Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi pleased with 2025 recruiting class, calls it ‘a doozy’
Pat Narduzzi uttered his best line of the season at the outset of Pitt’s signing day news conference when he told reporters, “I think we have a doozy for you.” Name puns aside, Narduzzi and his coaches believe they signed a strong 2025 class of 21 high school seniors, some...
NCAA volleyball notebook: Morehead State coach can boast of beating Pitt at homeVideo
Kyrsten Becker-McBride has served on the volleyball staff at Morehead State in one capacity or another for 14 years. Friday, she will lead the Eagles (18-14) into Petersen Events Center to challenge top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed Pitt at 7 p.m. On paper, it would appear to be a...
After rolling through regular season, Pitt volleyball team prepares for upstart Morehead State
Cat Flood entered the transfer portal. Valeria Vazquez Gomez could have hung up her Pitt volleyball gear after last season. Instead, both decided to spend their final year of eligibility in blue-and-gold because they wanted one more shot at a national championship, and, on paper at least, the Panthers appear...
Pitt secures 4-star cornerback Mason Alexander of Indiana among 21 recruits on signing day
After the last game of the regular season, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi made a bold statement: “In 36 years of coaching, I’ve never seen so many injuries.” As it turned out, Pitt didn’t have enough depth to compensate for those injuries, and a five-game losing streak ensued. That’s where signing...
After strong start to season, Pitt basketball aims to stay grounded
When there’s no one on the floor at Petersen Events Center and the seats are empty, Pitt sophomore point guard Jaland Lowe likes to grab some basketballs and shoot foul shots by himself. The idea is to see how many he can make in a row. One time recently, he...
Pitt running back Desmond Reid, linebacker Kyle Louis named to All-ACC first team
Pitt running back Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis were difficult to miss on the football field this season, and their names were equally prominent on the All-ACC football team revealed Tuesday on the ACC Network. Reid was a first-team selection as an all-purpose back and return specialist. Plus, he...
Pitt running back Rodney Hammond plans to enter transfer portal
Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. put an end to his four-year Pitt career Tuesday when he announced on X that he is planning to enter the transfer portal. Thank you for everything Pittsburgh but I will be entering the portal for my last year— Rodney L. Hammond (@RodneyLHammond1) December 3,...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi laments recruiting calendar that limits home visits before signing day
At the age of 58, Pat Narduzzi isn’t shy about admitting he’s an “old-school” coach. Before he signs a player from high school or the transfer portal, he’d like to look that young man in the eye, shake his hand and meet his family. “I want to know where they...
Pitt ranked No. 5 by NCAA NET, 18th in AP, 19th in coaches’ poll
The effects from Zack Austin’s long 3-pointer surfaced Monday when Pitt received significant recognition in two national polls and, especially, in the NCAA NET rankings. The Panthers improved their record to 7-1 with a dramatic overtime victory at Ohio State on Friday, and voters in the Associated Press and USA...
Defensive tackle Nahki Johnson, 2 other Pitt players planning to enter transfer portal
Pitt defensive tackle Nakhi Johnson, center Terrence Moore and cornerback Noah Biglow are planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Johnson made his announcement on X and Moore’s agency, 3 Strand Sports & Entertainment, also used X to announce its client’s plans. All three ended the regular season as backups...
Pitt men’s soccer advances to NCAA Elite 8Video
Albert Thorsen scored a golden goal for Pitt with 2 minutes, 6 seconds left in overtime to lift the No. 2-seeded Panthers to a 3-2 victory over Kansas City in an NCAA third round men’s soccer game Sunday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Albert Thorsen with the golden goal for...
Pitt women’s volleyball earns No. 1 overall seed for NCAA Tournament
After spending most of the season ranked atop the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, the Pitt women’s volleyball team was rewarded by being slotted as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, which begins Thursday. Pitt again will host in the first two rounds, with Oklahoma, Morehead State...
Pitt’s bowl projections range from Yankee Stadium to San Diego
The rules governing college football’s postseason make it clear: Pitt is eligible for a 13th game, has been for a long time after winning No. 6 on Oct. 12. The bar for bowl eligibility is set at six victories. Projected locations from various national media outlets include the Pinstripe Bowl...
Pitt’s losing streak reaches 5 in a row as regular season ends in 34-23 loss to Boston College
Pitt’s regular season ended Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass., but, really, it dragged itself back to campus in a state of misery. A series of mishaps, penalties and even more injuries led to the Panthers’ losing streak reaching five after a 34-23 Boston College victory. It’s the first time Pitt...
Report: Pitt’s Nate Yarnell will start at quarterback against Boston College
A week after Eli Holstein hurt his leg Nov. 23 early in the loss to Louisville, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will stick with relief quarterback Nate Yarnell on Saturday at Boston College. Yarnell will start Pitt’s final regular-season game. TribLive news partner WTAE-TV first reported the news. Yarnell has been...
Pitt’s Papa Amadou Kante labeled ‘game-changer’ by teammates after he scores 12 to help defeat Ohio State
After Pitt’s rousing 91-90 overtime victory against Ohio State, Jaland Lowe made sure he hung around the reporters surrounding Papa Amadou Kante. Lowe had something he needed to say, and he wanted everyone to hear it. First, Lowe shook his head and smiled when Kante called him “the best player...
Zack Austin’s 3-point basket lifts Pitt to 91-90 overtime victory against Ohio State
Zack Austin hit the winning 3-point shot Friday afternoon with 0.04 seconds left in overtime to lift Pitt to a 91-90 victory against Ohio State, but there he was in a postgame interview apologizing. The moment inside Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, was not too much for him, but...
Pitt Take 5: There’s no shame in an 8-4 record, but 7-5 would be a different story
There’s no shame in winning only eight games, and the College Football Playoff rankings provide hard evidence. Eight ranked teams have 8-3 records, including No. 13 Alabama. When Pitt (7-4, 3-4 ACC) meets Boston College (6-5, 3-4) on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass., it can reach eight victories for the...
Pat Narduzzi seeks to keep Pitt players’ focus on Boston College, not a bowl game
Pat Narduzzi might not like to admit it, but his Pitt teams previously have dealt with slumps. Actually, it was only 12 months ago. Pitt was 2-8 as it approached 2023 senior day at Acrisure Stadium, but the Panthers found a way to defeat Boston College, 24-16. This season, Pitt...
Pitt moves on without injured guard Damian Dunn, prepares for test at Ohio State
There are certainly more inopportune times than now for Pitt to lose one of its starters. Perhaps the night before the start of the ACC Tournament would be worse. But Damian Dunn was injured Sunday in a loss to Wisconsin in the Greenbrier Tipoff, hurting the thumb on his right...
Pitt women’s volleyball beats rival Louisville, clinches share of ACC title
Olivia Babcock recorded a team-high 23 kills as the top-ranked Pitt women’s volleyball team defeated No. 3 Louisville, 3-1, Wednesday at the KFC Yum Center to clinch at least a share of the ACC championship. Set scores were 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 25-16. The Panthers (28-1, 18-1) can win the league...
Former Pitt quarterback Max Browne eager to call Pitt’s game at Boston College for The CW
In the moment, the torn labrum in Max Browne’s throwing shoulder hurt. Of course, it did. But the immense physical pain was only part of his story. He hurt personally for himself and collectively for the Pitt team of which he was the starting quarterback. Yet the injury might have...
Portal products Desmond Reid, Konata Mumpfield bright spots during Pitt losing streak
During his chat with reporters Tuesday, Pitt running backs coach Lindsey Lamar was quick with an answer when the question made it obvious. Is Desmond Reid playing through pain? “All season,” Lamar said, “like everybody in college football. I’m sure Kyle Louis (Pitt’s All-American candidate linebacker) is banged up, but...
First Call: Steelers assistant linked to college job; could we see 3rd edition of Maulers?
A Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach is hearing his name linked to a college opening. Pitt’s Kade Bell is being tied to Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator job. There might be movement toward another reincarnation of the Pittsburgh Maulers. And Duquesne’s women’s basketball team scores a win in a renewed rivalry while the...
Pitt guard Damian Dunn will miss at least 6 weeks after thumb surgery
Off to an encouraging start this season, Pitt men’s basketball received some bad news Monday when transfer guard Damian Dunn underwent surgery to repair a right thumb injury and will miss at least six weeks. Dunn injured his thumb and sprained his left ankle Sunday in the first two minutes...