3 keys as Pitt continues road swing at Georgia Tech
After a loss to Duke on Wednesday in which Pitt blew an 11-point halftime lead, the Panthers remain on the road and take on Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Here are three keys for the Panthers (11-6, 4-2 ACC): Embrace rebounding roots Noting Pitt...
First Call: Decisions in New England may impact Steelers coaching staff; Penguins face tough challenge; Pitt looks to rebound
Friday’s “First Call” has an update on a job hunt that involves a Pittsburgh Steelers assistant. The Metropolitan Division in the NHL had an interesting night. The Penguins were aided by some old friends. Also, the Winnipeg Jets are at PPG Paints Arena on Friday. And the Pitt hoops team...
Pitt women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum agrees to contract extension through 2027
Pitt’s women’s soccer team had the most successful season in program history this fall, reaching the ACC championship and NCAA tournament fields for the first time. Coach Randy Waldrum helped guide the Panthers to program records for overall wins (14) and ACC victories (5). He was rewarded for those efforts...
Pitt to retire former women’s basketball standout Jennifer Bruce’s No. 12
Jennifer Bruce is set to become only the second woman and sixth basketball player to have a jersey number retired by Pitt, the school announced Thursday. Bruce, who wore No. 12 from 1981-85, remains the second-leading scorer in Panthers men’s and women’s basketball history with 2,295 points. The Panthers have...
2nd-half meltdown spoils upset bid for Pitt, which falls, 77-69, on the road at No. 24 Duke
Arguably the worst stretch Pitt has played this year spoiled a promising chance for an upset at No. 24 Duke on Wednesday night in Durham, N.C. After leading by 11 at halftime, the Panthers lost 77-69 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With 14 minutes, 8 seconds to play in the game,...
Gateway grad Derrick Davis transfers from LSU to Pitt
Gateway graduate Derrick Davis Jr. on Tuesday said Pitt is it. A former LSU player, Davis Tweeted his decision in the early afternoon that he would continue his football career with the Panthers. “Let’s Get to it!” Davis said as he expressed his excitement with his decision. Davis last month...
Pitt’s Habakkuk Baldonado declares for NFL draft
The journey continues for Habakkuk Baldonado. The Pitt defensive lineman declared for the NFL draft on Monday, looking to continue a career that began in Italy before playing a year of high school football in Florida, continued for five seasons with the Panthers and could lead to playing on Sundays....
Penn State finishes 7th, Pitt 22nd in final AP Top 25 football poll
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Georgia was No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, becoming the 12th back-to-back national champion in the history of the rankings after routing TCU on Monday night. The Horned Frogs were No. 2, their best final rankings since the 2010 season. Michigan...
Pitt will try to prove its point against a Duke team that could be missing starting guard
For all of the similarities between the backgrounds of Mike Krzyzewski disciples Jeff Capel and Jon Scheyer, their Pitt and Duke programs were separated by their differences in their respective outcomes Saturday. While Pitt is coming off a one-point home loss to Clemson that likely prevented the Panthers (11-5, 4-1...
As assistants under Coach K, Pitt coach Jeff Capel saw ‘it’ factor in Duke’s Jon Scheyer
Jon Scheyer made an instant impression on Jeff Capel upon joining the Duke coaching staff with his smarts, inquisitive nature, enthusiasm for learning and, most of all, unique feel for people. As a former Blue Devils standout guard who became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I basketball when...
Pitt shows love for hospitalized alum Damar Hamlin with shirts, banner for Bills safety
The Pitt Panthers showed some love for Damar Hamlin, wearing their hearts on their chest against Clemson. While fans signed well wishes on a banner for the former Pitt safety who went into cardiac arrest during a game for the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” in Cincinnati, Panthers players...
Clemson rallies in 2nd half to hand Pitt its 1st ACC defeat
Pitt was predicted to finish next-to-last in the 15-team conference in an ACC preseason poll, so Jeff Capel never talked to the Panthers about what was on the line against Clemson. After back-to-back wins over nationally ranked North Carolina and Virginia, Capel was more concerned with Pitt making the most...
Pitt WR Jared Wayne declares for NFL Draft
Pitt’s top wide receiver from this past season announced Friday afternoon that he was declaring for the NFL Draft. Jared Wayne could have chosen to remain with the Panthers for another season because of the bonus year of eligibility granted by the NCAA as a result of the covid-19 pandemic....
Pitt players taking business-like approach into key ACC matchup with Clemson
A look around the Pitt men’s basketball program — from the team’s record to fan engagement to future prospects — reveals a general positive feeling not seen in some time. After two straight wins over ranked teams, Pitt (11-4, 4-0 ACC) finds itself in the conversation to be ranked for...
Fans invited to sign banner supporting Damar Hamlin Saturday before Pitt basketball game
Since Monday night, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field mid-game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in what was revealed to be a major cardiac arrest, sports fans across the United States and globally have sent a tidal wave of support his way and toward his family, friends...
Robust rebounding serving Pitt well as midway point of regular season approaches
Throughout Jeff Capel’s five seasons as Pitt coach, rebounding has been inconsistent. In two of his first four seasons, the Panthers finished in the bottom third of the ACC in total rebounding, wrapping Capel’s debut campaign in 2018-19 at eighth. Two seasons ago, the Panthers showed considerable improvement, finishing second...
Damar Hamlin jersey sales soaring, raising money for his charity
A message on the Petersen Events Center video board during Tuesday night’s Pitt-Virginia basketball game summed up the way Damar Hamlin’s alma mater feels about him. “Damar, we love you. We are praying for you. Pittsburgh’s always had your back. And now it’s obvious the entire country has your back,...
Right mix of transfers has Pitt men’s basketball pointed in upward direction
When Jeff Capel assembled his roster in what is a pivotal season for him at Pitt, he couldn’t have known how the first half of the season would evolve. Like the singularly focused coach that he is, he put his head down, went to work and ignored the outside noise....
Nelly Cummings’ brother, Brandin, becomes 1st from class of ’24 to commit to Pitt
Within hours, Pitt coach Jeff Capel received two doses of good news from one family when Lincoln Park junior guard Brandin Cummings said he plans to enroll after his 2024 graduation. 1000% committed! ???????? #H2P @Pitt_MBB pic.twitter.com/WNyhcYp97Y— Brandin Cummings (@ambition___3) January 4, 2023 Cummings (6-foot-3, 170 pounds) is rated a...
First Call: Fellow former Pitt player comes through for Damar Hamlin; huge day for Metro Division rivals
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a first-hand account of how a fellow Pitt Panthers alum aided Damar Hamlin’s mother in her time of need. An ESPN analyst had a very odd take on what happened to Hamlin Monday night. The Duquesne men’s basketball team looks to build on its conference home...
Pitt comes alive in 2nd half to beat No. 11 Virginia for 5th straight win
After Pitt’s second Top 25 victory in five days (and what preceded it over the previous four seasons), perhaps Jeff Capel wanted to jump up and touch the rim, high-five the Oakland Zoo and run triumphantly from the court. If that’s what he was thinking after Pitt’s fifth victory in...
Pitt, Central Catholic communities rally in support of ‘role model’ Damar Hamlin
Other than Damar Hamlin’s quick reaction to a completed pass, there was nothing special about his tackle of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. A legal, textbook tackle that looked like any other. Hamlin has 91 of them this season, second among Buffalo Bills defenders. “I’m sure Damar has made...
Prayers, thoughts, donations to Damar Hamlin’s foundation pour in after his collapse
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s presence at Central Catholic and Pitt was so impactful that when he collapsed after making a tackle Monday night, thoughts and prayers poured into social media from several sources — people who knew Hamlin and those who knew him only as a football player. Almost...
Pittsburgh native Damar Hamlin in critical condition after collapse on field
CINCINNATI — Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin was in critical condition early Tuesday after the Bills say his heart stopped following a tackle during the “Monday Night Football” game, which was indefinitely postponed. Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the nationally televised game against the Cincinnati...
Nike Sibande’s efforts off bench help Pitt take 4-game winning streak into Virginia game
Jeff Capel didn’t look far down his bench while orchestrating the 76-74 victory against North Carolina. Four starters played at least 33 minutes each Friday at Petersen Events Center, and reserves Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham were in the game only long enough to score a total of two points...