For Jeff Capel, disappointment lingers as Pitt enters final stretch of regular season

Judging by Pitt coach Jeff Capel’s tone and demeanor when revisiting Saturday’s loss at Notre Dame, it could be deduced that some disappointment from the defeat lingers.

Against the struggling Fighting Irish, the Panthers were porous defensively, allowing Notre Dame to shoot 56.3% from the floor in the 76-72 decision. That was the second-highest clip an opponent has managed this year after Mississippi State shot 57.8% on Dec. 4 in its 90-57 shellacking of Pitt.

Was there anything specifically that plagued the Panthers defense over the weekend?

“Guarding the basketball, getting beat on straight-line drives and not being connected with our ball screen defense,” Capel said during Monday’s ACC coaches conference call.

Upon going over the game film, were there aspects of the Panthers’ performance that were particularly disappointing?

“Yeah, just the way we defended the whole game and then our first-half turnovers,” Capel offered.

Zooming out from the shortcomings of just one game, Capel has plenty of reasons to be disappointed in a season that has gone from promising to all but irrevocably lost, at least where the NCAA Tournament is concerned.

Barring an undefeated finish to the regular season and the Panthers (16-11, 7-9 ACC) doing some serious damage in — if not winning — the upcoming league tournament, March Madness hopes for Pitt have all but evaporated.

Yet, there are still four games to be played, beginning with Georgia Tech on Tuesday at Petersen Events Center.

As Pitt prepares to enter the final stretch of the season, Capel continues to stress needed areas of improvement on both sides of the ball.

“We have to defend at a high level,” Capel said. “We have to be connected on that end. The basic fundamental things defensively: guard the basketball, can’t get driven on a straight line, help early, talk, communicate, ball screen defense and then rebound. Those things. Offensively, just generate good looks, share the basketball and play with great pace.”

At a glance, Georgia Tech (13-14, 7-9) looks to be far from an elite opponent, yet, in fairness, the Yellow Jackets and Panthers have identical ACC records.

Georgia Tech is 12th in points per game (73.8), 13th in points allowed (73.3), 13th in field goal percentage (44.2%) and ninth in 3-point make rate (34.1%).

The most glaring failure of the Yellow Jackets this season has been on the glass, as they have been bullied for an ACC-worst average of 36.3 rebounds per game.

All that said, Pitt will be in no position to overlook their opponent, which features a dynamic point guard in sophomore Naithan George plus sophomore big man Baye Ndongo, who ranks fourth in the ACC with 8.5 boards per game.

“George has been very, very impressive,” Capel said. “Him handling the ball, making decisions and doing it pretty efficiently, if you look at his numbers, especially shooting the 3. Obviously, Ndongo, with his size, athleticism and presence on the boards. He’s improved offensively with being able to drive it from the perimeter.

“I’ve been impressed with how they attack. George is the guy that kind of stirs everything for them, and he does a great job of getting everyone involved.”

Georgia Tech arrives at Petersen Events Center having won four of its past six games. The Panthers have dropped four of their past six and are 4-9 over their last 13.

Through all the ongoing frustration, Capel continued to defend his team’s intentions and effort.

“I don’t want my comments to be misconstrued that guys aren’t doing things,” Capel said. “Guys have really good attitudes, they show up (and) they work.”