PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Struggling in the second half of the season not only with losses on the court, but losses on the roster. Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said Wednesday, she has ‘great confidence’ in men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel.
“There is no question he took over a tough situation,” Lyke said. “We were 0-18 in the ACC my first year here. That’s not to say it can’t be done. We also had a women’s soccer program that had never won an ACC game when Coach Waldrum got here. We had 11 wins this year.”
Capel finished 14-19 in his first season, then 16-17 and 10-12 overall.
“It takes time,” Lyke said. “You got to build it the right way. Basketball is a challenging environment. There is no question we are going to do things right under Coach Capel’s leadership. Sometimes these things take time.”
Taking time in a world where fans are less and less patient can be a tough ask. It appeared the talent was there for the 2020-21 season, then back-to-back wins against Syracuse followed by a win over Duke. Excitement followed, which led to higher expectations.
Then a disappointing loss to Wake Forest started a slide with one win in their next 11 games. There were roster losses that followed. Three-year starting point guard Xavier Johnson and second leading rebounder and top defender Au’Diese Toney to the transfer portal. Followed, after the season, by starting forward Abdoul-Karim Coulibaly.
Lyke calls the transfer portal ‘a challenge’ for all coaches. Saying she just came from ACC Spring meetings with all of the basketball coaches there saying they are not excited about the state of the game.
“I think it’s going to be challenging,” Lyke said. “The culture that you think when things aren’t perfect, when things don’t go well that you can easily leave. I’m not sure that’s teaching all the right things for young people.”
She said it really affects coaches like Capel who is a relationship builder. To not have the proper opportunity to develop a player through good and bad times.
Coronavirus also played a role to the overall program development. Lyke pointing out Capel couldn’t meet face-to-face with recruits or bring them to campus. The Pitt AD believes getting back to some recruiting normalcy may be the team’s biggest off-season assist.
“My expectation and what I think that Jeff will do this upcoming year is to build even better relationships with the team that he has,” Lyke said. “I don’t think COVID helped. I don’t think it’s an excuse. But I think the reality of everybody doing their own thing. Not being able to get together.”
“This generation is a little bit focused on individuals. It’s not as much of a team environment as generations ago. I know he is excited about the core group of guys coming back and their belief in Pitt and in Pitt basketball.”
She thinks they currently have 10 players who have a team attitude and after dealing with chemistry issues. Capel finally has the right mix. Plus they have three more scholarships to give and are actively recruiting.
“There is no doubt that I am confident that he can prepare this team,” Lyke said. “He can prepare our kids. He can develop our student-athletes. He has a great staff along side him.”
Like believes the recent loss of Justin Champagnie to the NBA Draft is not a hit on the program, rather it is a positive story that shows the hard work and development of players and coaches within Pitt basketball.
Lyke said Wednesday ‘we are going to get through this’.
Pitt volleyball climbed from the depths to the Elite 8. Men’s soccer from doormat to Final Four. Can Pitt basketball follow that trend?
How many are willing to wait?