No matter the score, Pitt's Jeff Capel continually tries to teach players proper habits

The game was winding down Saturday night, and people inside Petersen Events Center were gathering their belongings and preparing to leave, secure in the knowledge that Pitt’s 62-46 lead with 3 minutes, 5 seconds to play would turn into a victory.

But there was one more TV timeout on the itinerary, and coach Jeff Capel had no plans to waste it.

He gathered his players on their chairs in front of him and kept coaching, talking incessantly and waving his arms occasionally to make a point or three. The score didn’t matter; teaching and coaching did.

Asked about that moment Monday on the ACC coaches’ conference call, Capel said, “No matter what the score is, you’re constantly trying to teach habits.

“You’re trying to help these young guys create really good, winning habits. And winning habits are all the time. It’s not just during the game.”

Speaking in generalities, he said a player who’s constantly late for events off the court might not be reliable in a game situation.

“If you’re late for stuff, you’re probably going to be late for a (defensive) rotation,” he said. “You’re going to be a second late, and that can mess your defense completely up.

“For me, with the way I was taught the game (by former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Capel’s father), all of it correlates to life, being a good teammate, working hard, being disciplined, being responsible, being accountable. All the things that help you become a good player and help you become a good team, they’re all things that kind of help you be successful in life, too.

“No matter if it’s a game, or it’s off the court, you’re in a meeting, you’re in a workout, it can be a lesson to help these guys get better. It’s our responsibility as coaches and leaders to do that.”

After an encouraging 9-3 start to the season, Pitt’s progress hit a roadblock and the team lost four of its next five before it found solid ground and won four of five (all ACC games).

That’s only a .500 record since Dec. 30, and Capel’s expectations and his players’ aspirations are higher than that.

The Panthers (14-8, 5-6 and 64th in the NCAA Net rankings) continue their march toward what they hope will be a successful season when they visit N.C. State on Wednesday night.

“We’re starting to learn how hard it is to win and what’s required as far as to become a good team,” he said. “You have to learn how to compete at a different level, taking care of yourself off the court, the attention to detail of scouting. All of those things, I think, are really, really important, and our guys are doing a better job of learning how to do those things more consistently and learning how to play harder more consistently.”

Part of the formula for finding consistency is Capel’s deployment of Ishmael Leggett as a player who doesn’t start but seldom comes off the floor. During Pitt’s current 4-1 stretch, Leggett is averaging nearly 30 minutes and 14.6 points per game. He’s shooting 47.3% from the field, including 7 of 12 from beyond the arc. That’s called consistent production.

How has Leggett been able to successfully adapt as a non-starter after starting the first 14 games of the season?

“He’s one of the guys we have who can create offense off the bounce,” Capel said. “He has the physical strength to play through contact, and he can be shifty with (ball) handling, bumping you off and being able to get to spots. He’s also a guy who’s able to draw fouls (shooting 81.8% from the foul line).

“The easy answer is he’s a good player and he’s just been able to make plays for us.”