jeff Capel’s question. “I kept asking him, ‘Are you OK?’ ” Pitt’s coach said. ” ‘Are you tired? Are you tired?’ Champagnie’s answer: A definite “No!” Who could blame Capel for being concerned? Was his star forward putting too much trauma on...
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie returns from knee injury, starts against Syracuse
Justin Champagnie beat his timetable for recovery from a knee injury by two weeks and was in the starting lineup Saturday for Pitt’s game against Syracuse at Petersen Events Center. Champagnie injured the knee in practice Dec. 20, but missed only two games after four others were postponed because of...
Pitt freshman forward John Hugley suspended, facing 3 felony charges
Pitt freshman forward John Hugley is charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of receiving stolen property — all felonies — and has been suspended indefinitely from the men’s basketball team. He also faces a summary citation for driving without a license. The charges date back to...
Pitt basketball Take 5: Despite a 6-2 record, questions surround Panthers
Two questions quickly come to mind when pondering Pitt’s game Saturday against Syracuse at Petersen Events Center: • Will the game be played? Don’t laugh. It would be only Pitt’s third game since before Christmas. • Does Pitt’s 6-2 record (2-1 ACC) give rise to optimism? Let’s examine those questions...
Jeff Capel says schedule interruptions led to boredom among Pitt players
Basketball coaches try to avoid a variety of circumstances that can impact a game in a negative way. Poor free-throw shooting, failure to gain proper position while rebounding, foul trouble and a lack of hustle come to mind. Those are normal issues that can be fixed, to some extent, with...
