2023 in Pittsburgh college sports: Pitt men’s basketball ended 5-year NCAA Tournament drought
To fully and fairly assess the 2023 sports year at Pitt, you need to go back to the end of 2022. The metamorphosis of coach Jeff Capel’s men’s basketball program began to take shape Dec. 30, 2022, when Pitt upset No. 25 North Carolina, 76-74, at Petersen Events Center. The...
Diaz Graham twins’ mom makes herself at home on Pitt campus during holiday visit
When Elizabeth Graham goes shopping in her favorite Italian grocery story, people know her and stop to say hello. That wouldn’t be unusual in her hometown of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. But it’s happening not far from the Pitt campus in Oakland where Graham is spending the holidays visiting...
Former N.C. State offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper commits to Pitt from the transfer portal
After veteran guards Jake Kradel and Blake Zubovic exhausted their eligibility and tackle Matt Goncalves declared for the NFL Draft, Pitt needed help on its offensive line. Coach Pat Narduzzi looked inside the ACC to find it. Former N.C. State guard/center Lyndon Cooper announced Thursday night on X his decision...
Pitt scoring falls off in 62-48 victory against Purdue Fort Wayne
Jeff Capel had no problem with Pitt’s defense Wednesday night in its 62-48 victory against Purdue Fort Wayne. In fact, he thought it was “unbelievable.” And the numbers prove it. The Mastodons were averaging 86.8 points per game (14th in the nation), but they managed only 17 in the first...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi tried to avoid NIL talk, star rankings while recruiting his 19-man class
The initials NIL cast a shadow over college football every day, but name, image and likeness — and the riches it can offer players — come into greater focus at certain times of the year. Wednesday, national letter of intent day, was one of those times. While introducing his 10th...
Central Catholic DE and German OL among 1st to officially commit on Pitt’s signing day
Moritz Schmoranzer kick-started Pitt’s signing day at 7:08 a.m. Wednesday when coach Pat Narduzzi received a signed national letter of intent from the German-born offensive lineman. Schmoranzer sent his letter from Germany where he is spending the holidays before enrolling next month. Let’s go‼️ All the way from Germany! ????????...
First Call: Ex-NFL, Pitt player calls out George Pickens’ effort; Pat Freiermuth owns bad play vs. Colts
If Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens thinks that only non-athlete media types are criticizing his lack of effort, then he is sorely mistaken. Pat Freiermuth is taking the blame for a bad play in the Steelers’ most recent loss. The officiating crew has been revealed for this week’s Steelers-Bengals...
Pitt secures commitments from 2 more transfers: defensive end David Ojiegbe, tight end Jake Overman
The results of Pitt’s venture into the transfer portal won’t be completely known until the end of the 2024 season, but it’s clear coach Pat Narduzzi considers that avenue an important road toward rebuilding his program. Narduzzi claimed his seventh and eighth verbal commitments from transfers Tuesday when former Clemson...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel likes team’s progress, seeks improved on-court communication
Jeff Capel’s sixth season as Pitt’s head coach is off to a good (not great) start. The 8-3 record is nothing special, and he knows it. The Panthers have won eight of their first 11 games in three of Capel’s five previous seasons. “Certainly would not like to have three...
Jeff Capel finds bench strength as Pitt nears end of nonconference season
There isn’t much Pitt could have proven Saturday while thoroughly defeating South Carolina State, 86-50. As soon as Pitt got over its malaise, possibly caused by a week without playing a game, the Bulldogs simply were outmanned and had no answers. South Carolina State is the fourth opponent this season...
Pitt’s defense gets a boost from transfers Nick James, Nate Matlack
Pitt bolstered its defensive depth Sunday when two players from power conferences verbally committed to coach Pat Narduzzi. COMMITTED H2P pic.twitter.com/PrdP0SRwBh— Nate Matlack (@nmatlack1) December 17, 2023 Defensive tackle Nick James and defensive end Nate Matlack are transferring from Indiana and Kansas State, but the key to these two roster...
Western Carolina’s Desmond Reid, Censere Lee follow offensive coordinator Kade Bell to Pitt
Roster additions from the most important source these days — the NCAA transfer portal — continued for Pitt on Saturday when running back Desmond Reid and wide receiver Censere Lee verbally committed to the Panthers. Reid and Lee complete the package that arrived from Western Carolina, starting with the Catamounts’...
Pitt stretches winning streak to 3 with rout of South Carolina State
With final exams over, campus half-empty and Pitt playing a game – a nonconference game — for the first time in a week, Petersen Events Center was quieter than usual Saturday afternoon during the Panthers’ 86-50 victory against South Carolina State. Didn’t matter. After a slow start, players’ effort was...
Recruiting rankings, ratings accurate but imperfect in projecting eventual NFL talent
When former Pitt defensive lineman Calijah Kancey heard his name called as the 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft last spring, he was one of eight former three-star recruits, as ranked by 247Sports, to be selected in the first round. Kenny Pickett, chosen by the Steelers at No. 20...
Pitt Take 5: Busy week of finals, practice ends Saturday against South Carolina State
Jeff Capel and Pitt athletic officials take a lot of local heat for keeping Duquesne off their nonconference schedule. The schools are separated by 2 miles and both compete in Division I, but they haven’t played each other since 2018. That’s after meeting 87 times, starting in 1932. Pitt leads...
Pitt volleyball swept by Nebraska for 3rd straight Final Four exit
Under coach Dan Fisher, Pitt’s women’s volleyball team has emerged as a national powerhouse capable of not only making but advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament every year. But after Thursday’s semifinals loss to Nebraska, the Panthers’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion for the third consecutive year. Taking on the...
Pitt hopes Kade Bell package comes with Western Carolina playmakers Desmond Reid, Censere Lee
Aware that football may be thicker than blood — at least, when a school is attempting to dig out of a 3-9 hole — Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell was OK with his son, Kade, leaving his staff to coordinate the offense at Pitt. But did he need to try...
Kerwin Bell trusted no one to run his offense other than his son, new Pitt offensive coordinator Kade
Kerwin Bell learned and sharpened his system of offensive football by backing up Dan Marino and Jim Harbaugh in the NFL, coaching under Steve Spurrier and throwing for nearly 20,000 yards as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League. That system didn’t just help him win a national championship as...
Wanna get Pitt volleyball fever? Here are 5 things to know about the fast-paced college sportVideo
Women’s volleyball has become one of the most entertaining sports across the college sports universe. ESPN will televise Thursday’s NCAA Division I semifinals in Tampa, Fla., as Pitt takes on Nebraska at 7 p.m., followed by Texas vs. Wisconsin. The championship match will is set for 3 p.m. Sunday on...
Take 5: New blood Pitt volleyball team set to face blue blood Nebraska in Final Four
For the third straight season, Pitt women’s volleyball will compete for a shot at the national championship. The Panthers (29-4) won the ACC Tournament for the second straight year and ran the table in the Pittsburgh regional of the NCAA Tournament, culminating with a quarterfinals victory over second-seeded Louisville on...
Pitt fills its long snapper vacancy with Nilay Upadhyayula, formerly of UConn
Pitt received its second verbal commitment from the transfer portal Wednesday when former UConn long snapper Nilay Upadhyayula announced on X (formerly Twitter) his plans to enroll next year. Upadhyayula, a native of San Jose, Calif., who attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., follows former Nebraska cornerback Tamon Lynum to...
Pitt wrestling upsets No. 5 Ohio State
The Pitt wrestling team’s sixth victory of the season proved to be a signature win Sunday afternoon, as the Panthers upset No. 5-ranked Ohio State, 21-13. The Panthers (6-1), ranked No. 19 in the nation, picked up six bout victories to secure the win over the Big Ten powerhouse Buckeyes...
Pitt’s Brandon George, Nate Temple change course, plan to return to Panthers’ defense
Pitt received three pieces of good news on the transfer front Sunday when linebacker Brandon George and defensive end Nate Temple pulled their names from the portal and will return to Pitt. Also, Nebraska cornerback Tamon Lynum announced on Instagram that he will enrolling next year. H2P! pic.twitter.com/bofbt5iJyo— Brandon George...
Pitt hires Western Carolina’s Kade Bell, 30, as its next offensive coordinator
Two weeks and one day after the end of the season, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi changed the direction of his offense when he hired 30-year-old Kade Bell, formerly of Western Carolina, as his next offensive coordinator. Pat Narduzzi names rising star Kade Bell as Pitt’s new offensive coordinator ????Bell comes...
Pitt notebook: Jeff Capel finds places in lineup for 4 backups
Jeff Capel reduced playing time for Pitt starters Zack Austin and Federiko Federiko on Saturday night, but four backups took advantage of additional opportunities. All four stepped up in the 82-71 victory against Canisius at Petersen Events Center. • William Jeffress, who brings steady play and defensive diligence to the...
