Pitt’s current stretch of two victories in its past 10 games is all too familiar to players, fans, even coach Jeff Capel.

The Panthers have had 2-8 stretches in four consecutive seasons — every year since former coach Jamie Dixon left for TCU in 2016.

In the 2016-2017 season, Pitt followed its 2-8 slide with a 4-7 closing stretch. Losing streaks of 11 and six games ensued after the 2-8 slumps in the next two seasons.

The difference this season is Pitt has time to do something about all the losing.

The Panthers visit N.C. State on Saturday, three days after Capel criticized their effort in a 72-49 home loss to Syracuse. Pitt ends its regular season Wednesday at Georgia Tech before traveling to Greensboro, N.C., for the ACC Tournament that starts March 10.

Here are three points of interest as Pitt enters the final days of the season:

1. Don’t finish last

Pitt has been last or tied for last in the 15-team ACC in each of the past two seasons. Most agree the team has made progress in Capel’s second season, but another finish at the bottom of the league would erode support for that notion.

The next two games won’t be easy.

The Wolfpack (17-11, 8-9) have been as inconsistent as their ACC record indicates, but they count victories against Wisconsin, Virginia, Syracuse and Duke and are 12-4 at home.

Plus, N.C. State is fifth in the conference in scoring (74.5 points per game) while Pitt has failed to reach 70 points in all but four conference games.

It’s a big game in Raleigh, with N.C. State currently seeded 12th in Joe Lunardi’s NCAA Tournament bracketology. Losing to Pitt surely would put the Wolfpack on the bubble.

Georgia Tech (14-14, 8-9) has no such NCAA Tournament hopes, but the Ramblin’ Wreck have won three of their past four games since losing to Pitt, 73-64, in the Panthers’ most recent victory Feb. 8.

Included in that stretch is a 64-58 victory against No. 11 Louisville, which was the fifth-ranked team in the nation at the time.

2. Give Capel peace of mind

The coach said he has been worried about his team all season.

“I’m worried about everything, and I’ve been worried about everything since we’ve been losing,” he said after the Syracuse game. “I think a coach’s nature is to worry.

“When things aren’t going right, you probably tend to worry a little bit more. When things are going well, you worry that, man, I hope it continues to go well.”

Capel’s current concern is his team will continue the uninspired play that has led to the 2-8 record and five-game losing streak.

It will be interesting to note if Capel’s criticism of his players will light a spark. He has been an authoritative figure throughout his coaching career.

That persona has served him well, and it doesn’t figure to fade after a few weeks of losing in his second season at Pitt.

3. Look for someone to take charge

Capel noted after the Syracuse game the Orange did not play well early, but they had Elijah Hughes — the leading scorer in the ACC — to prop them up.

“Even when they weren’t wired and loaded for bear like us, they had a guy who could get them going. He did that for them,” Capel said.

Pitt needs someone such as Hughes to lead the team out of its slump.

That could be freshman Justin Champagnie, who has been a consistent force through most of the season.

He is on the cusp of becoming the first Pitt freshman to lead the team in scoring and rebounding since Charles Smith in 1985-86.

Champagnie averages 12.3 points, slightly ahead of sophomores Trey McGowens (11.8) and Xavier Johnson (11.7). His 7.4 rebounding average is well ahead of runner-up Au’Diese Toney (5.0).

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