Mixed results for Pitt basketball, but things looking up

It was always Jeff Capel’s intention and the hope of Pitt fans for the Panthers to play on the last day of the ACC Tournament.

Just not this way.

After Pitt was eliminated Wednesday in a 73-58 second-round loss to N.C. State, the ACC canceled the remaining three days of the tournament Thursday as part of a nationwide attempt — across many venues and sports — to mitigate the effects the coronavirus.

Before the ACC acted, Pitt played two games in the tournament, first giving rise to the hope the season might end on a positive note, beating Wake Forest, 81-72. It was Pitt’s best scoring effort against an ACC opponent, second-best of the season.

But a day later, Pitt fell flat against N.C. State, shooting 35% from the field (22.2% from beyond the arc) and was sent home.

Which game best depicts what happened this season? What did the second season of the Capel era mean to Pitt basketball?

Here are some thoughts:

1. Capel inherited ‘dumpster fire’

Most fires eventually can be extinguished, but this one was burning out of control before Capel arrived. Don’t blame Capel for most of what led to an 11-31 record against ACC teams the past two seasons.

But the goal of any new coach is to make progress each season. Did that happen in Capel’s second season? Mathematically, yes.

Pitt doubled its regular-season ACC victories from three to six and played with enthusiasm against Wake Forest. Don’t forget that victory against Florida State in November. That counts, too.

But the result was a 16-17 record, the fourth consecutive losing season since Jamie Dixon left after the 2015-16 season. Capel will be expected to keep most of the roster intact, reverse the losing next season and win more than one game in the ACC Tournament. The latter hasn’t happened since 2014.

Just don’t overreact when someone mentions Pitt’s record in Capel’s second season (16-17, 6-14) is nearly identical to Kevin Stallings’ first (16-17, 4-14).

2. Keep key players out of transfer portal

Capel has six players who will be juniors and sophomores next season. He needs them to continue rebuilding the team the way he wants.

After his first season, he brought in freshmen Justin Champagnie, Gerald Drumgoole Jr. and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly, who look like solid players, at the least. Champagnie is better than solid and could develop into a star after he became the first Pitt freshman since Charles Smith in 1985-86 to lead the team in scoring (12.8) and rebounding (7.2).

There will be at least three more freshmen next season, including four-star center John Hugley.

It’s a good bet Capel will keep the roster largely intact — or, at least, the way he wants it.

Talking to young people is an area where Capel excels. He is an authoritative presence, standing 6-foot-4, with a strong, purposeful voice.

Without having any first-hand knowledge, you would think he makes a good impression when he meets a recruit’s parents. And that can carry a coach a long way.

3. Johnson needs to improve

Capel’s first trio of recruits will be juniors next season, and they should have built enough trust through 66 games to become team leaders.

Xavier Johnson’s scoring numbers dropped from 512 as a freshman to 370 this season, but he was only 18 points shy of becoming the second player in school history to reach 900 points as a sophomore.

He often dribbles into trouble and isn’t accurate enough with his outside shot, but he is athletically gifted and a good distributor. His scoring dropped from 15.5 to 11.6 points per game and his shooting from 41.5% to 33.3. But he increased his assist total from 149 to 161, and with better players around him — that’s the goal, right? — he should be better, too.