College
Pitt gears up for rematch with Stanford, Ebuka Okorie in ACC TournamentVideo
On the last day of the regular season, by the skin of its nose, Pitt kept its men’s basketball season going and qualified for the ACC Tournament. That came via topping Syracuse on the road in overtime, 71-69, on Saturday. Following the game, coach Jeff Capel commended his team’s effort....
‘Striving for excellence’: How Cael Sanderson and Penn State continue to lap Big Ten foes
Cael Sanderson nodded his head as Mitchell Mesenbrink spoke. The Penn State head coach listened intently as his 165-pounder explained part of what makes the school’s wrestling program special. “Our coaches have set a foundation at Penn State that doesn’t change,” Mesenbrink said in a press conference following the 2026...
Duquesne players look to defend their (other) home court in A-10 TournamentVideo
When hardwood replaces ice at PPG Paints Arena this week for the Atlantic 10 Tournament, it won’t be Duquesne’s home court. But the goal is to defend that floor as if it is the same one at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse across the street. “We have a Pittsburgh native in...
Revenue-sharing era reshapes recruiting, strategy at Pitt, Duquesne
College coaches are cutting to the chase when courting student-athletes, centering their recruiting pitches around revenue-sharing compensation. Behind the scenes, administrators scramble to ensure their institutions are competitively positioned to pay players, while those involved with sports other than football and men’s basketball ponder their place — and existence —...
Rutgers beats Penn State to sweep season series
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Tariq Francis and Lino Mark combined for 34 points to lead Rutgers to a 74-62 victory over Penn State on Sunday in a Big Ten Conference regular-season finale. Rutgers (13-18, 6-14) swept the season series against the Nittany Lions, and has won two of its last three...
Georgia Tech fires coach Damon Stoudamire following a 12-game losing streak to end his 3rd season
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech fired coach Damon Stoudamire on Sunday, one day after the Yellow Jackets’ season ended with its 12th consecutive loss. Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert announced the move after the Yellow Jackets finished 11-20 overall and 2-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference following Saturday’s 79-76 loss...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Pitt, Duquesne, RMU fight back, inject a little life into hoops scene
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less This was shaping up as a horrific year for men’s college hoops around here. It still might not be great, but things are momentarily looking up after a wildly entertaining and unexpected stretch of basketball. Pitt was tracking to...
Schedule set for Atlantic 10 Tournament at PPG Paints Arena
Saint Louis and VCU shared the Atlantic 10 men’s basketball regular season title and earned the top two seeds for the A10 Conference Tournament next week at PPG Paints Arena. The Billikens (27-4) and Rams (24-7) each finished 15-3 in conference play and earned a bye into the quarterfinals, along...
Pitt triumphs at Syracuse in overtime, punching ticket to ACC Tournament
Pitt’s players could have checked out weeks ago, as a disappointing season approached its conclusion. But inside the Panthers’ locker room, with a trip to the ACC Tournament still within grasp leading into Saturday’s regular-season finale at Syracuse, players vowed to keep battling until the end. “We’re not going to...
Duquesne men rally from 30 points down to win at buzzerVideo
Of all the ridiculous sayings made famous by Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, the late New York Yankees great, “It ain’t over till it’s over” should rank near the top. Duquesne’s basketball team certainly believed in that simple axiom on a special day Saturday at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The...
Pitt players don pads for 1st time at spring practice
At the conclusion of Friday’s practice, Pitt football is now one week through spring ball, having completed three of 15 sessions that will lead into the annual Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 11. Friday marked the first time the Panthers were in shoulder pads this spring, allowing coach Pat Narduzzi...
Win and get in: Making ACC Tournament hinges on Pitt beating Syracuse in finale
The math is now simple for Pitt with regards to securing a spot in the ACC Tournament. With a win Saturday at Syracuse in the regular-season finale, the Panthers are in. A loss would disqualify Pitt by virtue of Boston College and Notre Dame facing each other to complete the...
Penn State fires women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger after 7 seasons
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State fired women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger on Thursday after seven seasons. Kieger finishes with an 84-123 record. The Lady Lions went 11-18 this season and 4-14 in Big Ten play and did not make the 14-team field for the conference tournament. “We appreciate coach Kieger’s...
Pitt’s Ryan Baer looks to be catalyst for improved offensive line play
As a redshirt senior preparing for his fifth and final season at Pitt, Ryan Baer can attest to the overall performance of the offensive line over the years. Baer first started for Pitt in 2023 and, next fall, is the bettor’s choice to be Pitt’s primary right tackle, a position...
Converted DE Zane Durant from Penn State still plays with explosiveness as NFL Draft prospect
It was one of those oddball inquires typically associated with Super Bowl media day. But when, at the NFL Combine last week, Zane Durant was presented with a question regarding what emoji he would say best describes his game, the Penn State product was quick with an answer. “I probably...
Pitt rally comes up just short on senior night as Florida State escapes
It’s anyone’s guess as to the nature of coach Jeff Capel’s postgame message to players following Pitt’s wild 75-74 loss to Florida State on Wednesday night. On senior night at Petersen Events Center, Pitt trailed by 16 at halftime and 24 early into the second half before a furious comeback...
Fight at Coastal Carolina, South Alabama women’s Sun Belt game injures ref, results in 8 ejectionsVideo
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A brawl between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the women’s Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday left eight players ejected and knocked a referee to the floor where she required medical attention. One player, Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston, was suspended for the rest of the 2026 postseason....
Penn State men put up little fight in loss to Ohio State
UNIVERSITY PARK — John Mobley Jr. scored 28 points, and Bruce Thornton added 18 in Ohio State’s 94-62 win over Penn State on Wednesday night. Penn State (12-18, 3-16 Big Ten) was led in scoring by Freddie Dilione V and Ivan Juric with 15 each. Dominick Stewart added 11. Ohio...
Losing streak hits 4 games as Duquesne falls at Rhode Island
With the start of the Atlantic 10 Tournament a week away, Duquesne has hit a late-season slide. Tyler Cochran scored 21 points, including a three-point play during a key second-half run, as Rhode Island handed the Dukes their fourth consecutive loss, 64-52, Wednesday night at Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I....
Lou Holtz, college football staple who coached Notre Dame to 1988 national title, dies at 89Video
Lou Holtz, the pint-sized motivator who restored greatness at Notre Dame and demanded it everywhere else he went, died in Orlando, Fla., Notre Dame announced Wednesday. He was 89. Spokeswoman Katy Lonergan said the family did not provide a cause of death. “Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz,...
Pat Narduzzi, dismissing low transfer class rankings, trusts Pitt’s evaluation of players
Pat Narduzzi is aware of the discourse surrounding Pitt’s latest class of transfers. After losing key players such as linebacker Rasheem Biles, receiver Kenny Johnson, defensive lineman Francis Brewu, kicker Trey Butkowski and others, the Panthers brought in 16 new players from the portal. But once the dust settled, assessments...
Pitt rides one of its best performances of season into home finale vs. Florida State
There’s a short list for the top moment of the season for Pitt men’s basketball. It would be hard to top Damarco Minor’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Pitt over Ohio State at home Nov. 28. Similarly, the Panthers’ 34-point thrashing of Penn State on Dec. 21 in Hershey was impressive....
Pitt QB Mason Heintschel, LB Braylan Lovelace seek out larger leadership roles
Mason Heintschel’s rise last season from third-string quarterback to starter to becoming arguably the most important player on Pitt’s roster was nothing short of meteoric. Heintschel, a true freshman who took over under center in Week 5 of the 2025 campaign, handled things well, going 6-3 as starter. But as...
Matt Campbell shifting culture of Penn State football
The cracks started show in Penn State’s 2025 foundation as soon as Terry Smith turned the team around in his time as interim head coach. He had a talented group finally playing more freely. It was no coincidence that a team once expected to compete for a national title, despite...
Pitt fires women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi
In the immediate aftermath of a third straight disappointing season, Pitt fired women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi on Tuesday morning, athletic director Allen Greene announced. The Panthers went 8-23 (1-17 ACC) this season, finishing second-last in the league while tying for the second-fewest conference wins in program history. “After a...
