Oh! I missed this, completely missed it. My Beloved Dribbling "Panthers" beat Louisville Wednesday night in overtime in Pittsburgh. 89-86 was the final. (I didn't miss the previous game, a tough loss against #15 NC State.). It was Pitt's first ACC win after having lost 23 consecutive. The AP write up on the game is instructive:
PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Capel could see it in the faces of his players as the Pittsburgh Panthers surrounded their first-year coach before overtime started on Wednesday night against Louisville. A once seemingly comfortable 13-point lead gone and momentum fully tilted toward the Cardinals, Capel sensed dejection and even worse, doubt.
A chance at ending a long ACC losing streak that the majority of the roster didn't contribute to but nonetheless shouldered slipping away, Capel offered his young team a reminder. Loudly.
"I got on them," Capel said. "I told them we're going to win. Five more minutes."
Because they had blown a big lead, 13 points. Because they hadn't won a conference game in 690 days.
That is good coaching by Jeff Capel. To read his players accurately is good coaching. To read them accurately and then --loudly--snap them out of it, to tell them they were going to WIN is really good coaching. Pitt basketball is going to be alright under Jeff Capel.
PITTSBURGH -- Jeff Capel could see it in the faces of his players as the Pittsburgh Panthers surrounded their first-year coach before overtime started on Wednesday night against Louisville. A once seemingly comfortable 13-point lead gone and momentum fully tilted toward the Cardinals, Capel sensed dejection and even worse, doubt.
A chance at ending a long ACC losing streak that the majority of the roster didn't contribute to but nonetheless shouldered slipping away, Capel offered his young team a reminder. Loudly.
"I got on them," Capel said. "I told them we're going to win. Five more minutes."
Because they had blown a big lead, 13 points. Because they hadn't won a conference game in 690 days.
That is good coaching by Jeff Capel. To read his players accurately is good coaching. To read them accurately and then --loudly--snap them out of it, to tell them they were going to WIN is really good coaching. Pitt basketball is going to be alright under Jeff Capel.
