Metrics aside, Pitt's Jeff Capel likes makeup of his team as it approaches the postseason

Jeff Capel appears weary of the debate.

Pitt’s coach is a busy man, and he has more pressing issues on his mind than metrics, quads and what outsiders think of his team. Most important at the moment is the fact that after 10 previous ACC Tournament appearances, the No. 4-seeded Panthers have earned their first double bye and will play Thursday in the quarterfinals in Washington D.C.

You can bet the Shady Side Academy girls’ next PIAA tournament game — his daughter Cameron is on the team — piques Capel’s interest more than anything Joe Lunardi might think about Pitt’s NCAA chances.

Family over bracketology.

Too bad for Capel, the speculation doesn’t figure to go away. He tries to avoid it, but it’s March, and it’s a rule that everyone must have an opinion.

“All we’ve talked about is, we have to keep winning. We’ve had a 1-0 mentality,” Capel said.

Still, he said Pitt staff members keep reminding him of the facts.

“I never look at them, but from what (a Pitt staff member) told me, we’re higher in the Net,” he said Saturday night after Pitt won its 11th game of the past 14, 81-73 against N.C. State.

After Pitt’s final game of the 2022-23 regular season — a 78-76 road loss to Miami — Pitt was 58th in the NCAA Net rankings, went 1-1 in the ACC Tournament and earned an NCAA berth. Presently, the Panthers are 44th.

Asked to explain, Capel said, “I have no idea.”

This year and last, Pitt had a 7-8 record against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams, considered the more difficult opponents. It also was 14-2 in Quad 3 and Quad 4 games at the end of both regular seasons.

The difference? None that Blake Hinson can see. When asked that question — considering Pitt is 21-10 going into the ACC Tournament just like it was a year ago — Hinson drew a chuckle from assembled reporters when he said, logically, “I guess there is no difference. Same record.”

Actually, not quite. Pitt finished this season stronger (4-1 in the past five games) than it did a year ago (2-3).

Yet the Panthers appeared to have a firmer grip on a tournament invitation last year than they have now. Pitt might need to reach the ACC Tournament title game Saturday night to avoid disappointment.

pic.twitter.com/AuWmOYNEro

— Joe Lunardi (@ESPNLunardi) March 10, 2024

ESPN’s Lunardi put Pitt on his “next four out” line. Fox Sports’ Mike DeCourcy ranks the Panthers a bit higher on his “first four out” line.

Working against Pitt this season are two home losses to Quad 3 teams Missouri and Syracuse. Pitt might regret the Missouri game most of all. The Tigers finished 0-18 in the SEC.

To Capel, however, all the talk represents what other people think. His thoughts don’t stray far from his locker room.

“I don’t worry about it,” he said. “I really and truly don’t because I can’t control it. I try not to give it much thought.”

Whether the NCAA Tournament committee believes Pitt is worthy of invitation matters to Capel, but his first thoughts are with his players, himself and his staff and how they approach the game.

“They’re gym rats. They’re eager to learn,” he said of the players. “They want to be good, individually and collectively. We see the work that they put in. They see the work that we put in as a staff in trying to make sure we’re prepared.

“I, personally, felt like I didn’t have anything to prove. I know I’m a good coach, and I’m not saying that in an arrogant way. I believe in me and us and things that we’re trying to do.

“Having back-to-back 20 wins is great. It’s awesome. I’m proud of it for our guys and for them to learn how to fight.

“Our job as coaches is to teach, and for us to be able to help these guys learn how to fight, how to work, how to persevere, how to push through, how to believe. Those are things that, if they take them, those will help them in life for the rest of their life.”

Sadly, there is no metric for that.

Note: Will Jeffress, a junior with two years of eligibility remaining, was part of the senior night ceremonies Saturday. “He has not informed me or us as a staff that he isn’t planning to come back (next season). Obviously, with the nature of college athletics now, you never know what your roster is going to be when the season’s over with. We’re grateful for him.”