Capel has Pitt on the rise
While the outcome of the Duke at Pitt men鈥檚 basketball game last Tuesday was never in doubt, several things stood out during the game and then in the post-game press conference.
Pitt is already a much better team than it was a year ago, but it still has a long way to go to become a talked-about program in men鈥檚 basketball once again.
Give first-year head coach Jeff Capel a couple of years to recruit better players, and Pitt will be dancing once again come March Madness.
The talent level difference between the two teams was obvious from the media section, and several NBA scouts were on hand to get a look at Duke鈥檚 stellar freshmen.
After the game, Capel spoke about the talented Blue Devils, with Capel having helped recruit each one of those players to Duke as he was an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski the last seven seasons.
鈥淭hey are an outstanding team and have two really, really, really good players,鈥� he said of Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, who are expected to be the top two picks in the NBA Draft come June. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I feel they are the premiere program in the country, they are well-coached, play hard and a really good team.鈥�
Capel was happy with the turnout for the game and with how into the game the crowd was.
鈥淚t was an amazing environment and I thought we fed off of it early,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ne of the great things was seeing The Pete like that.鈥�
Capel, who played at Duke, is aware that his team has a way to go before it can get to the level of Duke.
鈥淟ook, they are better than us and more talented than us,鈥� he said of Duke. 鈥淲e have a long way to go.
鈥淲e are taking the necessary steps every day鈥nd have to minimize our mistakes.鈥�
Prior to the game, I was able catch up behind the Duke bench with Ed Whited, Pitt鈥檚 Director of Equipment Services, and he shared with me that Jay-Z was in the house.
Seeing Jay-Z moments later backstage gave the game a big event feel, and while some Pitt employees were playing it up that he was there to see Pitt, it was obvious that the legendary rapper wanted Williamson, Barrett and Cam Reddish to see him.
Jay-Z owns Roc Nation 缅北禁地, an agency which represents athletes.
Further proof was offered when Capel was asked about Jay-Z appearing.
Capel explained the process about how Jay-Z鈥檚 people called a few weeks prior to get tickets and then when asked if Jay-Z stopped by the Pitt locker room, Capel answered.
鈥淣o,鈥� he said.
Krzyzewski fielded several questions about Capel and Pitt and was complimentary of his former player and assistant.
鈥淚 love the hell out of him,鈥� Coach K said. 鈥�(Pitt fans) are lucky to have him and he is lucky to be here.
鈥淗e has always been a big Pittsburgh fan and has always loved (the city).
鈥淭his is a great situation for all of you.鈥�
Williamson spoke about going against Capel in the Duke locker room after the game.
鈥淚t was a great experience,鈥� Williamson said. 鈥淗e has brought some of the same characteristics to Pitt that he preached to me when I was coming to Duke.鈥�
Part of my interview with Williamson can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjMLBYTzMoY&fbclid=IwAR0fUbmxz8p1zZ50JIvnbZ3rn4M0pRxQH0986-yRmat9c_I46FO5luRTc44.
Pitt took the 鈥淟鈥� to Duke, but it earned an 鈥淎鈥� for hiring Capel and it will translate into plenty of 鈥淲鈥檚鈥� moving forward.
Crazy Stat of the Week
When the top-ranked Notre Dame women鈥檚 basketball team lost to unranked North Carolina on Sunday, it ended a streak of 198 wins by the top-ranked team, regardless of who it was, against unranked opponents.
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