1. Capel needs to recruit guys in the range of what Jamie Dixon did. I can't believe I am saying this, but we aren't established at all, especially in the ACC. We need some on the court success. Losing big time recruits (2nd choice or 3rd doesnt matter) is WORSE than not recruiting them at all I hate to say. You tie up all your time and efforts on guys who ultimately aren't coming. Meanwhile, guys you might be able to get go elsewhere. So Jeff really needs to recalibrate his recruiting.
2. An Assistant has to go. I am sorry. It is not vindictiveness saying this. It is results. A new message, a new recruiting area, a new personality and perhaps some actual good old fashion X and O recruiting. I am not that much of an advocate of the Administration being involved with coaching decisions, but the time has come for the AD to force Capel to make a staff change or two.
a) Again, the results aren't there. We had all kinds of embarrassing issues with players this past season, some with the law, some just internally, but still they led to player departures, fights, thin depth charts, and general program embarrassment.
b) Despite all the departures, and uncertainty with two potential starters (Champ and Hugely) if they will be back, it is April 15th Pitt has one recruit, zero transfers. Capel is fairly well compensated. His seat should be really hot, so he should understand the need to change it up.
c) Another season ending collapse where the team falls into a black hole. It was a crazy season with COVID, but eventually (next season) there will be games to play, and people will be allowed back into the Pete. Having more ambivalence surrounding the program and a lousy atmosphere doesn't help.
3. He has to make a post season tourney next year. The bad thing about Pittsburgh, it is about the single worst metro area for basketball. Not just talent, but fans, knowledge, media that doesn't care. The Pirates may get ripped on, but when you aren't even an afterthought, then there is a problem. The positive, there isn't an NBA team here and no other college team on Pitt's level. So...we all we got. We have seen this city and the Pete just come alive when Pitt was good. You can recruit to that. I don't think Jamie took advantage of that, but I do think Capel can. But we aren't there.
4. So back to 1. Get some solid players, stop wasting time on these 5 stars and high 4 stars, unless maybe they are local, and just recruit the Champ's, the guys that used to come here. Tough kids with chips on their shoulders, eager to prove themselves. But regardless, you got to win, so you have to coach them up.
2. An Assistant has to go. I am sorry. It is not vindictiveness saying this. It is results. A new message, a new recruiting area, a new personality and perhaps some actual good old fashion X and O recruiting. I am not that much of an advocate of the Administration being involved with coaching decisions, but the time has come for the AD to force Capel to make a staff change or two.
a) Again, the results aren't there. We had all kinds of embarrassing issues with players this past season, some with the law, some just internally, but still they led to player departures, fights, thin depth charts, and general program embarrassment.
b) Despite all the departures, and uncertainty with two potential starters (Champ and Hugely) if they will be back, it is April 15th Pitt has one recruit, zero transfers. Capel is fairly well compensated. His seat should be really hot, so he should understand the need to change it up.
c) Another season ending collapse where the team falls into a black hole. It was a crazy season with COVID, but eventually (next season) there will be games to play, and people will be allowed back into the Pete. Having more ambivalence surrounding the program and a lousy atmosphere doesn't help.
3. He has to make a post season tourney next year. The bad thing about Pittsburgh, it is about the single worst metro area for basketball. Not just talent, but fans, knowledge, media that doesn't care. The Pirates may get ripped on, but when you aren't even an afterthought, then there is a problem. The positive, there isn't an NBA team here and no other college team on Pitt's level. So...we all we got. We have seen this city and the Pete just come alive when Pitt was good. You can recruit to that. I don't think Jamie took advantage of that, but I do think Capel can. But we aren't there.
4. So back to 1. Get some solid players, stop wasting time on these 5 stars and high 4 stars, unless maybe they are local, and just recruit the Champ's, the guys that used to come here. Tough kids with chips on their shoulders, eager to prove themselves. But regardless, you got to win, so you have to coach them up.
