Jeff Capel rants about 'double standard' against Pitt after Clemson loss

Pitt coach Jeff Capel sounded off for nearly three minutes Saturday on a “double standard” he said exists with regard to how officials call his team’s games.

In Pitt’s 77-62 loss at Clemson on Saturday, Justin Champagnie, the second-leading scorer and leading rebounder in the ACC, scored only 13 points — nearly six below his average — and didn’t shoot a free throw for the first time this season.

“I don’t like the way he’s officiated, just to be completely honest with you,” Capel said. “And when you’re a really good player and one of the best players in the league and go through a game where you play 30 minutes and don’t shoot a free throw — when you’re not just a jump shooter — that’s something that’s been really frustrating.”

After his team received several technicals fouls this season, another one to Gerald Drumgoole Jr. and six offensive fouls on Saturday, Capel continued, unconcerned about possible repercussions from the ACC office.

“There’s a double standard with us, and I’m tired of it,” he said. “I’ll get whatever will happen. But, you know, teams can talk to our bench. They can go crazy over a call, and nothing happens. But when we’ve done it — a little bit — there are technical fouls. It’s been, really, for two years that it’s been this way. But it’s really been this year, especially over the past month and a half. And it’s really frustrating. I don’t know what to say to my team.

“This is a really emotional game. Other teams are able to be emotional and emote emotional things … and nothing’s called. But we yell ‘and-one’ — not even the guy who got fouled — there’s a technical foul in a critical part of the game. And it’s not right. It’s not right. It’s really friggin’ frustrating.”

Capel said he has expressed similar thoughts to the ACC office.

“But it doesn’t matter. We have to figure out a way to continue to fight through and persevere,” he said. “Hey, look, those (officials) have a very hard job to do. They’re good guys. I like all of them. But, man, it’s frustrating when you see some of the things.

“You (reporters) follow us, and you see it. You see it, and I know you do. And it’s not right. I know I’m wrong for what I’m saying because you can’t say anything. I like all those guys. They’re really, really good guys. This is some (bull).”

With that, he put on his mask and walked away.

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