Pitt, Georgia Tech trending in opposite directions

Even on the day Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner’s program withdrew its appeal of NCAA penalties that assured it won’t be playing beyond this week, he was in a gregarious mood Monday.

During the final weekly ACC coaches conference call of the season, Pastner cracked jokes, complimented inquiring reporters and listed a handful of superlatives his Yellow Jackets were achieving this season.

Speaking 10 minutes later, Pitt’s Jeff Capel had far less reason to be cheerful despite his team having just as many victories as Pastner and a nine-point win against them last month.

Justin Champagnie scores 30, leads #Pitt to win over Georgia Tech https://t.co/dULPWTKIps

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 9, 2020

It is what happened since that 73-64 Panthers victory Feb. 8 that has molded each program’s outlook heading into Wednesday’s 9 p.m. rematch in Atlanta.

With Pitt (15-15, 6-13) on a six-game losing streak and the Yellow Jackets having won four of five, will the teams’ late-year performances affect their 2020-21 seasons?

“We want to play for us right now, and we have season left and we want to play well,” Capel said. “But I don’t think it has any affect (on next season) because your team is usually very different. Even if you have a group of guys coming back — and especially if you don’t make the postseason — I think everything is new the next year.”

#Pitt has lost six consecutive games to fall to 15-15 overall and to within a half-game of last place in the ACC (6-13). https://t.co/ixzOCYBOBL

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 3, 2020

Barring a run in the ACC Tournament next week, perhaps the most tangible thing Pitt has to play for in its regular-season finale is avoiding a third consecutive last-place conference finish. The Panthers also can clinch their first nonlosing season since Jamie Dixon left for TCU in March 2016.

Seeding for next week’s conference tournament also is on the line for Pitt. The Panthers could climb into the No. 10 spot and avoid playing in the first round Tuesday, though that would necessitate several other games this week to fall Pitt’s way. The most likely scenario has the Panthers playing in the Nos. 12-13 or 11-14 seed games Tuesday in Greensboro, N.C.

Even with an almost identical record at 15-14, Georgia Tech has a much rosier outlook on its season. That’s partly because of its strong finish and also a 9-9 ACC record.

“We’ve gotten better,” Pastner said. “We have improved.”

#Pitt coach Jeff Capel said part of the perception problem this season is the ACC lacks the “star power” of a player such as last year’s Duke sensation Zion Williamson. https://t.co/L7nK6K7hin

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 3, 2020

The Yellow Jackets’ nine conference victories are the most since they advanced to the national title game in 2004 (though there was a 16-game ACC schedule then, and this is the first season going from 18 to 20 conference games played).

Even accounting for that, a victory against Pitt or Saturday at Clemson would give Georgia Tech its first nonlosing ACC season since 2004-05. If the Yellow Jackets win both, they will have just their second winning record in ACC play over the past 24 years.

“That,” Pastner said, “would mean a lot.”

To put Georgia Tech’s possible 11 conference wins in perspective, Pitt has combined for 13 victories in ACC play over the past four seasons.

But despite the Panthers’ recent struggles, Pastner is highly complimentary of them.

“I think Pitt is really, really good,” Pastner said. “I know they have lost a few games in a row since they kicked our butt… (But) you can play well, which Pitt has done, and still lose — because it’s happened to all of us. That’s just how good this league is.”

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