Time to panic about Pitt basketball recruiting?
By Trent Leonard, Contributing Editor
May 15, 2019
Khadim Sy was the latest big man to spurn Pitt basketball, leaving many fans to wonder why the Panthers can’t seem to catch a break on the recruiting trail.
Pitt basketball secures 4-star guard Au’Diese Toney
By Hannah Schneider | Sports Editor
June 2, 2018
Jeff Capel landed another highly rated recruit when Au’Diese Toney verbally committed to Pitt today — joining Xavier Johnson, Curtis Aiken and Trey McGowens in Pitt’s class of 2018. Committed pic.twitter.com/U08k1gsDaF — A.M.T (@thefuturetoney) June 2, 2018 The Fayetteville, North Carolina nat...
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...
Players with promise: Capel welcomes 3 top-100 athletes to Pitt
By Tessa Sayers | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
The first things Trey McGowens noticed were the bridges. He had never been to Pittsburgh before — but everyone in Pittsburgh already knew who he was. Just 28 days after Jeff Capel was named the head coach of Pitt’s men’s basketball team in late March, he was about to officially sign McGowens, Pittâ...
Column: Lyke is what Pitt Athletics needs for steady success
By Colin Martin | Staff Writer
May 30, 2018
The best way to build a strong athletic program involves consistency and a direction. It’s very difficult for schools to form their own identity with constantly changing leadership as Pitt has experienced over the past decade with seven different head football coaches. But Pitt now officially has...
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 ...
Report: seven Pitt basketball players request release from program
By Grant Burgman | Sports Editor
March 16, 2018
Seven players from the Pitt men’s basketball team have requested their release from the program, according to a report from ESPN. The Panthers have now received nine total requests for release from either current players or committed recruits since the firing of former men’s basketball coach Kevin Sta...
Uncertainty surrounds Stallings buyout
By Jordan Mondell and John Hamilton | TPN Staff
March 9, 2018
Pitt Athletics announced Thursday that Kevin Stallings would no longer be Pitt’s men’s basketball coach, but details regarding his multi-million dollar buyout are still unclear. Stallings’ lawyers, Scott Tompsett and Jim Lieber of Tompsett Collegiate Sports Law, said Friday that Pitt offere...
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 ...
No. 1 Virginia vanquishes Pitt, 66-37, in last home game of the season
By Michael Nitti | Staff Writer
February 24, 2018
The No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers secured their third ACC regular season title in the last five years Saturday afternoon. The Panthers also continued to set records, extending their losing streak to 17 in a loss against the best team in the nation. Despite low attendance this season, fans filled the lower leve...
Gallery: No. 1 Virginia hands Pitt 17th straight loss
By John Hamilton / Managing Editor
February 24, 2018
While the No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers secured their 3rd outright ACC regular-season title in the last five years on Saturday afternoon, the Panthers also continued to make history books — extending their losing record streak to 17 in a loss against the best team in the nation. Despite low attendance...
Panthers fall to Tar Heels, 96-65, set losing streak record
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
February 3, 2018
The Pitt men’s basketball team struggled against No. 19 North Carolina Saturday night, but the Panthers didn’t leave Chapel Hill entirely empty-handed, taking home the record for longest losing streak in program history. Beating 10-game losing bouts during 1968-69 and 1992-93 seasons, the Panthers ...
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...
Blue Devils best Panthers, 81-54, for the second time in two weeks
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
January 20, 2018
Pitt men’s basketball suffered a major loss to Duke for the second time in 10 days, this time losing 81-54 on the road and falling to 0-7 in the ACC. The Panthers (8-12 overall, 0-7 ACC) committed 15 turnovers and made just four of their 16 three-point attempts while allowing four Blue Devils (17-2...
Panthers fall to Hokies, 81-67, in third-straight ACC loss
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
January 6, 2018
Despite shooting an impressive 46 percent from three-point range, Pitt men’s basketball fell to Virginia Tech on the road, 81-67, marking the team’s third consecutive ACC loss. The Panthers (8-8 overall, 0-3 ACC) came into Saturday’s game as a team looking to prove that they could be compet...
Pitt narrowly beats Delaware State, 74-68
By Jordan Mondell and John Hamilton / TPN Staff
December 19, 2017
Pitt men’s basketball survived a Delaware State comeback Tuesday attempt to avoid losing to a team without a Division I win this year. The Panthers (7-5) had doubled the Hornets (2-11) by halftime and led by as many as 27, but won by just six, with final score of 74-68 at the Peterson Events Cent...
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...
Navy sinks Pitt, 71-62, in season opener
By Kevin Bertha / Staff Writer
November 11, 2017
It took the Panthers more than 10 minutes into the second half to score a field goal, a disastrous drought that was too much to overcome as Pitt men’s basketball dropped its season opener to Navy. Pitt fell to the Navy Midshipmen 71-62 Friday night in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Maryland — ...
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...
Pitt basketball lands Lafayette transfer Monty Boykins
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
May 15, 2017
The 2017-18 Pitt basketball roster is taking its final shape with head coach Kevin Stallings adding another player Monday in Lafayette transfer Monty Boykins. The 6-foot-5 guard played just one game this past year, missing nearly the entire season due to a shoulder injury he suffered against Villano...
Pitt center Rozelle Nix announces transfer
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
May 8, 2017
The Pitt basketball program suffered another defection Monday afternoon with the transfer of 6-foot-11 center Rozelle Nix. “I would like to take my time and say thank you to all of [the] University of Pittsburgh and basketball staff for helping me to get better everyday not only as a player but a...
Basement Basketball: Can Panthers outperform Eagles?
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
February 8, 2017
The Pitt men’s basketball team has faced a grueling schedule this season, ranked eighth-toughest in the country by CBS Sports. So, after eight straight losses to quality conference opponents, Wednesday night’s game should provide a much-needed respite. If the last-place Panthers (12-11 overal...
Pitt almost shocks No. 12 UNC in 80-78 loss
By Bayard Miller | Assistant Sports Editor
January 31, 2017
Expectations were low for the Pitt men's basketball team going into Tuesday night’s game on the road against the North Carolina Tar Heels. After losing six games in a row and falling to last place in the ACC, the Panthers (12-10 overall, 1-8 ACC) were 19-point underdogs against the No. 12-ranked Ta...
Pitt basketball hits new low with loss to Louisville
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
January 25, 2017
If you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Pitt men’s basketball team, think again. Last time the Panthers played at home, they suffered their worst loss in the 14-year history of the Petersen Events Center: a 72-46 pounding against Miami. They more than doubled that 26-point defeat in...
COLUMN: It’s not too early to start thinking about baseball
By Bayard Miller | Assistant Sports Editor
January 18, 2017
As a football fan, I tuned in to watch all four of this weekend’s NFL playoff games. Despite the NFL’s assurances of excitement that bombarded me, courtesy of their enormous advertising machine, I could not help but walk away from the latest slate of games dissatisfied. This weekend featured a game with the larges...
Hanging ’em up: A farewell to Pitt sports
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
December 8, 2016
When I first arrived at Pitt in August of 2012, I knew a handful of truths about the school’s athletic programs. The football program was in perpetual turmoil. People didn’t seem to like this Todd Graham guy. A good running back in Ray Graham coming off an injury. A new, quiet head coach from ...
Local recruit Alayna Gribble feels right at home at the Pete
By Katie Cassidy / Staff Writer
August 21, 2016
On Feb. 27, 2016, the undefeated Norwin High School Knights –– led by star junior Alayna Gribble –– trailed the North Allegheny Senior High School Tigers, 49-36, entering the fourth quarter of the WPIAL AAAA championship game at the Petersen Events Center. At 24-0, the reigning WPIAL champion Knights...
McConnell-Serio, Team USA bring home the gold from Chile
By Steve Rotstein / Sports Editor
July 18, 2016
One week after Pitt volleyball head coach Dan Fisher led the United States to bronze medals at the Pan Am Cup, women’s basketball head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio upped the ante by guiding Team USA to gold. McConnell-Serio and the United States U18 Women’s National Team are coming home from Chile with gold ...
Pitt releases 2016-17 men’s basketball non-conference schedule
By Steve Rotstein / Sports Editor
June 28, 2016
The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team released its 2016-2017 non-conference schedule Tuesday in an announcement from head coach Kevin Stallings. In addition to the Panthers’ loaded ACC schedule, which includes 12 games against 2016 postseason qualifiers, Pitt’s non-conference schedul...
Stallings & Son: Two paths to Pittsburgh
By Dan Sostek / Senior Staff Writer
May 31, 2016
The Stallings family was sitting around one day in 2012, casually discussing plans for their eldest son Jacob’s upcoming wedding. Who would they invite? Who were the groomsmen? Then came the big one, a position that Jacob’s parents Kevin and Lisa had previously thought to be unassigned. “An...
2016-17 Sports: Minors might outdo majors
By Ryan Reichardt / Staff Writer
May 31, 2016
Although the gray Pittsburgh winter has passed, the fog surrounding the University of Pittsburgh’s sports teams remains. After several major changes in the University’s big-name sports, including record-setting receiver Tyler Boyd’s departure to the NFL and Kevin Stallings taking over as the new...
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...
After fast start, Pitt basketball looks for answers
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
February 16, 2016
After a 14-1 start to the season, the Pitt men’s basketball team seemed like a shoo-in selection for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. That record came against a soft schedule, but the Panthers looked good, playing top-level offense with not completely inept defensive work. Ten games later, and t...
Second half run propels Pitt basketball past Detroit
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 21, 2015
For a brief moment in the second half, Pitt’s chances of beating Detroit seemed in doubt, with the visitors taking a one point lead. A 25-5 run, though, would wipe away any shred of uncertainty, as the Panthers defeated the Titans 95-79 Friday night at the Petersen Events Center. Detroit coach...
Fearsome foes: Pitt men’s basketball’s five toughest teams
By Joe Rokicki / Staff Writer
November 2, 2015
After a difficult season one year ago, the Pitt men’s basketball team’s road to rebounding won’t get any easier. With the 2015-16 college basketball season imminent, the Panthers will return to the hardwood trying to improve upon a 19-15 overall finish last season. Pitt will feature several new f...
Pitt looks to build momentum Saturday against Georgia Tech
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
January 15, 2015
Aron Phillips-Nwankwo might have known that his opportunity was coming on Wednesday night. His head coach had, after all, hinted at it earlier in the week.After a few big plays during Wednesday night’s 73-64 win over Florida State, the senior walk-on could have predicted the spark he would provide his Pitt...
Heartbreak a perpetual constant of late for Pitt basketball
By Imaz Athar / Staff Writer
January 12, 2015
Academics, party life, location and tuition are just a few factors that teenagers consider when choosing a college or university. Although I took all of these into account, Panther basketball was also a major reason I chose Pitt. As a freshman, I couldn’t wait to rep blue and gold, heckle opposing tea...
Recovering Uchebo hopes to return to form
By Jeremy Tepper / Staff Writer
November 18, 2014
This is the second installment of a two- part story on Pitt basketball player Joe Uchebo. The first installment appeared in the Nov. 18 edition of The Pitt News.Trust would also be paramount in Pitt center Joe Uchebo making an optimal recovery. He’d have to trust his right knee, something he wasn’...
Pittsburgh remains home for former Panthers
By Jasper Wilson / Sports Editor
July 15, 2014
After Ronald Ramon finished his first season as a pro basketball player, he knew where he wanted to spend his offseason. The former Panther men’s basketball player from the Bronx, N.Y., who graduated in 2008, came back to Pitt after finishing his first season with his team in Argentina and spent the ...
New-look PBC Pro-Am looks to improve, uphold tradition
By Ryan Bertonaschi / Senior Staff Writer
May 28, 2014
They say the best things in life are free. Some are free because they’re products of nature, whereas others are free, well, because they’re NCAA-regulated.Pittsburgh Basketball Club’s summer Pro-Am (Professional-Amateur) league is the latter, and for eight years, it has been one of college basketbal...