Pitt’s Jeff Capel was named ACC Coach of the Year yesterday in a vote of his peers. Capel has guided the Panthers to a 21-10 record, 14-6 in the conference, a year after Pitt was just 11-21.
It was a day of honors for the Panthers. Guard Jamarius Burton was named first-team All-ACC, Blake Hinson was named second-team All-ACC, and guard Nike Sibande was named ACC Sixth Man of the Year.
Capel was grateful for the honors, but he is focused on the ACC tournament, which begins today. Pitt will play tomorrow afternoon against the winner of today’s game between Florida State and Georgia Tech. Capel says whoever the opponent is, the Panthers realize they have to play better than they have recently.
Capel says tournament time is very different from the regular season, and it starts with the players keeping their composure.
With losses in their final two games of the regular season, Pitt dropped out of the Top 25 in the final college basketball coaches poll of the regular season. Houston, UCLA, Purdue, Kansas, and Alabama make up the top five.
Tomorrow’s Pitt game will air on WCCS beginning with the pregame at two o’clock, with tipoff scheduled at 2:30.
Two teams clinched automatic berths in the NCAA Tournament with wins last night. Louisiana beat South Alabama, 71-66 to win the Sun Belt Conference tournament championship.
Furman beat Chattanooga, 88-79 to win the Southern Conference Tournament and clinch its first March Madness tournament appearance since 1980.
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