Pitt basketball adds adds two recruits, Chris Jones to staff
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
June 20, 2017
After a tumultuous start to the offseason, second-year basketball head coach Kevin Stallings got a much-needed reprieve this weekend as two highly-touted recruits committed to the program. Even though Stallings and his staff are still putting together their 2017 class, the program got its first com...
Swan song: Pitt’s seniors reflect on college careers
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
March 14, 2017
When the visitors’ locker room inside the Barclays Center opened to reporters moments after Pitt’s season-ending 75-63 loss to Virginia in the second round of the ACC Tournament, the room was silent. The post-game spread of food and drinks went mostly untouched. As the players sat side by side...
Next year will be turning point for Panthers’ program after lost season
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
March 14, 2017
Now that we know the season is over for Pitt’s men’s basketball team — with no postseason appearance and no winning record for the first time in 17 years — one question remains. Where do the Panthers go from here? Some have called for the axing of head coach Kevin Stallings after just one year on...
Pitt holds on for 61-59 win over Georgia Tech in first round of ACC Tournament
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
March 7, 2017
It wasn’t easy or pretty, but the Pitt men’s basketball team held on to extend its season for at least another day. The Panthers (16-16) survived a last-minute rally from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (17-15) to pull out a 61-59 win Tuesday night in the first round of the ACC Tournament at t...
Panthers drop regular season finale at No. 23 Virginia, 67-42
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
March 4, 2017
The Pitt men’s basketball team’s streak of 16 straight winning seasons came to a crashing halt Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Panthers (15-16 overall, 4-14 ACC) put on their worst offensive performance of the season in the regular season finale against the No. 23 Virginia...
Shel-don Je-ter: Fans praise senior’s sensational showing vs. FSU
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
February 21, 2017
It was happening again. The fans knew it. Pitt’s players knew it. Hell, even Florida State’s players probably knew it. The Pitt men’s basketball team had built a 15-point second-half lead against the No. 17 Florida State Seminoles after a 3-pointer by senior point guard Jamel Artis with 13:1...
Panthers stifle Syracuse for second straight win, 80-75
By Ryan Zimba | Staff Writer
February 11, 2017
After ending a month-long, eight-game losing streak that prompted some to call for the firing of head coach Kevin Stallings, the Pitt men’s basketball team is now on a winning streak. The Panthers (14-11 overall, 3-9 ACC) won their second straight contest Saturday afternoon, beating the Syracuse Orange (16-10 ...
Panthers snap 8-game skid with 83-72 win at Boston College
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
February 8, 2017
After eight straight losses, the Pitt men’s basketball team is back in the win column — and for now, out of last place in the ACC. Thanks to a vintage performance by senior forward Michael Young and workmanlike contributions from fellow seniors Sheldon Jeter and Chris Jones, the Panthers (13-11 ov...
Panthers’ woes continue in 72-64 loss at No. 21 Duke
By Varun Kumar | For The Pitt News
February 4, 2017
For the second straight game, the Pitt men’s basketball team gave one of college basketball’s most storied programs all it could handle. And for the second straight time, the Panthers (12-11 overall, 1-9 ACC) came up short. After an 80-78 loss at No. 12 North Carolina Tuesday night, Pitt lost anot...
Notre Dame stuns Pitt in OT on Vasturia’s game-winner, 78-77
By Ryan Zimba | Staff Writer
December 31, 2016
Saturday’s game had the makings of a special start to conference play under the new regime for the Pitt men’s basketball team. Instead, it turned into a heart-wrenching ending for the Panthers at the Petersen Events Center on New Year’s Eve. Pitt (11-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) dropped its ACC opener to the No. 2...
Pitt men’s basketball ekes out 81-73 win over Penn State
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
December 10, 2016
The Pitt men’s basketball team picked up another win Saturday afternoon, but again the Panthers made it much harder on themselves than it needed to be. Pitt (8-2) allowed only 22 points in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions (6-5) while jumping out to a 20-point halftime lead. The...
Pitt men’s basketball scrapes by Buffalo for 84-79 win
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
December 7, 2016
The Pitt men’s basketball team appeared to be headed for a much-needed blowout win over the underwhelming Buffalo Bulls Wednesday night. Instead, it turned into another ugly nail-biter for the Panthers. After Pitt jumped out to a 26-point lead, the Bulls (4-5) completely outplayed the Panthers ...
Panthers suffer first City Game defeat to Duquesne in 16 years, 64-55
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
December 3, 2016
For the first time in 16 years, the Pitt men’s basketball team left the annual City Game against Duquesne with a loss instead of a trophy. The Panthers (6-2) fell to their crosstown rival Duquesne Dukes (4-5) by a final score of 64-55 Friday evening at the PPG Paints Arena, their first loss in t...
Pitt men’s basketball holds off Yale, 75-70
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
November 22, 2016
Pitt men’s basketball head coach Kevin Stallings admitted Monday that his team could use a third scoring option to go with seniors Michael Young and Jamel Artis. Sophomore guard Cameron Johnson was that third scoring threat in Pitt’s win over Yale on Tuesday, providing Young and Artis with just...
Stallings sees positives in 2K Classic trip ahead of Yale matchup
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
November 22, 2016
Kevin Stallings’ debut season as the Pitt men’s basketball head coach almost got off to a disastrous start, but the Panthers have managed to scrape their way to a 3-1 record to start a season that very easily could be 1-3. Pitt will return home to host the Yale Bulldogs at the Petersen Events Cent...
Pitt men’s basketball waxes Gardner-Webb, 99-80
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
November 14, 2016
Despite his team’s easy 99-80 win over the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, Pitt men’s basketball head coach Kevin Stallings was disgruntled after the game. “With all due respect to Gardner-Webb, I think we missed an opportunity to get better tonight,” Stallings said. “I was disappointed in our...
From ‘doughboy’ to ‘sculpted’: Chris Jones’ evolution
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
October 18, 2016
At 6-foot-6, Pitt senior guard Chris Jones has dunked over taller defenders. He’s scored 20 points in games against the best college basketball teams in the country. And he’s locked down the stars, like Duke’s Grayson Allen. But this summer at a Pitt basketball practice, Jones achieved something th...
Q+A: Pitt coach Kevin Stallings talks team, conference and moving
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
April 7, 2016
New Pitt basketball head coach Kevin Stallings only knows how to get to three places in Oakland. He knows how to get to the Wyndham Hotel. He knows how to get to his office. And, recently, he learned how to get to the Panera Bread on Forbes Avenue. Stallings, along with longtime assistant coach Tom Richa...
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...
Pitt cruises in City Game rout of Duquesne
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 4, 2015
In the annual battle between Pittsburgh’s two Division I basketball teams, the Panthers feasted. Despite trailing before the opening tip even occurred the Pitt men’s basketball rolled in the annual city game, defeating the crosstown Duquesne Dukes 96-75 Friday night at the CONSOL Energy Center. “That’s...
Catching up with Tray Woodall
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
September 21, 2015
After seeing the court for 139 games over his Pitt career that spanned from 2008 to 2013, former star point guard Tray Woodall left the University and trekked the globe. Since leaving Oakland, Woodall has played professionally in Turkey, Greece, Kosovo and Mexico, serving as a role player throughout his...
Jones’ production off bench sparks Pitt
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
February 22, 2015
Chris Jones apparently did not take his role off the bench lightly.Jones, the sophomore guard who started earlier in the year when senior guard Cameron Wright was still recovering from a foot injury, hit five of his six 3-point attempts and scored 19 total points. The effort helped the Pitt men’s ...
Pitt stumbles in tune-up before Maui Invitational
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 22, 2014
Pitt fans woke up Saturday morning to see the men's basketball team lost its first game this year in Hawaii.In a tune-up game before the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Monday, Pitt lost to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 74-70 in a game played at midnight EST.Chris Jones led Pitt (2-1) in scoring with 19 po...