The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News

Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer

All content by Kyle Saxon
Head basketball coach Jeff Capel watches from the bench as a penalty call dashes the Panthers’ hopes to upset Louisville in January 2020.

Column | Jeff Capel’s portal to a winning 2022-23 season

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
April 5, 2022

[Video] VIDEO: 2022 Men’s NCAA Tournament Predictions

March 16, 2022
Ohio State sophomore guard Eugene Brown (3), right, vies for a rebound during a game against Michigan State on Thursday, March 3, in Columbus, Ohio.

Preview | Pittsburgh welcomes Sister Jean, Collin Gillespie and more for March Madness

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
March 15, 2022
Pitt graduate student forward Mouhamadou Gueye (15), left, and sophomore guard Femi Odukale (2), right, play defense against Wake Forest graduate student forward Dallas Walton (13) during Wednesday’s game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Column | Capel needs to add depth, more shooters before he can expect Pitt to win on the road

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
February 3, 2022
Pittsburgh forward Mouhamadou Gueye (15) drives around Louisville forward Matt Cross (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.

Gueye’s emergence gives Pitt men’s basketball a ‘different look’

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
January 18, 2022
Head basketball coach Jeff Capel watches from the bench as a penalty call dashes the Panthers’ hopes to upset Louisville in January 2020.

Column | It’s starting to look like Jeff Capel’s final season in Pittsburgh

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
December 8, 2021
From left, Pitt redshirt sophomore defensive back Brandon Hill (9), redshirt junior defensive lineman David Green (2), junior linebacker SirVocea Dennis (7) and first-year wide receiver Myles Alston (20) run down the field during their game against Clemson at Heinz Field on Oct. 23.

Column | ‘We, Not Me’: How Pitt’s offensive success has been a true team effort

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
December 2, 2021
Junior midfielder Valentin Noel (8) with the ball at Wednesday evening's men's soccer game vs. Notre Dame.

Two quick second-half goals propel Notre Dame past Pitt in ACC Semifinal

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
November 10, 2021
Gilbert Brown (left), Kyle Cieplicky (center) and Jake Presutti (right) are Pitt men’s basketball’s newest coaching staff members.

Expanding men’s basketball coaching staff aims to instill winning culture

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
November 2, 2021
Campus Mogul, an agency that provides athletes with a platform to build their personal brands, has already attracted dozens of NCAA athletes including five Pitt football players.

Agencies aim to help athletes capitalize on NIL laws

By Kyle Saxon and Dalton Coppola
October 5, 2021
Staff writer Kyle Saxon lists some of the best dining options to consider after Pitt football games at Heinz Field.

Column | Best places to eat after a Pitt football game

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
September 28, 2021
Pitt football hasn’t won more than eight games in a season since 2009, but this might be the season they end the double-digit win drought, argues senior staff writer Kyle Saxon.

Column | For Pitt football, the next step is right now

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
September 14, 2021
Pitt men’s soccer played Penn State Monday night in a non-conference contest, defeating the Nittany Lions 1-0. Pictured is No. 8 Valentin Noel and No. 10 Bertin Jacquesson.

No. 15 men’s soccer nips Nittany Lions, 1-0, in first road win of 2021

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
September 13, 2021
Pitt men’s soccer fell to the Akron Zips Monday night, suffering their second loss of the season.

No. 3 Pitt topped 2-1 by No. 19 Akron in season’s second loss

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
September 7, 2021
No. 3 Pitt men’s soccer, pictured here at last Thursday's game against Dusquesne, convincingly regained form in a 2-1 win over Lehigh in front of a packed home crowd Friday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

No. 3 men’s soccer back in win column with 2-1 victory vs. Lehigh

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
September 4, 2021
No. 3 Pitt men’s soccer defeated the Dukes 7-0 during their opening season game at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday night.

Pitt men’s soccer delivers commanding 7-0 victory over Duquesne to packed crowd

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
August 27, 2021
Gilbert Brown, the headband-wearing Pitt basketball folk hero, is returning to the program in a new role. As director of player and alumni development, Brown will look to preserve and embrace the traditions Pitt was built upon.

Gilbert Brown ready to embrace tradition in new role

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
August 20, 2021
Ahead of a 2021-22 school year where many of Pitt’s teams have lofty hopes, senior staff writer Kyle Saxon ranks the top five athletic programs to watch next year.

Column | The top five Pitt programs to watch in 2021

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
June 28, 2021
Pittsburgh sports fans haven’t seen their team advance in the playoffs in more than three years. Contrary to what many fans may believe, senior staff writer Kyle Saxon argues that the recent playoff drought isn’t solely due to aging rosters.

Column | Pittsburgh’s recent playoff woes run far deeper than aging rosters

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
June 1, 2021
Pitt men’s soccer head coach Jay Vidovich displayed immense pride in the progress his team made after their season ended at the hands of No. 3 Indiana in the College Cup.

Despite falling just short in 2021, Panthers poised for long-term success

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
May 18, 2021
Despite controlling possession for much of the match, the Panthers’ historic season came to an underwhelming end on Friday as Pitt fell to Indiana 1-0.

Panthers’ historic season ends in 1-0 loss to Indiana

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
May 15, 2021
The Panthers netted three goals in the first half and capitalized on several mistakes from the UCF backline in an impressive 4-0 victory.

Pitt advances to Elite 8 after dominant 4-0 victory over UCF

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
May 6, 2021
Coming off its third loss of the season, No. 2 Pitt men’s soccer bounced back convincingly in the team’s opening match of the NCAA tournament, defeating the Monmouth Hawks 6-1.

Panthers earn second-ever NCAA tournament win in 6-1 rout of Monmouth

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
May 3, 2021
For the second consecutive season, Pitt men’s soccer is headed to the NCAA tournament. The Panthers earned the No. 2 overall seed in the bracket, and will face the winner of Monmouth and Bowling Green in their first match on May 2.

Pitt men’s soccer faces favorable draw in NCAA tournament, chance to capitalize

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
April 22, 2021
Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi at spring practice.

Staff Q&A: Pitt football prepares for 2021 Spring Game

By Dalton Coppola, Kyle Saxon, and Eddie Lasker
April 21, 2021
NFL owners approved the addition of a 17th regular season game for the 2021 season and beyond in a move certain to increase revenue for the league.

Column | NFL’s 17th regular season game puts players’ safety at risk

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
April 15, 2021
Photo by Thomas Yang, Senior Staff Photographer

Preview: Pitt men’s soccer to avenge previous loss to Clemson in Saturday rematch

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
April 15, 2021
Photo by Thomas Yang, Senior Staff Photographer

Men’s soccer clinches Coastal division with 5-0 win over UVA

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
April 9, 2021
No. 3 Pitt men’s soccer extended its win streak to four with a convincing 2-0 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday night.

Panther defense shuts down Notre Dame; Third win this season against Fighting Irish

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
April 3, 2021
Members of the “Pitt Twitter” community gather to tailgate outside of Heinz Field before a Pitt football game in 2019.

Panthers fans share drinking traditions before games at Heinz Field

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
March 23, 2021
San Diego State's Caleb Giordano (13) on the court against Boise State at the Viejas Arena in San Diego on Jan. 11, 2020.

March Madness sleepers: Predicting dark horses in each region

By Kyle Saxon, Senior Staff Writer
March 17, 2021
Sophomore forward Justin Champagnie (11) finished second in points per game and first in rebounds per game in the ACC. In comparison to last season, he increased his scoring average from 12.7 to 18.4 points per game, and his rebounding average from 7.0 to 11.1 per game.

Column | ACC’s top tier dominate conference award season

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
March 8, 2021
The Pitt women's basketball team lost 67-56 to the Boston College Eagles on Wednesday in the first round of the ACC tournament

First-round ACC tournament loss to Boston College concludes Pitt women’s basketball season

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
March 4, 2021
Bobby Grier was a fullback and linebacker, and only Black player on the team in 1956, for Pitt football from 1952-55. Now, he is 88 years old, and known as the man who integrated the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 1956.

Column | Bobby Grier belongs in the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame immediately

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
February 24, 2021
The south side of Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2010 NCAA Final Four Division I Men's Championship game in Indianapolis. The NCAA will play all the men’s basketball postseason games in Indianapolis for 2021, with the status of fan attendance still unknown.

Column | How the pandemic will shake up the NCAA Tournament bubble

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
February 12, 2021
The Pitt women's basketball team lost 74-55 to the Virginia Tech Hokies Thursday night at the Petersen Events Center, now falling to 2-5 in the ACC and 4-6 overall.

Poor shooting, costly turnovers doom Pitt women’s basketball against Virginia Tech

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
February 5, 2021

[Video] VIDEO: Super Bowl LV Predictions

February 5, 2021
Sophomore forward Justin Champagnie ranks first in the ACC and second in the entire nation with 12.4 rebounds per game.

Column | Pitt basketball’s past struggles have become its biggest strengths

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
January 26, 2021
Sophomore striker Valentin Noel (8) scored the Panthers' lone goal in their 2-1 loss to Clemson on Sunday

Pitt men’s soccer falls short in ACC Championship, suffers first loss of season

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
November 22, 2020
The Pitt Panthers defeated Notre Dame 3-1 on Wednesday, setting up the program’s first-ever ACC championship appearance on Sunday against Clemson.

Pitt dominates Notre Dame, cruises to first-ever ACC Championship

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
November 19, 2020
Sophomore striker Valentin Noel (8) scored the Panthers' lone goal in their 2-1 loss to Clemson on Sunday

Top-ranked men’s soccer steals 2-1 ACC Tournament win over Duke

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
November 15, 2020
Head coach of Pitt men’s soccer Jay Vidovich brought the team their first ACC win as well as their first ACC tournament win.

Preview: Pitt enters men’s soccer tournament ACC tournament undefeated, hungry for another milestone

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
November 13, 2020
Football head coach Pat Narduzzi, is in his sixth year as a head coach at Pitt.

Column | Next level nowhere in sight under Narduzzi

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 23, 2020
Tony Dorsett walks onto Heinz Field with Pitt Football in 2016.

Column | Pitt boasts decorated Mount Rushmore of hometown heroes

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 20, 2020
Pitt reached the No.1 ranking for the first time in program history in the fall.

Pitt returns home, dismantles Virginia Tech 4-2

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 10, 2020
Column | Narduzzi must trust first-year talent to maximize offensive potential

Column | Narduzzi must trust first-year talent to maximize offensive potential

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 2, 2020
The Oakland Zoo celebrates the first basket of the Pitt men’s basketball game versus West Virginia in November with the traditional tossing of newspaper shreds.

Welcome to Pitt Sports fandom

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
July 20, 2020
Pitt football powers through pandemic recruiting

Pitt football powers through pandemic recruiting

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
May 12, 2020
Senior guard LeVance Fields scored five points in the last minute to lift Pitt over Xavier in the 2009 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.

March 26, 2009: Levance Fields cements Pitt legacy

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
March 25, 2020
There will not be an NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this year.

Predicting the canceled men’s basketball postseason

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
March 15, 2020
Sophomore guard Au’Diese Toney looks for his next move between Boston College’s defense.

Toney, Coulibaly display growth despite Duke loss

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
January 30, 2020
Coach Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils currently lead the midseason ACC basketball rankings.

Conference Power Rankings: ACC is Duke’s domain

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
January 6, 2020
Xavier Johnson (1), pictured here against Robert Morris, led Pitt with eight assists against Canisius.

Panthers stifled at No. 1 Louisville, 64-46

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
December 6, 2019
First-year forward Justin Champagnie (11) leads the Panthers in points and rebounds per game.

Column: Pitt’s best player is … Justin Champagnie?

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
December 3, 2019
Sophomore guard Xavier Johnson (1) attacks the hoop during Pitt’s 98-47 victory over Slippery Rock.

Takeaways from Pitt basketball’s SRU scrimmage

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
November 1, 2019
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils are poised to win the 13th ACC title of his tenure.

ACC Basketball Preview: Duke poised to repeat as champs

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 15, 2019
Trey McGowens (2) was the highest-rated player from head coach Jeff Capel's first recruiting class

McGowens, Panthers poised to take next step

By Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer
October 1, 2019
Wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) of the Oakland Raiders warms up before an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 15 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Antonio Brown’s ego will cost him his career

By Kyle Saxon, for The Pitt News
September 5, 2019
Redshirt sophomore Deslin Alexandre (5) will play as a defensive lineman this season after junior Rashad Weaver went down with a season-ending knee injury during training camp.

Panther Spotlight: Kizza, Lund will build on stunning seasons

By Kyle Saxon, for The Pitt News
September 3, 2019
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