Pitt/Notre Dame renewal set in South Bend after 5-year absence
Pitt’s historic series with Notre Dame that includes a four-overtime victory, a three-overtime loss and Tony Dorsett running the length of three football fields returns to South Bend, Ind., next season for the first time in five years. Never too soon to think about next season ... Jerry DiPaola...
First Call: Kenny Pickett endorses keeping Matt Canada, drafting Jordan Addison; Titans tackle may be eyeing up Steelers
Wednesday’s “First Call” has two endorsements from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. One is for a current coach, another is for a former Pitt teammate. An AFC rival may be making eyes at the Steelers if he gets to free agency. The Penguins are preparing for a home-and-home with a...
Pitt coach Jeff Capel can relate to Louisville’s struggles
Jeff Capel said he understands what Louisville coach Kenny Payne is enduring this season. When Pitt and Louisville get together Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center, the Panthers (12-6, 5-2) will meet an opponent that has sunk as low as any team can go. Last in the ACC, Louisville...
Pitt overcomes roster shakeup to edge toward top of ACC
When Jeff Capel gathered his rebuilt team around him in September, he was hopeful that as many as 12 players could earn significant playing time as Pitt’s season progressed. Although he had no idea how — or if — so many new faces could mesh together smoothly, he knew there...
Nike Sibande’s season-best afternoon propels Pitt to victory at Georgia Tech
Taking a two-game losing streak into Saturday’s tipoff at Georgia Tech, Pitt successfully regrouped, picking up a key ACC win in Atlanta, 71-60. It was Pitt’s first win at McCamish Pavilion. The Panthers (12-6, 5-2 ACC) were propelled by guard Nike Sibande, who scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-12...
Pitt forward John Hugley IV to miss remainder of season, seek redshirt year
Pitt junior forward John Hugley IV will miss the remainder of the season, as he is opting to take a step back from basketball “while coping with mental health challenges as well as recovery and reconditioning from a preseason injury.” Team officials announced Hugley’s decision Saturday afternoon. Hugley earned honorable...
Pitt to celebrate anniversary of Jerome Lane’s famous dunkVideo
Pitt will celebrate one of the most memorable highlights in college basketball history Jan. 25 as the Panthers host Wake Forest at the Petersen Events Center. “Send it in, Jerome!” night will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Jerome Lane’s backboard-shattering dunk from Jan. 24, 1987, against Providence. “SEND IT IN...
3 keys as Pitt continues road swing at Georgia Tech
After a loss to Duke on Wednesday in which Pitt blew an 11-point halftime lead, the Panthers remain on the road and take on Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta. Here are three keys for the Panthers (11-6, 4-2 ACC): Embrace rebounding roots Noting Pitt...
First Call: Decisions in New England may impact Steelers coaching staff; Penguins face tough challenge; Pitt looks to rebound
Friday’s “First Call” has an update on a job hunt that involves a Pittsburgh Steelers assistant. The Metropolitan Division in the NHL had an interesting night. The Penguins were aided by some old friends. Also, the Winnipeg Jets are at PPG Paints Arena on Friday. And the Pitt hoops team...
Pitt women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum agrees to contract extension through 2027
Pitt’s women’s soccer team had the most successful season in program history this fall, reaching the ACC championship and NCAA tournament fields for the first time. Coach Randy Waldrum helped guide the Panthers to program records for overall wins (14) and ACC victories (5). He was rewarded for those efforts...
Pitt to retire former women’s basketball standout Jennifer Bruce’s No. 12
Jennifer Bruce is set to become only the second woman and sixth basketball player to have a jersey number retired by Pitt, the school announced Thursday. Bruce, who wore No. 12 from 1981-85, remains the second-leading scorer in Panthers men’s and women’s basketball history with 2,295 points. The Panthers have...
2nd-half meltdown spoils upset bid for Pitt, which falls, 77-69, on the road at No. 24 Duke
Arguably the worst stretch Pitt has played this year spoiled a promising chance for an upset at No. 24 Duke on Wednesday night in Durham, N.C. After leading by 11 at halftime, the Panthers lost 77-69 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With 14 minutes, 8 seconds to play in the game,...
Gateway grad Derrick Davis transfers from LSU to Pitt
Gateway graduate Derrick Davis Jr. on Tuesday said Pitt is it. A former LSU player, Davis Tweeted his decision in the early afternoon that he would continue his football career with the Panthers. “Let’s Get to it!” Davis said as he expressed his excitement with his decision. Davis last month...
Pitt’s Habakkuk Baldonado declares for NFL draft
The journey continues for Habakkuk Baldonado. The Pitt defensive lineman declared for the NFL draft on Monday, looking to continue a career that began in Italy before playing a year of high school football in Florida, continued for five seasons with the Panthers and could lead to playing on Sundays....
Penn State finishes 7th, Pitt 22nd in final AP Top 25 football poll
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Georgia was No. 1 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, becoming the 12th back-to-back national champion in the history of the rankings after routing TCU on Monday night. The Horned Frogs were No. 2, their best final rankings since the 2010 season. Michigan...
Pitt will try to prove its point against a Duke team that could be missing starting guard
For all of the similarities between the backgrounds of Mike Krzyzewski disciples Jeff Capel and Jon Scheyer, their Pitt and Duke programs were separated by their differences in their respective outcomes Saturday. While Pitt is coming off a one-point home loss to Clemson that likely prevented the Panthers (11-5, 4-1...
As assistants under Coach K, Pitt coach Jeff Capel saw ‘it’ factor in Duke’s Jon Scheyer
Jon Scheyer made an instant impression on Jeff Capel upon joining the Duke coaching staff with his smarts, inquisitive nature, enthusiasm for learning and, most of all, unique feel for people. As a former Blue Devils standout guard who became the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I basketball when...
Pitt shows love for hospitalized alum Damar Hamlin with shirts, banner for Bills safety
The Pitt Panthers showed some love for Damar Hamlin, wearing their hearts on their chest against Clemson. While fans signed well wishes on a banner for the former Pitt safety who went into cardiac arrest during a game for the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” in Cincinnati, Panthers players...
Clemson rallies in 2nd half to hand Pitt its 1st ACC defeat
Pitt was predicted to finish next-to-last in the 15-team conference in an ACC preseason poll, so Jeff Capel never talked to the Panthers about what was on the line against Clemson. After back-to-back wins over nationally ranked North Carolina and Virginia, Capel was more concerned with Pitt making the most...
Pitt WR Jared Wayne declares for NFL Draft
Pitt’s top wide receiver from this past season announced Friday afternoon that he was declaring for the NFL Draft. Jared Wayne could have chosen to remain with the Panthers for another season because of the bonus year of eligibility granted by the NCAA as a result of the covid-19 pandemic....
Pitt players taking business-like approach into key ACC matchup with Clemson
A look around the Pitt men’s basketball program — from the team’s record to fan engagement to future prospects — reveals a general positive feeling not seen in some time. After two straight wins over ranked teams, Pitt (11-4, 4-0 ACC) finds itself in the conversation to be ranked for...
Fans invited to sign banner supporting Damar Hamlin Saturday before Pitt basketball game
Since Monday night, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field mid-game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in what was revealed to be a major cardiac arrest, sports fans across the United States and globally have sent a tidal wave of support his way and toward his family, friends...
Robust rebounding serving Pitt well as midway point of regular season approaches
Throughout Jeff Capel’s five seasons as Pitt coach, rebounding has been inconsistent. In two of his first four seasons, the Panthers finished in the bottom third of the ACC in total rebounding, wrapping Capel’s debut campaign in 2018-19 at eighth. Two seasons ago, the Panthers showed considerable improvement, finishing second...
Damar Hamlin jersey sales soaring, raising money for his charity
A message on the Petersen Events Center video board during Tuesday night’s Pitt-Virginia basketball game summed up the way Damar Hamlin’s alma mater feels about him. “Damar, we love you. We are praying for you. Pittsburgh’s always had your back. And now it’s obvious the entire country has your back,...
Right mix of transfers has Pitt men’s basketball pointed in upward direction
When Jeff Capel assembled his roster in what is a pivotal season for him at Pitt, he couldn’t have known how the first half of the season would evolve. Like the singularly focused coach that he is, he put his head down, went to work and ignored the outside noise....
