Two games into Pitt’s season — and with a 10-point loss to a mid-major team that didn’t win its conference last season — there are more items on Jeff Capel’s to-do list than he can address in a week’s time.

Especially this week, with players taking final exams while preparing to meet Northern Illinois (0-2) on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.

First on Capel’s list was, actually, scheduling that fifth nonconference game to reach the NCAA maximum of 25 for schools (such as Pitt) not participating in a multiteam event.

That task proved to be as difficult as any Capel needed to tackle.

“It’s a challenge,” he said. “We’re in a point right now, it seems, the covid numbers are increasing. You’re seeing disruption in all sports.”

The desperation is such Capel said a Power 5 coach he did not identify texted him Tuesday with an offer for Pitt (1-1) to play at his place Thursday.

“Everyone’s going through it right now with (covid-related) cancellations and protocols,” he said.

He said he communicated with three schools before settling on Northern Illinois, a team Pitt defeated, 59-50, last year. Northern Illinois has lost two home games this season, 65-61, to Illinois-Chicago and, 73-53, to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

“We are familiar with the style they play,” Capel said. “For where we are right now, that was the best opportunity for us.”

Then, there’s the basic matter of Pitt playing the game at a higher level than it displayed in its first two games: an 80-70 loss to St. Francis (Pa.) and an 83-74 victory against Drexel.

Capel said defensive rebounding, the art of keeping the opponent off the offensive glass, is “the very first thing that we’ve tried to really emphasize.”

The emphasis worked in the Drexel game. After allowing St. Francis 22 offensive rebounds, Drexel collected only four. Overall, Pitt has a mere plus-six rebounding edge over its two opponents.

Three-point shooting and offensive execution also need a boost, he said. Pitt is 11 for 43 (25.6%) beyond the arc in two games.

He also pointed to the need to improve on defense, especially stopping dribble penetration, and talking to each other more often on the court, perhaps Capel’s biggest emphasis in his three seasons at Pitt.

With five freshmen and transfer guard Ithiel Horton included in Capel’s rotation, Pitt’s five-game, nonconference schedule will be a period of adjustment — shorter this year with the first ACC game Dec. 16 at Miami. Pitt played 11 games outside the ACC last season.

After Saturday, Pitt visits Northwestern in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday and welcomes Gardner-Webb to the Pete on Dec. 12.

“We have to understand how hard it is,” Capel said. “It’s not 20 minutes, not 10 minutes. It’s 40 minutes, every second out there.

“If we are able to get to the point where we talk more, where we are more demanding and holding each other accountable, then we will start to make the necessary strides we need to be a better team.”

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