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
Pitt embarrassed at home by Notre Dame, 84-56

Pitt embarrassed at home by Notre Dame, 84-56

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • January 31, 2021
Pitt (8-5 overall, 4-4 ACC) put forth a performance that head coach Jeff Capel called “deplorable” and “embarrassing” in an 84-58 beat down at the hands of Notre Dame (6-9 overall, 3-6 ACC). The Panthers were unable to keep the Irish’s dribble penetration contained and were buried by their blistering 54% shooting mark on 3-point shots.
Pitt men’s basketball missed the services of second-leading scorer Au’Diese Toney in the Louisville loss and had two games postponed for COVID-19 protocols.

Column | Time for Pitt men’s basketball to prove it can get off the mat — and stay up

By Ben Bobeck, Senior Staff Writer • January 28, 2021
After two ugly losses and a daunting schedule looming ahead, the Panthers need another bounce-back response, and they need it fast.
Sophomore forward Justin Champagnie scored 23 of Pitt’s 65 points against UNC Tuesday night. Pitt lost 75-65.

Pitt outmuscled by UNC, drops second straight game, 75-65

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • January 27, 2021
On Tuesday night, just one week removed from the Duke win, the mood had completely flipped. Pitt (8-4 overall, 4-3 ACC) was maddeningly sloppy against North Carolina (11-5 overall, 6-3 ACC) and lost 75-65 in deflating fashion at the Pete.
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
Though the sample size is small, the Panthers’ 4-2 start to conference play is not a fluke. The team clearly made visible improvements in spite of an unprecedentedly disjointed offseason. While several of the same, nagging woes haunted Pitt teams for the first two seasons of Jeff Capel’s tenure, he has seemingly managed to flip the script in his third season.
First-year forward Justin Champagnie competes for possession of the ball.

Champagnie, Capel make remarkable returns, Pitt pounds Syracuse, 96-76

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • January 16, 2021
Justin Champagnie, Jeff Capel and Pitt men’s basketball all made varying returns from different absences on Saturday afternoon and the end result was a blowout 96-76 victory over rival Syracuse.
In his last season with the Panthers, junior guard Xavier Johnson (1) averaged 11.7 points, making 37.3% of his shots from the field.

Monstrous second-half comeback gives Pitt first win over Syracuse in Jeff Capel era

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • January 8, 2021
Pitt beat Syracuse for the first time since 2017 behind a thrilling second half comeback.
The Pitt men’s basketball team returned to the Petersen Events Center Wednesday for their first official practice of the 2020 season.

Pitt men’s and women’s basketball postpone games for COVID protocols

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • December 31, 2020
Both the Pitt men’s and women’s basketball programs postponed games due to COVID-19 protocols on Thursday.
Ithiel Horton scored 18 points in the Panthers' 70-55 win over Miami

Horton corrects cold shooting, Panthers crush ‘Canes 70-55

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • December 16, 2020
Pitt men’s basketball (5-1 overall, 1-0 ACC) made their longest road trip of the season on Wednesday night and came away with a win against a shorthanded Miami (3-2 overall, 0-1 ACC). Junior forward Au’Diese Toney’s efficient scoring was aided by a breakout performance from redshirt sophomore guard Ithiel Horton in the victory.
Photo by Matt Hawley, Pitt Athletics

Champagnie makes history, Pitt walks over Bulldogs, 67-50

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • December 12, 2020
Pitt men’s basketball (4-1 overall) started strong and cruised to the finish against Gardner-Webb (0-2 overall) for a 67-50 win on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers were fueled by another milestone performance from sophomore forward Justin Champagnie, who became the first Pitt player in program history to record consecutive 20-point, 20-rebound games.
Coach Capel questions a foul.

Capel tries to keep program human amidst pandemic basketball

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • December 7, 2020
The question: “Is it difficult for players and coaches to be so focused on basketball right now, at a time when most people — college students in particular — are at home relaxing and celebrating the holidays?” The answer: yes.
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