Capel has Pitt on the rise
While the outcome of the Duke at Pitt men无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檚 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无毛视频檚 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.
无毛视频淭hey are an outstanding team and have two really, really, really good players,无毛视频� he said of Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, who are expected to be the top two picks in the NBA Draft come June. 无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 why I feel they are the premiere program in the country, they are well-coached, play hard and a really good team.无毛视频�
Capel was happy with the turnout for the game and with how into the game the crowd was.
无毛视频淚t was an amazing environment and I thought we fed off of it early,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淥ne of the great things was seeing The Pete like that.无毛视频�
Capel, who played at Duke, is aware that his team has a way to go before it can get to the level of Duke.
无毛视频淟ook, they are better than us and more talented than us,无毛视频� he said of Duke. 无毛视频淲e have a long way to go.
无毛视频淲e are taking the necessary steps every day无毛视频nd have to minimize our mistakes.无毛视频�
Prior to the game, I was able catch up behind the Duke bench with Ed Whited, Pitt无毛视频檚 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 无毛视频, 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无毛视频檚 people called a few weeks prior to get tickets and then when asked if Jay-Z stopped by the Pitt locker room, Capel answered.
无毛视频淣o,无毛视频� he said.
Krzyzewski fielded several questions about Capel and Pitt and was complimentary of his former player and assistant.
无毛视频淚 love the hell out of him,无毛视频� Coach K said. 无毛视频�(Pitt fans) are lucky to have him and he is lucky to be here.
无毛视频淗e has always been a big Pittsburgh fan and has always loved (the city).
无毛视频淭his is a great situation for all of you.无毛视频�
Williamson spoke about going against Capel in the Duke locker room after the game.
无毛视频淚t was a great experience,无毛视频� Williamson said. 无毛视频淗e has brought some of the same characteristics to Pitt that he preached to me when I was coming to Duke.无毛视频�
Part of my interview with Williamson can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjMLBYTzMoY&fbclid=IwAR0fUbmxz8p1zZ50JIvnbZ3rn4M0pRxQH0986-yRmat9c_I46FO5luRTc44.
Pitt took the 无毛视频淟无毛视频� to Duke, but it earned an 无毛视频淎无毛视频� for hiring Capel and it will translate into plenty of 无毛视频淲无毛视频檚无毛视频� moving forward.
Crazy Stat of the Week
When the top-ranked Notre Dame women无毛视频檚 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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