Welcome to the Pitt mailbag, where the Post-Gazette reporters Noah Hiles and Chris Carter answer all of your questions about the Panthers. If you have a question, tweet them at @_Noahhiles and @Cartercritiques or email them at nhiles@post-gazette.com and ccarter@post-gazette.com. Noah and Chris will answer your questions in full length each Tuesday on YouTube. You can read the condensed version of the discussion below.
Russ: Was Pitt's loss to Florida State its worst of the season? Does it take them out of tourney?
Hiles: It’s without question Pitt’s worst loss of the year. I’d argue that Vanderbilt is the worst basketball team Pitt lost to this year, but at least that was on the road and a non-conference game in December. This loss to Florida State has the potential to be the start of a free fall. Pitt has a really challenging three-game stretch ahead, and though it is still viewed by many as a tournament team at the moment, it now has to make up for the embarrassment of a Quad 4 loss on its home court. Games like Wednesday’s contest against Wake Forest are “must-win” in my eyes. Pitt has less wiggle room when playing other teams on the bubble now because of this ugly loss.
Carter: I don’t think it takes them completely out of the tournament just yet, but it gives a warning sign to a lot of people who were hesitant to believe that Pitt basketball was truly back. Pitt still has a lot to prove, and a loss like this doesn’t help at all. Jeff Capel said after the game that Florida State is much better than its record, and I agree with him. But this was still a game Pitt needed to win. Their road to the tournament has become more difficult because of this loss. Every game down the road is a little more important.
Tony: If Pitt doesn't make the NCAA tournament this year, is this season considered a failure considering the position they were once in?
Hiles: First things first, Pitt was never a lock to make the tournament, so I don’t think we can consider the Panthers missing the dance any sort of failure. Any postseason invite at the start of the year would’ve been deemed a success. The best I’ve seen Pitt projected was as an 8-seed, which means it was always on the bubble. Unless the Panthers lose out and have a total collapse similar to what we saw in 2020-21, I think this year can’t really be called a “failure.” Now, will it be disappointing if we get to Selection Sunday and the Panthers are no longer even in the tournament conversation? Absolutely. However, I think barring a total meltdown, Pitt at worst will be in the NIT this March, which in my eyes is a tremendous step forward for a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2016.
Carter: It’s not a failure, but it is a missed opportunity. Pitt was in a spot where if it took care of business, it could enter the start of March with little to the committee. Now, it will have to fight a little harder to get back in that position. Like Noah said, the only way this season becomes a “failure” is if Pitt somehow finishes with a losing record — I think that would lead to another wave of current players and recruits leaving, which would be a really tough blow to the program. However, a lot needs to happen in order for things to reach that type of low. I still think this is a good team. It might not end up in the tournament, but it will still likely finish with a winning record and receive some sort of postseason opportunity, which is a step in the right direction.
Victor: What would you say are the chances both John Hugley and Dior Johnson are on the roster and playing for Pitt in games next season?
Hiles: I think Hugley will definitely be back. He’s a guy that, from what I noticed, really appreciates the support Capel and his teammates have shown him throughout all his ups and downs since arriving on campus. I think he’s comfortable at Pitt and believes that if he is going to figure things out anywhere, it will be in Oakland. As far as Dior goes ... I can’t begin to even guess what will happen with him. As many know, Johnson was enrolled at 10 different high schools throughout his prep career. Sticking around isn’t something he’s known to do. However, maybe Capel going to bat for him will change things. Dior is still an incredibly talented player. Even with his criminal record, I can assure you other teams will be glad to have him on the roster. Like Hugley, he seems happy at Pitt right now. He’s on the bench every home game rooting on his teammates, but who knows if that happiness will continue all the way into next year. I’ll take an optimistic look at things and say it’s 50-50, but that’s a total guess.
Carter: I would say it’s a little less than 50%. Hugley is a guy I would be shocked to see leave. Other teams would definitely love to have him, but I think Pitt is the place he’d have the biggest role. I think Hugley is grateful for how Capel has continued to stick by him and I also think he views Pitt as his home. I just don’t have a read on the Dior Johnson situation. He’s never had a media availability. We never really got to know him, or even talk to him before the incident took place.
Tom: Any whispers of Gavin Bartholomew transferring? With how little he was used this past year another transfer a la Jordan Addison could happen.
Hiles: Our first Gavin Bartholomew question of 2023! I haven’t heard anything about Gavin since the football season came to an end. I know he seemed excited about Phil Jurkovec’s transfer, and it’s probably because he knows that Pitt now has a quarterback who understands Frank Cignetti Jr.’s offense. The reason Gavin didn’t get the ball thrown to him last fall wasn’t play calling or scheme — it was because the quarterback wasn’t comfortable running the offense. There were times Kedon Slovis simply didn’t know where to look. I think having a quarterback who understands the offense will get Gavin more targets, thus making him a bigger part of the passing game. So, with that all being said, I think he is here to stay. But, as always, I could be wrong!
Carter: I haven’t heard anything, either. I’d like to think that Pitt will find a way to get Gavin more targets in 2023. Cignetti’s offense is normally great for tight ends — it helped Dorin Dickerson become an All-American and earn an opportunity at the next level, and that’s just one example. Jurkovec understands Cignetti’s offense better than pretty much anyone at the college level, which should excite Bartholomew. With Jared Wayne gone, Pitt needs a new primary pass catcher, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Gavin become that guy. The transfer portal is crazy to predict. It would make sense if bigger programs had their eye on Gavin, but for now, we haven’t heard any whispers of that being the case. He seems happy at Pitt.
Adam: With Daejon Reynolds committing to Pitt last week, is it fair to say the Panthers are figuring out a way to successfully improve their program through the transfer portal?
Hiles: I think that’s a very fair thing to say. Last year, Pitt used the portal to address its two biggest areas of need — linebacker and quarterback. Shayne Simon and Tylar Wiltz ended up being great finds, and while Slovis didn’t work out, at the time he was one of the top quarterbacks available and was considered a huge get. This offseason, Pitt not only made its team better for 2023, but for numerous years ahead. They rebuilt the quarterback room, added a starting receiver, found one, if not two — depending on where they play Derrick Davis Jr. — quality safeties. Pitt brought in four former four-star recruits with college experience at notable programs. That is a major win in my eyes.
Carter: Pitt has been very successful through the transfer portal so far this offseason. They’ve added numerous guys on both sides of the ball who will come in and provide an immediate impact. Perhaps more importantly, we haven’t seen a ton of key players leave through the portal — although, as we know, that could change at any time. Pat Narduzzi has said many times that he wants Pitt to be a program that builds through high school recruiting, but this offseason shows he and his staff are really figuring out how to get the most out of the portal, as well.
Thank you all for following along! Be sure to send questions on twitter to @_Noahhiles and @Cartercritiques or email them at nhiles@post-gazette.com and ccarter@post-gazette.com. And subscribe to our FREE daily all-sports newsletter, PG Sports Feed.
First Published: January 24, 2023, 2:18 p.m.