Recruiting Roundup: Pitt football nabs two 2020 recruits
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
April 19, 2019
Pitt football added a couple recruits to its class of 2020, while Capel's basketball club looks to round out its remaining scholarship offers for the 2019 season.
NBA Playoff race set for photo finish
By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor
April 3, 2019
The NBA regular season is winding down, but much still remains to be determined as the final week of games begins.
Recruiting roundup: Champagnie chooses Pitt
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
March 29, 2019
With the men’s basketball season officially over and spring football in full swing, it’s time for some more recruiting news for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Best first-round NCAA Tournament matchups
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
March 18, 2019
With the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament bracket officially released, it’s time to start parsing through the opening matchups to look for the best entertainment value.
Panthers look to make splash in ACC Tournament
By Ben Bobeck, Staff Writer
March 11, 2019
Barring a miracle of unprecedented proportion, the Pitt men’s basketball team will not be dancing come NCAA Tournament time this March.
Keeping up with Pitt’s recruiting trail
By Tyler Moran, Staff Writer
March 1, 2019
The Pitt News teamed up with Pitt Recruiting to bring you all the recruiting information you need to know to keep up with Pitt Athletics.
Pitt continues losing streak in 62-48 loss to Clemson
By Alex Lehmbeck, Staff Wrtier
February 28, 2019
Pitt Men’s Basketball team shot 23.8 percent from the field in the first half, where they managed to only score 16 points. The lack of offense led to a 62-48 loss to Clemson, Pitt’s 11 straight loss.
Tim O’Toole: Different ways to skin a cat
By Cale Berger, Staff Writer
February 27, 2019
On his path to becoming a presence on Pitt’s sidelines, associate head coach Tim O’Toole picked up some advice from the two winningest coaches in the business, Mike Krzyzewski and Jim Boeheim.
Panthers in the Pros: Patterson, Maddox and Zeuch
By Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer
February 18, 2019
Despite some disappointing results in the present day, Pitt athletics has proven to be able to turn out a high number of professional athletes.
March Madness Predictions
By Nick Carlisano, Staff Writer
February 18, 2019
Appropriately dubbed “March Madness,” the tournament is one of the most exciting events in sports and is known for its buzzer beaters, cinderella stories and ridiculous individual performances.
Four-star basketball recruit Gerald Drumgoole commits to Pitt
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
February 12, 2019
As a 6-foot-6, 200-pound small forward with a sweet shooting stroke, Drumgoole should help the Panthers as soon as next year.
Clemson’s hot shooting deals Pitt fourth straight loss, 82-69
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
January 30, 2019
Clemson drained six of its first seven 3-pointers to put the game away early, leading to an 82-69 final score.
Pitt scores season low in 66-51 loss to No. 23 Louisville
By Stephen Thompson and Trent Leonard
January 27, 2019
Pitt fell back to earth in Saturday’s rematch, shooting just 35.2 percent from the field in a 66-51 loss at No. 23 Louisville.
Take 5: Best of Pitt Athletics
By Staff
January 23, 2019
Pitt Athletics had some highs and lows this year, but in every situation there was a player or team that stood out above the rest. This week our writers talked about their “best of” moment in Pitt athletics.
First-year phenoms lead Duke past Pitt, 79-64
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
January 23, 2019
Three of Jeff Capel’s most widely known recruits from the past year were the leading scorers in Tuesday night’s men’s basketball matchup versus No. 2 Duke.
Weekend Recap: Swimming and Diving gets only team win of long week
By Tessa Sayers, assistant sports editor
January 21, 2019
Redshirt freshman Micky Phillippi was the lone bright spot of Pitt’s 36-9 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma State this weekend. Phillippi upset the No. 2 ranked 133 pound wrestler in the country, Daton Fix.
Oakland Zoo remains caged in
By Tessa Sayers, assistant sports editor
January 21, 2019
Since its founding 18 years ago, the members of the Oakland Zoo have only stormed the court twice, both times at the Fitzgerald Field House. And it’s not because the athletic department won’t let them.
Column: Pitt basketball’s rebuild is ahead of schedule
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
January 16, 2019
It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Pitt basketball, but a nationally relevant defense and a couple star-caliber talents have the Panthers ahead of schedule.
Pitt upsets No. 11 Florida State 75-62
By Andrew Kelly, Staff Writer
January 15, 2019
First-year Trey McGowens notched his second 30 point game of his career in Pitt’s upset over Florida State on Monday night.
Pitt ends ACC losing streak with 89-86 overtime win over Louisville
By Tessa Sayers, Assistant Sports Editor
January 10, 2019
Pitt guard Trey McGowen broke a 39-year record and Pitt ended a 690 day losing streak on Wednesday night in its 89-86 win over Louisville.
Panthers band together in split performances
By Tessa Sayers, Assistant Sports Editor
December 10, 2018
With Pitt's band split between three different locations on the weekend of Nov. 30, Director of Bands Brad Townsend had to get creative.
Pitt sports: A semester in review
By Kate Hall, Staff Writer
December 10, 2018
From playoff berths to championship games to championship titles, the Panthers have seen it all. Here is a recap of the biggest moments in Pitt sports this semester.
Mountaineers maul Pitt in Backyard Brawl, 69-59
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
December 8, 2018
Facing off against a team known for its suffocating defense, the young Panthers’ inexperience was on full display in a 69-59 loss to West Virginia Saturday afternoon in the 186th edition of the Backyard Brawl.
Pitt drops close contest to Niagara, 71-70
By Andrew Kelly, Staff Writer
December 4, 2018
After being held scoreless for the first three minutes of their game on Monday, the Panthers lost their first game of the season at home on Monday night. Pitt tried to rally in the final second of the game, but it wasn't enough and Niagara won 71-70.
Panther Spotlight: Xavier Johnson, Danielle Garven, Nika Markovic
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
November 26, 2018
Xavier Johnson and Danielle Garven have helped out Pitt’s basketball teams in the early going, while Nika Markovic led the volleyball team to a strong regular-season finish.
Thanksgiving Recap: Volleyball, basketball gobble up wins
By Kate Hall, Staff Writer
November 26, 2018
Pitt football fell to Miami, but three other Panther sports picked up the slack with a winning Thanksgiving weekend both home and away.
Staff Picks: Much to be thankful for within Pitt Athletics
By Staff
November 20, 2018
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, The Pitt News Sports Staff took some time to reflect on what they are thankful for when it comes to Pitt Athletics.
Panthers overcome UNA, 71-66, to win fifth straight
By Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer
November 18, 2018
Pitt men’s basketball is off to its best start in the three years after beating North Alabama 71-66 at the Petersen Events Center Saturday afternoon to improve to 5-0 in the young season.
Wilson-Frame, Toney Lead Panthers Past UCA Bears 97-71
By Andrew Kelly and Stephen Thompson
November 16, 2018
Pitt Basketball is already week of last year’s team in terms of wins. The Panthers won their fourth game, a 97-71 win over the University of Central Arkansas, on Nov., 15. Last year, the Panthers didn’t win their fourth game until Dec. 1.
Pitt remains undefeated with 84-75 win over Troy
By Trent Leonard and Stephen Thompson
November 13, 2018
From the high scoring offense to the smothering defense, Pitt Men’s Basketball once again showed its not the same team as last year when it beat Troy 84-75 on Monday. You can read the full recap of last night’s game here.
Unproven Panthers show drastic improvement
By Andrew Kelly, Staff Writer
November 12, 2018
The Pitt men's basketball team looks great when you compare this Pitt team to where last year’s team was at this point. The 2017 Panthers started out 0-2, losing to the similarly low-level squads of Navy and Montana.
First-year guards lead Pitt past Penguins, 69-53, in opener
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
November 6, 2018
First-year guards Trey McGowens and Xavier Johnson led the Panthers with 17 and 16 points, respectively, and the Panthers scored 27 fast-break points en route to a comfortable 16-point victory.
Preview: Experienced core looks to lead women’s basketball
By Dominic Campbell, Staff Writer
November 5, 2018
Pitt's women's basketball team is looking to once again make a new for itself under first year head coach Lance White. The team has five seniors set to come back and help the Panthers once again achieve a winning record.
Panthers to push the pace under new coach Capel
By Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer
November 5, 2018
Capel and his new coaching staff stressed strength and stamina. He wants his Pitt teams to play in the same mold of his teams at Oklahoma — force turnovers, get out in transition and play fast.
Men’s basketball pounces on Pitt-Johnstown, 78-59, in opening exhibition
By Trent Leonard and Andrew Kelly
November 2, 2018
The Pitt men’s basketball team kicked off its season in dominant fashion Thursday night, beating the branch-campus Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats 78-59 in an exhibition opener at the Petersen Events Center.
Capel will prevail on recruiting trail
By Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer
November 1, 2018
When Jeff Capel was announced as Pitt’s 16th men’s basketball coach this offseason, his aptitude as a recruiter was highlighted as one of his biggest strengths — especially appealing for a Panther squad facing an uphill battle to rebuild after going winless in the ACC.
Women’s basketball beats Gannon 68-46 in exhibition opener
By Dominic Campbell, Staff Writer
October 31, 2018
Unlike last season, when the Panthers lost 73-68 to IUP, the Pitt women’s basketball team defeated its Division II opponent Gannon, 68-46.
Capel’s first year means improvement, not victory
By Cale Berger, Staff Writer
August 26, 2018
Pitt's hiring of Jeff Capel brought excitement and hope to the men's basketball program — but fans should temper expectations in year one.
Column: LeBron James stands no chance against the Warriors
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
June 6, 2018
The Golden State Warriors followed up their thrilling overtime victory in game one of the NBA Finals with a more dominant result in game two Sunday night, trouncing the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 with help from a record-setting performance by two-time MVP point guard Stephen Curry. The basket se...
Improving Referees’ Experiences: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference joins Men’s Basketball Officiating Alliance
By ALEX LEHMBECK | Staff Writer
May 30, 2018
While most of the attention in the college basketball offseason is given to the stars sporting the flashy uniforms, there’s some important action happening off the court. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will join the Men’s Basketball Officiating Alliance in July, expanding the coalition to te...
Column: Women’s sports need female leaders
By Jordan Mondell | Senior Staff Writer
May 23, 2018
Pitt’s new women’s basketball head coach Lance White — who was hired April 18 to replace former coach Suzie McConnell-Serio — seems like a great snag for the program. The former Florida State assistant has it going on — a 350-145 overall record, 12 seasons with 20 or more wins with the Se...
Aiken basketball legacy to continue at Pitt
By Joanna Li | Staff Writer
May 4, 2018
The Panthers men’s basketball team secured a legacy talent Thursday night when North Allegheny High School senior Curtis Aiken Jr. verbally committed to Pitt via Twitter. ✅ pic.twitter.com/o7KDwZkQec — Curtis Aiken Jr. (@caiken_14) May 4, 2018 Aiken will join the team next season as a preferred walk-on, meanin...
Lyke Plans to “Flip the Pete”
By Joanna Li | Senior Staff Writer
April 25, 2018
Athletic Director Heather Lyke wants to “flip” the basketball court at the Petersen Events Center. She announced that the Athletic Department will be changing the layout of the court at a media roundtable discussion at the Pete Wednesday morning. According to Lyke, when Pitt built the eve...
Pitt gains first top-100 basketball recruit since 2013
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
April 24, 2018
The Pitt men’s basketball team received its first verbal commitment of the 2018-2019 recruiting season today at noon when four-star recruit Trey McGowens announced his commitment to the Panthers via Twitter. McGowens, a senior 6-foot-3 guard at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., chose Pitt...
White About Now: New Women’s Basketball Coach Meets Pitt
By Joanna Li | Staff Writer
April 19, 2018
When Lance White watched Jeff Capel — the next head coach of Pitt’s men’s basketball team — speak about his late father’s advice to take time and sleep on big decisions, he figured he would follow that advice if he was ever given the same opportunity. Instead, when he was offered the role as ...
Column: J.J. Redick is one for the NBA record books
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
April 17, 2018
Every so often in professional sports, a special athlete comes along who is single-handedly able to elevate their team’s performance to elite ranks. These once-in-a-generation talents carry their teams to the playoffs year in and year out through sheer individual willpower and exceptional abilit...
Capel rounds out assistant coaching staff with hiring of Milan Brown
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
April 17, 2018
New men’s basketball head coach Jeff Capel has officially rounded out his immediate coaching staff with the hiring of a third full-time assistant, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Capel hired College of Charleston assistant coach Milan Brown to join associate head coaches Tim O’Toole and Jason Capel, both of whom Pitt hired as assistant coaches last we...
Column: College sports deserve diverse leadership
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
April 1, 2018
Not only is Pitt’s new men’s basketball head coach Jeff Capel a star recruiter and successful tournament coach, he brings something to Pitt that the program has never seen before. Diversity. Specifically, Capel — a black man — is the first-ever head coach of any minority status to oversee ...
Column: When it comes to Stallings’ firing, the blame should be shared
By Brandon Glass | Staff Writer
March 14, 2018
In a time of uncertainty for Pitt basketball, one thing is for sure — former head coach Kevin Stallings’ tenure will go down in Panther history as an unmitigated disaster. In two years, the widely criticized coach managed to win just four conference games, go winless in the ACC during the 20...
Column: Potential picks for Stallings’ successor
By Colin Martin | Staff Writer
March 14, 2018
Pitt men’s basketball and the athletic administration are officially on the quest for a new head coach to replace Kevin Stallings. The mission is straightforward — find the perfect person to rejuvenate the program and return Pitt to its status as a basketball school. Just like any hiring proces...
A year of firsts: Young team works to make change
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
March 12, 2018
Pitt first-year guard Marcus Carr is no stranger to rookie success. As a first-year at St. Michaels in his native Toronto, Carr once scored a season-high 49 points in one game — and was instrumental in leading his team to the quarterfinals of the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association...
Slept on: 4 tournament teams you shouldn’t count out
By Stephen Cuddy | Staff Writer
March 12, 2018
Sleeper teams are the best part of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament. Some will destroy your bracket, but if you bet big on the right school you may end up celebrating as much as the eventual champions. If there is one thing guaranteed about the tournament, it’s that nothing abou...
Photos: Kevin Stallings’ tumultuous two years at Pitt
By TPN Visual Staff
March 11, 2018
Pitt fired men's basketball coach Kevin Stallings Thursday, ending his short, tumultuous tenure with the Panthers. Details of his buyout are still cloudy, but it's clear that Stallings will no longer be cheering and yelling from the Pitt bench. Here's a chronological look back at Stallings' two-year career at Pitt from The Pitt News' photo sta...
Wheel city: Pitt groups team up to host 3-on-3 adaptive sports tournament
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
February 27, 2018
The Chair Bears claimed the title in Pitt’s inaugural 3-vs-3 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament last Saturday. The tournament featured 14 teams — a significant outcome for a school that had no program for adaptive sports just two years ago. “We’re hoping to use this as an outreach effort and ...
Few bright spots for Panthers in cloudy sports weekend
By Stephen Cuddy | Staff Writer
February 26, 2018
As winter sports athletes are attempting to close out their seasons, the spring sports are just getting started. And while some members of the track and field team set personal bests and both baseball and softball hit the diamond with winning weekends, both Panthers basketball squads and the tennis ...
No. 4 Cardinals clobber Panthers, 81-49
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
February 25, 2018
The Pitt women’s basketball team dropped its sixth straight — and final — regular season game, 81-49, at No. 4 Louisville Sunday, finishing with a 2-14 ACC record heading into the postseason conference tournament. A day after the men’s basketball team suffered a 29-point loss to the best team ...
Weekend sports: Baseball opens season, wrestling tries to pack the Pete
By Stephen Cuddy | Staff Writer
February 19, 2018
It was a quiet weekend on upper campus as Pitt sports traveled across the states to take on new and familiar foes. While many students stayed in Oakland this weekend, the baseball team travelled to Florida to compete against Oakland University. And while Pittsburgh experienced some snow, baseball and s...
Weekend sports: Panthers experience strong starts, struggling streaks
By Stephen Cuddy | For The Pitt News
February 11, 2018
While some Panthers started off seasons strong this weekend, others continued painful bouts of loss. The softball team dominated their opening weekend in sunny California, and wrestling saw the clouds part on a four-game losing streak, the men’s basketball got drenched in another record-setting ...
Weekend sports: Pitt sets records high and low
By The Pitt News Staff
February 5, 2018
It was a weekend for the record books, as Pitt sports topped past streaks in wins and losses. The track and field team broke two school records with best times, while men’s basketball broke the record for longest losing streak in a season with 11 straight and wrestling, tennis and gymnastics fell...
Weekend sports: records set on the track, in the pool
By The Pitt News Staff
January 29, 2018
Though Pitt athletics experienced a few bright spots this weekend — which included record-setting performances and wins — there were usual losses for Pitt’s struggling teams. While both Pitt men’s and women’s basketball suffered double-digit defeats at home and wrestling lost a grapple to ...
Women’s basketball falls to No. 18 Duke, 58-46
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
January 28, 2018
With more than 2,000 fans in a sea of pink in support of a cure for breast cancer, the Pitt women’s basketball team fell 58-46 to No. 18 Duke in the 11th annual Pink the Peterson game. “It’s fun when you have all those people there. And today it was bigger because it wasn’t just for us, it was...
Weekend sports: Gymnastics sets records, wrestling gets pinned
By The Pitt News Staff
January 22, 2018
It was a packed weekend for Pitt sports, as teams both claimed historic victories and continued prolonged losing streaks. Pitt gymnastics made history setting a new program record, and the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams claimed decisive victories. Still, men’s basketball continued ...
No. 15 Miami hold off No. 24 Florida State in basketball
By Michelle Kaufman | Miami Herald
January 8, 2018
While most of the nation braced for record-breaking cold weather and ice storms on Sunday, South Florida warmed up significantly, as did the 15th-ranked University of Miami men's basketball team. Playing in front of a near-capacity crowd and 17 NBA scouts, the Hurricanes made 13 of their first 14...
Wake Forest tops Pitt, 58-49
By Grant Burgman | Sports Editor
January 4, 2018
Yacine Diop hit a three-pointer to bring Pitt within one point of Wake Forest with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. The three gave Diop 26 points on the night, a team high; but they would be the last points both she and Pitt scored as it fell to Wake Forest 58-49 on Thursday night. After a t...
Louisville dominates Pitt, 77-51
By Grant Burgman | Sports Editor
January 3, 2018
The last time the Pitt men’s basketball team faced off against Louisville was last January in a 106-51 defeat. While the deficit never got up to 50, Pitt’s most recent game with Louisville was similarly uncompetitive as Louisville beat Pitt 77-51 on Tuesday night. After starting conference play with a 67-53 ...
Hurricanes blow out Panthers, 67-53
By Grant Burgman | Sports Editor
December 30, 2017
Pitt men’s basketball (8-6) closed 2017 and opened conference play with a 67-53 loss to the No. 15 Miami Hurricanes (12-1) on Saturday afternoon at the Petersen Event Center. After an up and down month of non-conference play, Pitt entered Saturday’s game on a three game winning streak against ...
Women’s basketball falls to Virginia, 62-50, in ACC opener
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
December 29, 2017
Despite an outstanding three-point shooting performance from first-year guard Pika Rodriguez, the Pitt women’s basketball team fell to Virginia (8-6 overall, 1-0 ACC), 62-50, Thursday night in its first ACC game of the season. Rodriguez made five of her eight three-point shot attempts, but it wasn’t enou...
Pitt tops Towson, 63-59
By Grant Burgman | Sports Editor
December 23, 2017
After trailing for most of the game, Pitt took a late lead on a teardrop floater from redshirt senior guard Jonathan Milligan with 51.7 seconds left in the game. Milligan’s shot would be the deciding score as Pitt defeated Townson 63-59 in comeback fashion. Pitt (8-5) had to fight back after finding t...
Panthers top McNeese State by double-digits, 72-51
By Jordan Mondell / Assistant Sports Editor
December 16, 2017
After a sluggish start, the Panthers basketball team found their momentum late in the first half and pulled away from the McNeese State Cowboys, winning 72-51. With senior forward and de facto team leader Ryan Luther out for the game due to a right foot injury, the panthers looked to other top seas...
Panthers top The Mount, 82-78
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
December 6, 2017
After securing a 15-point lead in the second half, Pitt men’s basketball looked to be on a clear path to victory over Mount St. Mary’s Tuesday night. But after giving up that lead, the Panthers needed a last-minute bucket and an overtime period to top their mid-major opponent, narrowly winning 8...
Weekend sports: swimmers compete at nationals, volleyball goes dancing
By TPN Staff
December 4, 2017
It was a high-stakes weekend for Pitt sports, with celebrated wins and heartbreaking losses. As the volleyball team went dancing at the NCAA tournament, the swim team competed against former Olympians and men’s basketball reclaimed the City Game title. Volleyball Despite winning the ACC champion...
Pitt falls to Fordham, 58-55, in last-second decision
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
December 4, 2017
In another close game for the Pitt women’s basketball team Sunday afternoon, a game-deciding 3-pointer bounced off the rim and ended in a Fordham win. The Panthers (5-3) fell to the Fordham Rams (4-2) 58-55 in Bronx, New York, which was the second close loss in a row after a 58-57 loss to the Wis...
TPN Panther spotlight: Yacine Diop, Marcus Carr, Nika Markovic
By Brandon Glass | Staff Writer
November 29, 2017
While the Pitt men’s and women’s basketball teams rounded into form over the holiday break, the women’s volleyball team punched its ticket to the 2017 NCAA tournament. Whether the team wins or loses, some players are bound to stand out. Here are a few exceptional Panthers who have stepped up ...
Carr leads Pitt to victory over High Point, 71-63
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
November 29, 2017
Led by first-year point guard Marcus Carr’s perfect shooting performance, the Pitt men’s basketball team managed to avoid another home upset — escaping with a 71-63 win over High Point University Tuesday night. The Pitt Panthers (3-4 overall) did not score a field goal in the final four min...
Pitt sports gobble up wins over Thanksgiving break
By Brandon Glass and Trent Leonard | TPN Staff
November 27, 2017
Pitt sports had a lot to be thankful for over the holiday break. Aside from turkey and stuffing, teams saw historic wins and conference championship titles on the menu. While the Pitt men’s basketball team had uneven results on the court, football, volleyball and women’s basketball brought in...
Weekend sports: women sweep, while men suffer
By Trent Leonard and Jordan Mondell | TPN Staff
November 20, 2017
As the fall sports teams near the end of their regular seasons and the winter teams get underway, five teams took the field, court, pool and mat this weekend. Women’s basketball triumphed over Towson in double digits, and volleyball swept two ACC teams in straight sets, but the wrestling team was pinne...
Panthers trounce Tigers by double digits, 81-63
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
November 20, 2017
The Pitt Women’s basketball team came back after a loss to Duquesne in the City Game last week, trouncing the Towson Tigers by double digits, 81-63. The Panthers (3-1) took on the Tigers (0-3) at home to earn their best win of the season so far. Unlike previous games — where the team struggled to get an...
Duquesne claims City Game, defeats Pitt 66-53
By Adin Link | Staff Writer
November 17, 2017
The Duquesne women’s basketball team claimed their fourth straight City Game Thursday night when they defeated Pitt, 66-53, in a back and forth battle. The Panthers (2-1) hosted the night’s Pittsburgh rivalry match against the Dukes (2-1), but there were unable able to claim their third win o...
Pittsburgh Pipers: The forgotten champions
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
November 8, 2017
Pittsburgh is often considered one of the premier sports cities in America — laden with a prosperous history of baseball, football and hockey championships. But the city was once home to a championship basketball team, too — a small blip in the timeline of Steel City sports. The Pittsburgh Pipe...
Pitt shoots for bigger basketball crowds
By Bailey Frisco | Staff Writer
November 1, 2017
Tanisha Brown is a longtime college basketball fan — she started watching with her dad growing up. When she began attending Pitt, the Panthers quickly earned a place in her heart and her presence at the Petersen Events Center. “I really got into it when I came to Pitt,” Brown said. “I began root...
Change the system to avoid pay-for-play scandals
By Will Schulman | For The Pitt News
November 1, 2017
The Federal Bureau of Investigation made headlines in the sports world when it arrested 10 people Sept. 26 for a pay-for-play scandal, in which coaches, agents and shoe company employees sent and received bribes involving college basketball recruits. Among the arrested were multiple college basket...
Preview: Men’s basketball building from the bottom
By Brandon Glass | Staff Writer
November 1, 2017
If life were like the movies, this year's Pitt men’s basketball team could sneak into March Madness and win the whole thing. But life isn’t a movie, and Pitt will be lucky to win 10 games. The Panthers’ second season with head coach Kevin Stallings as the leader will start with as much unc...
Luther leads young squad in senior season
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
November 1, 2017
As Ryan Luther watched all but two members of the Pitt basketball team depart this off-season, his dedication to the Panthers never wavered. “I knew I wanted to be here,” the senior forward said. “I knew I made a commitment coming out of high school, and I didn’t really want to be somewhere els...
Pitt center Ilegomah may sit out this year because of NCAA rule
By Ashwini Sivaganesh | Editor-in-Chief
October 19, 2017
Pitt basketball center Peace Ilegomah may be forced to sit out this year because of an NCAA rule limiting the number of years student-athletes can spend in high school. According to Sam Ferry, an assistant coach on the team, the NCAA has a rule that states players miss a year of eligibility if they...
Q&A: Stallings discusses transfers, recruits and “hard decisions”
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
May 29, 2017
Coming off its worst season since 2000, the Pitt men’s basketball program will attempt to rebound this year as head coach Kevin Stallings enters year two of his tenure. This season’s team will be made up of almost entirely new faces, with only three players returning from last year’s squad....
Devin Robinson sparks Florida’s NCAA Tournament rout of East Tennessee State
By Chris Hays | Orlando Sentinel
March 19, 2017
(TNS) ORLANDO, Fla. _ Devin Robinson's eyes lit up. As teammate KeVaughn Allen made a steal late in Florida's 80-65 victory over East Tennessee State, Robinson was all by himself at the Gators' end of the floor. Allen saw his wide-open teammate and Robinson put a huge exclamation point on his best...
GALLERY: Men’s Basketball vs. Florida State
February 20, 2017
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Stallings finalizes staff with hiring of assistant Kevin Sutton
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
April 13, 2016
New Pitt basketball head coach Kevin Stallings finalized his coaching staff on Wednesday afternoon, as the school announced the hiring of Kevin Sutton as its third and final assistant coach. Sutton most recently served as an assistant at Georgetown University from 2013 until this past season. His pas...
With TCU job, Jamie Dixon receives deserved appreciation
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
March 23, 2016
At Texas Christian University’s press conference-pep rally hybrid introducing Jamie Dixon as its next head basketball coach, the school’s chancellor dusted off an old fact about the new hire. It was one that Pitt fans have heard broadcasters use as a talking point for the past 13 years. “But...
Pitt Twitter reacts to Jamie Dixon leaving for TCU
By Harrison Kaminsky / Managing Editor
March 21, 2016
News broke Monday that Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon would leave the program to accept the same job at Texas Christian University, his alma mater. Pitt Twitter reacted in various ways, with some congratulating the former coach and others lamenting the loss for Pitt. [<a href="//storify...
Five first round matchups to watch
By Chad Cameron / For The Pitt News
March 16, 2016
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, there’s enough March Madness to induce vertigo. To help sort through the 32 games on Thursday and Friday, we’ve selected some games that should more than warrant your viewership – aside from Pitt’s date with No. 7 Wisconsin: No. 8 Colorado (22-11) vs. No. 9 Conne...
Selection Committee could tweak rules to curb surprises
By Chris Puzia / Contributing Editor
March 15, 2016
Every Selection Sunday, some teams and fan bases will inevitably call foul on why their squad misses its shot to, well, take more shots. Part of this frustration likely comes from the NCAA Selection Committee’s explicit, yet complicated, method for selecting teams. While the committee has spruced...
Gallery: Men’s Basketball vs. Wake Forest 2/17/16
By John Hamilton | Staff Photographer
February 17, 2016
Sheldon on the sideline: Jeter enjoying stint as managers’ head coach
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
February 8, 2016
Although he would soon get revenge against Georgia Tech, Sheldon Jeter left the Petersen Events Center defeated by the Yellow Jackets Monday night in January. Jeter, a forward on the men’s basketball team, hadn’t played a secret game against Pitt’s ACC foes. Instead, his loss came from the sideline...
Panthers blacked out by No. 9 Virginia 64-50
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
February 6, 2016
Going into halftime, the Pitt basketball team held all of the momentum. After facing varying deficits, the Panthers pulled within two at the break. But four minutes into the second half, it was clear that all momentum was lost, as the Virginia Cavaliers (19-4, 8-3 ACC) constructed a game deciding ...