Reliable defense takes root
has a strong and reliable defense.
This season, the Panthers have held all but one of their eight opponents to under 40 percent shooting, and the one to surpass that mark, Nicholls State, barely did so, shooting just 41.5 percent. In the past four games, they’ve been especially stingy, limiting that quartet of opponents to a collective mark of just 0.8 points per possession (plugging in the average pace of a Pitt game this season, 65 possessions, that translates to only 52 points per game).
In their two games in Florida, both of which came against major-conference foes in Kansas State and Northwestern, they gave up only 118 points in 136 possessions while giving up a fieldgoal percentage of .382. They’re the kind of defensive performances that have helped spur a four-game win streak that could be described as, among other things, quite sexy.
“We’ve been able to protect our basket in different ways,” Capel said. “Sometimes, it’s blocked shots. That’s more Terrell [Brown] and Justin [Champagnie]. Sometimes, it’s charges. That’s more Xavier [Johnson], and Eric does a great job of doing that for us. That’s the one thing we want to try to hang our hat on is our defense.”
About one-quarter of the way through the regular season, Pitt is 61st among 353 Division I teams in adjusted defensive efficiency, which measures points allowed per 100 possessions while taking into account the quality of competition. Right now, that figure is 92.9 for Pitt. At the end of last season, it was 98.5.
Part of that has undeniably has to do with its schedule. Of Pitt’s first eight opponents, only two, Florida State and West Virginia, rank among the top 150 teams in adjusted offensive efficiency. To be fair, the Panthers held those squads to an even 129 points in 129 possessions. But their past two games came against teams that, despite their conference pedigrees, are 191st and 168th in offensive efficiency.
Right now, that defense is one of the biggest reasons Pitt is 6-2, with half of those victories coming against Power Five conference teams.
In the two games in Fort Myers, the Panthers’ offense was lifted by a handful of brilliant runs that lasted a few minutes each, but those outbursts were sandwiched by extended stretches of ineffectiveness. The win against Kansas State saw them finish with 21 turnovers to just two assists. Entering the final seven minutes of the win against Northwestern, when it was remarkably up by seven points, Pitt was three of 35 from 3-point range for the tournament.
The Panthers’ offense still is far from perfect. But, while they work through problems on that end, they’re able to remain competitive, even victorious, because of what has transpired on the other.
“There was a lot of talking, a lot of switching,” Johnson said of Pitt’s defense against Northwestern, even on a night in which his primary defensive assignment, guard Pat Spencer, scored 18 points. “Everybody was locked in.”
What occurred last season and what has so far happened this season lines up with how Capel’s teams have fared statistically in his career. In his 10 full seasons as a head coach, four of his teams have finished in the top 50 of adjusted defensive efficiency, compared to only one of his offenses.
Following his team’s loss Wednesday, Northwestern coach Chris Collins praised Pitt for the way it took the Wildcats out of their preferred offensive rhythm and approach, forcing them to attack the Panthers with dribble penetration. It’s wasn’t especially surprising. A good friend of Capel’s, Collins could see the imprint of his former college teammate’s hands.
“His team plays incredibly hard,” Collins said. “They’re very passionate. He’s a passionate coach. He was a passionate player. He was a terrific defensive leader. They’re physical. To me, they carry his personality. It’s the greatest compliment, if your team plays with the coach’s personality. I think his guys do.”