The Panther-Lair Podcast

The decision has been made: Jeff Capel is coming back for another season. Now that it's done, we're looking forward. What's next for the Pitt basketball program? What does the staff need to focus on this offseason? What players do they need to retain and what should they target in the transfer portal? All that and more on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

What does Pat Narduzzi's coaching tree look like? How much of Pitt's basketball roster can be salvaged? Do the Panthers have more four-star recruits than usual? And who was the best center of the Jeff Capel era at Pitt? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

With yesterday's 98-88 loss to N.C. State in the second round of the ACC Tournament, Pitt's 2025-26 season is over - and that means even more questions for the Panthers, as Athletic Director Allen Greene must now make a decision about the future of the program. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the game, the season, Jeff Capel and a lot more.

Don't put this season in a casket just yet, as Pitt used a tremendous defensive performance and a buzzer-beating put-back to beat Stanford 64-63 in the opening round of the ACC Tournament yesterday. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the standout performances in that game, what happens next and a lot more.

It's the postseason, and we're getting ready for Pitt's opening-round game in the ACC Tournament by looking at some keys to the rematch with Stanford and more. Plus, we've got some other things you should know about Pitt sports with the spring season underway.

Pitt came back from Syracuse on Saturday with a win - and a lifeline of at least one more game this season. Now the Panthers are headed to Charlotte as the No. 15 seed in the ACC Tournament, where they'll face Stanford on Tuesday at 2 pm. Today, we're talking about the win over the Orange, some standout players and more.

Eli Holstein didn't improve in his second year as Pitt's starting quarterback; what makes us confident that Mason Heintschel will? In this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, we're answering that question and more, ranging from the potential returning hoops roster, WPIAL recruiting, basketball GMs and a lot more.

Spring camp is underway for the Pitt football team, who held its first two practices of camp on Monday and Wednesday of this week. We've been in the South Side for both sessions, and today, we're looking at some of the storylines that have stood out the most so far.

"I truly believe through the portal that we've got a better football team right now than we had last year." That's what Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said during his first press conference of spring camp on Monday, so for today's Morning Pitt, we're asking a simple question: Is he right? Let's take a look at the Panthers' 2026 roster and compare it to last year.

After Pitt's first practice of spring camp on Monday, Pat Narduzzi held his first press conference of spring camp and talked about transfers, the offense, the receivers, the linebackers and a lot more. Here are five things that stood out in Narduzzi's first press conference of the spring.

It's the start of a new week, and we're kicking things off with a look at Pitt's win at Cal on Saturday and getting ready for spring camp, which opens today in the South Side. All that and more on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

As the Pitt basketball season approaches its final week, we're asking the question again: What is going to happen with Jeff Capel? The Panthers' head coach is coming to the end of his eighth season and his team has lost more than it has won. Will Pitt move on from Capel? Should Pitt move on from Capel? We're looking at those questions and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Yesterday, we talked about the five most important transfers for Pitt this spring. Today we're shifting our focus to the returning players. Which five returning Panthers are most important for the team in 2026? Which players need to take a big step into more prominent roles and starting jobs? We're looking at the most important returning players on the Thursday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Pitt starts spring camp next week, and we're kicking off our coverage with a look at the newest Panthers. 16 transfers are joining the team for spring camp; which ones will be the most important? On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the five most important transfers - how they'll fit on the 2026 roster, what Pitt needs from them and a lot more.

We've got a special guest on today's Morning Pitt: it's Pitt volleyball associate head coach and general manager Kellen Petrone. A member of the Pitt volleyball staff throughout the Panthers' historic run of appearances in the national semifinals, Petrone joins us to talk about how Pitt has navigated the transfer portal, the additions to and departures from last year's roster, Olivia Babcock's growth and a lot more. This is a great listen for any fan of Pitt volleyball - and Pitt sports in general - on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

The Pitt basketball team broke its losing streak with a win over Notre Dame on Saturday, and on today's edition of the Morning Pitt, we're talking about a few individual players who have been playing well, what the Panthers need to have happen if they're going to make the ACC Tournament and a lot more.

Pitt had the second-highest scoring average in the ACC last season. Can the Panthers finish there again? We're answering that plus questions about the Acrisure re-sizing, attendance, Brandin Cummings and a lot more in this week's edition of the Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Pitt's incoming recruiting class features four prospects at receiver. Could it be the best class of receivers the Panthers have signed since Pat Narduzzi became head coach in 2015? It just might be. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the class, the historical comparisons and a lot more.

We've got some positive things to discuss about Pitt football today, as we're looking at the five most important players the Panthers retained this offseason. No. 1 is probably obvious, but who else were the key retentions for Pitt? All that and more on the Wednesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

The week of positivity continues on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt, as we've got five (or so) good things happening at Pitt right now. From the lacrosse team making history to some positive recruiting developments, things are upbeat in a lot of areas, and we're looking at a few on the Morning Pitt.

The week of positivity on the Morning Pitt is getting started today with a look at some of the best players Pitt has added over the last five years. Who have been the Panthers' scores from transfer portal since 2021? We're breaking down the top five and a few honorable mentions on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Would this year's Pitt basketball team beat the Kevin Stallings-led team that went 0-18 in the ACC? We're answering that question and a lot more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

We're talking basketball again on today's Morning Pitt after the Pitt mens basketball team took a 16-point loss to Duke that maybe didn't feel quite as bad as it was (which is a problem in and of itself). Plus, the Pitt womens basketball team has a major problem on its hands. We're discussing that and more on the Thursday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Pitt's transfer portal class isn't very highly-regarded, but is that a product of not adding any big-name transfers? It might be, so today we're looking back at the transfers who have joined the Panthers over the last five years: who have been the most high-profile additions and how have they done? All that and more on the Wednesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Pitt's got a game tonight - the Panthers host No. 4 Duke at the Petersen Events Center for a 9 pm tipoff - so we're talking some basketball on today's Morning Pitt. Why have the last few losses been especially discouraging? We're talking about that and more on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Larry Fitzgerald was an obvious first-ballot Hall of Fame selection, giving Pitt 11 former players enshrined. But which former Panther had the greatest NFL career? We're looking at some of the top candidates - and making a pick - on today's Morning Pitt.

What will it take for Pitt to finish with a better record than 7-5? What song should play at the start of the fourth quarter? Which players will make the biggest jump? And how will the new seating plan work for big games? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Now that Pitt defensive coordinator Cory Sanders has been on the job for a month - after spending the last eight years coaching the Panthers safeties - let's about his priorities. What are the most important things he needs to do as defensive coordinator? We're got some thoughts after speaking with Sanders on Wednesday.

Thanks to graduation, the NFL and the transfer portal, Pitt lost some key contributors from the 2025 roster this season. We've talked about a number of these departures individually, but let's rank them: where did the Panthers lose the most this offseason? We're ranking the top five position groups that were hit the hardest on today's Morning Pitt.

As Pitt gets ready for a tough matchup at Virginia, we are asking a few questions on today's Morning Pitt: How did the Panthers end up like this? Why are they so inconsistent and why do they struggle so much on offense? Answers - or attempts to answer - those questions and more on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

It's not easy doing a daily podcast about Pitt basketball these days after the Panthers fell to 9-13 overall and 2-7 in the ACC with Saturday's 11-point loss at Clemson. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about some of Pitt's biggest issues - and why it's so hard to talk about a team that loses like these Panthers do.

How has Allen Greene done in 15 months as Pitt's Athletic Director? Which first and second-year receivers could break out? Who will be the most impactful transfer? How would we fix NIL? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

There was some big news on Wednesday, as Pitt announced a new ticket strategy that eliminates two giant sections from the available inventory. What does that mean for the crowd this season? Why is Pitt doing it? And will it improve the atmosphere at Acrisure Stadium? We've got thoughts on that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt broke a three-game losing streak when it beat Wake Forest in overtime at the Petersen Events Center on Tuesday night. It was just one game, but what can we take from it? Were there encouraging signs? Are there things to look forward to with these Panthers? We're talking about the game, the players and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt's 2026 football schedule has been released, and we've got a lot to discuss after the Panthers got three weeknight games, a slate that is front-loaded with home games and potentially a very interesting finale. All that and more on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Jeff Capel had some pointed comments about the Pitt fanbase in the wake of the Panthers' 81-72 loss to N.C. State at the Petersen Events Center on Saturday. Was the Pitt head coach right? On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at his comments, what he meant, why he said it and more.

We've got some great questions in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, ranging from assessments of the Pitt's haul in the transfer portal to the reasons that players transfer. Plus this: What are the best wins and the worst losses of the Jeff Capel era?

If Pitt is going to improve in 2026, that improvement won't just come from the transfer portal. The Panthers are going to have to get better by having their returning players improve as well. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at some of the players whose improvement will be most important to the team's success.

Pitt's transfer portal class is apparently finished, as the Panthers announced 16 scholarship additions on Tuesday. How did Pitt do in the portal? Let's go player-by-player and position-by-position and take a closer look at who the Panthers landed and how they fit.

Can Pitt build a playoff-caliber team in the current world of college football? We think it can be done - as long as the coaches follow a specific plan and execute it. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about what it would take.

On Saturday night, Pitt lost to Louisville by 41 points - the Panthers' biggest margin of defeat since Jeff Capel became head coach in 2018. How is that kind of thing happening in Capel's eighth year running the program? We're trying to answer that question and more on today's Morning Pitt.

What does the future hold for Jeff Capel at Pitt? How has the football team done in the portal so far? Did the Panthers retain enough players this offseason? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Pitt's situation at wide receiver for the 2026 season is still a question mark after the Panthers lost a ton of production at the position to graduation and the transfer portal. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at what Pitt added at receiver, whether it's enough and how the Panthers can get the production they need in the passing game.

The Pitt basketball team will look to get its first ACC win tonight at Georgia Tech. What has been plaguing the Panthers so far this season? Why have they been struggling? And where do they need to improve? We're breaking it all down on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt has gotten 14 commitments from the transfer portal so far, but the coaching staff is still working to bring in more. What do the Panthers need from the portal to finish the 2026 roster? We're looking at the biggest needs and more on the Morning Pitt.

This past weekend was another successful one for Pitt, as the Panthers landed more than a half-dozen commitments from the transfer portal to help reinforce the 2026 roster. On the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt, we're looking at who committed to Pitt, how they'll fit with the roster and a lot more.

There's no surprise here: this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag is all about the transfer portal. From enrollment dates to resource problems and more, we've got a lot of questions about the transfer portal in today's Mailbag.

Another day, another Morning Pitt full of transfer portal topics. Kenny Johnson has a new home. Pitt has a new receiver. The Panthers lost a kicker. And two more players announced their returns to Pitt for the 2026 season. All that and more on the Thursday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Pitt lost a top defensive lineman on Tuesday, as sophomore tackle Francis Brewu entered the transfer portal. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about the impact of Brewu's departure. Plus: two more Pitt players announced they'll be returning to the Panthers. All that and more on the Morning Pitt.

Two Pitt players left the transfer portal on Monday - one going to a school in the SEC and one going back to the Panthers. What happened there? Plus, three more coaches have been added to Pitt's staff. Who was hired and how do they fit? All that and more on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Sunday brought some news for Pitt, as the Panthers landed their first transfer portal addition. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about what Netinho Olivieri brings to Pitt's offensive line and what's next for the Panthers. Plus: Pitt reportedly hired a special teams coordinator, and we've got thoughts on that, too.