Pitt coach Jeff Capel still trying to fix 'dumpster fire' he inherited

If Pitt’s sixth loss in the past eight games didn’t offer a clue, Jeff Capel gave a clear look Tuesday night at what he inherited two years ago and what needs to be done to fix it.

“It was a dumpster fire that I took over,” he said after Pitt’s 82-67 loss at No. 8 Florida State.

Florida State’s incredible depth and Pitt’s deficiency in that area were on display Tuesday night. The Seminoles bench players scored more points (53) than their five starters, while Pitt got only 15 from its reserves.

“I’ve been here for a little bit over a year,” said Capel, who was hired in March 2018. “We need time to recruit, and we have to win some recruiting battles. It’s going to happen, but it’s not going to happen right away.”

Capel was quick to credit his players for making the best of what has turned into a bad situation. Pitt (15-12, 6-10) has won one more game than it did last season and six more in the ACC than its winless conference record under former coach Kevin Stallings two years ago.

Plus, the team started 10-3, including a season-opening 63-61 victory against Florida State at Petersen Events Center, and was 4-4 in the conference near the end of last month. He said that might have raised false hopes.

“Maybe because of the start we got off to, people thought this was going to happen, like, quick,” Capel said. “It’s not quick.”

Pitt was competitive for most of the first half against Florida State and held an eight-point lead at one point. Capel made sure he credited his players for their effort. His only complaint is there aren’t enough of them.

“These guys have fought,” he said, “and we put ourselves in a position where we won more games than we did last year. We’ve won more conference games.

“There’s an energy about our basketball program right now. But it’s not going to happen overnight. And, so, we have to be able to recruit.”

Capel sounded hopeful about the opportunity to improve the team’s depth next season. He has a three-man recruiting class so far, including 6-foot-9, 240-pound four-star center John Hugley. Plus, guard Ithiel Horton, a transfer from Delaware, is sitting out this season. Horton averaged 13.2 points as a freshman last season and was named to the all-rookie team in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Without mentioning Horton by name, Capel said, “We have a kid sitting out that I think is really, really good.”

“If we can keep the core together, along with some of the guys we have, we’ll get quality depth,” he said. “But we do not have it right now. There’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

Pitt has four games remaining before the ACC Tournament that starts March 10.

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