The Pitt Panthers suffered a tough loss against Virginia at home, with the Cavaliers dominating the game with a 73-57 victory. Coach Jeff Capel expressed disappointment in his team’s performance, calling it one of the worst he has ever coached. Virginia guard Dai Dai Ames led the charge with 27 points, as Pitt struggled to find an answer throughout the game.
The Panthers, now 14-8 overall and 5-6 in ACC play, have seen their NCAA Tournament hopes dwindle after losing six of their past eight games. Capel emphasized the lack of passion, toughness, and connectivity from his team, pointing out weaknesses in turnovers, rebounding, and defense.
Leading Pitt in scoring was Ishmael Leggett with 17 points, but the team as a whole struggled to find consistency. Guard Jaland Lowe continued to struggle, scoring a season-low seven points. The Panthers now face an uphill battle to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, needing to win out and make a deep run in the conference tournament.
The loss to Virginia may have dealt a significant blow to Pitt’s postseason aspirations. The team will look to bounce back as they travel to face North Carolina on Saturday. Follow Amanda Filipcic-Godsey for more updates on Pittsburgh sports.
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