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 — will be fascinating.

Here are a few thoughts after reviewing what occurred Saturday night at Petersen Events Center:

1. Capel speaks

Pitt’s coach, an authoritative communicator, will be at his best when he addresses the players and puts their three-game losing streak into his carefully chosen words. (Although, I don’t think he can do better than “deplorable.”)

After the game, Capel told reporters, “We have to get our mojo back on both sides of the court.”

Merriam-Webster defines mojo as a “magic spell, hex or charm.” For the sake of the program, here’s hoping Capel won’t need magic dust to fix what ails his team.

2. Three that got away

Pitt has lost five games this season, and three of them are to teams — St. Francis (Pa.), Wake Forest and Notre Dame — that are a combined 16-25 and near the bottom of their respective leagues.

Imagine if Pitt had won those games. The Panthers would be 11-2, 6-2 in the ACC, and possibly in the Associated Press Top 25.

When Pitt was 4-1 in the ACC, it was considered just off the NCAA Tournament bubble. Now, it has fallen to No. 84 in the Ken Pom rankings, No. 88 in NCAA Net.

Before the Notre Dame game, Capel made a telling statement, knowing his team was getting ready to play an opponent that was struggling.

“We need to respect the game,” he said.

If Pitt is falling short in that area, no amount of practice will help.

3. Toney update

For the past three seasons, 6-foot-6 junior guard Au’Diese Toney has been one of Pitt’s fiercest defenders and rebounders.

But in the past two games, he has a total of five rebounds, one steal and 16 points. His scoring average is 14.6.

Toney missed the Louisville game in December with a leg injury. Unless he has aggravated the area or suffered another injury, it’s difficult to believe he still is hurting.

In the six games since his return, he has been on the floor an average of 35 minutes. He had a season-high 22 points against Duke on Jan. 19 when he reached the foul line for 17 shots (making 13). Since then, he has shot a total of four free throws in three games. Strange.

4. Horton’s hopeful expansion

Ithiel Horton leads the Panthers in attempted 3-pointer (70) and has made 25 (35.7%). That’s 1.9 per game.

Before the game, Horton said he wanted to expand his scoring ability.

“I’m a Division-I guard. I can make a play off the dribble,” he said. “I’m working on being more 3D, not being one-dimensional.”

Against Notre Dame, he tried six shots — all 3-pointers. For the season, 65.4% (70 of 107) of his attempts and 60.9% (25 of 41) of his makes are from beyond the arc. That might be OK if he made more 3s.

5. Don’t blame just X

Junior point guard Xavier Johnson scored only five points against Notre Dame, fouling out with 11 minutes, 28 seconds left. It was the third time in the past four games he didn’t reach double-digit points.

Foul trouble was a problem for Johnson earlier this season, but Capel made sure he didn’t single out anyone after the Notre Dame game.

“He was not the only one out of control,” Capel said. “We were out of control.”