Ben Howland Sees Pitt’s Growth Under Capel, Challenge in Mississippi State

Jeff Capel and Ben Howland have some similarities on the subject of their teaching tenure at Pitt, with the most important of these being the state of this system once they took it over.

Prefer it was when Capel took over in 2018, the Pitt program was a whole mess when Ben Howland was employed in 1999, taking up for Ralph Willard. Previous to “Light Ben’s” arrival, the Panthers had registered shedding data in 5 of the earlier six seasons and hadn’t certified for the NCAA Match in six years.

Though Pitt struggled in his first season, going simply 13-15, that might be the top of shedding for the Panthers for a very long time. Beginning in Howland’s second yr, Pitt had a successful report for the subsequent sixteen seasons and the Panthers certified for the NCAA Match in 13 of 16 years, lacking postseason play simply as soon as.

Whereas Jamie Dixon was there for almost all of the glory years for Pitt basketball, it was Howland who obtained the successful began, taking Pitt to the Candy 16 in two of his 4 seasons (2002 and 2003) as head coach.

It’s taken Capel a bit longer to show Pitt round, however his circumstances had been so much worse, with a 24-41 run beneath Kevin Stallings fully sucking the momentum out of this system. That apart, each coaches can be remembered as males who revived Pitt basketball when it was on life help.

Pitt makes its return to NCAA postseason play on Tuesday night time as they tackle Mississippi State within the First 4 in Dayton, Ohio.

The Bulldogs are coached by Chris Jans. Jans is in his first season after taking up for Howland, who was left go final season, following seven seasons as Mississippi State’s head coach.

Monday, Pittsburgh Sports activities Now spoke with Howland, to get his perspective on each Pitt and Mississippi State. Contemplating he’s had the yr off from teaching, the 65-year-old Howland has seen loads of each of those groups each on tv and in individual.

“Initially, Coach Capel did an outstanding job this yr with this crew,” stated Howland. “I obtained the prospect to return watch them follow in September after which that they had our 2003 crew again to honor us, so I noticed the Miami recreation in individual, which was a fantastic recreation. I’ve additionally watched numerous their video games on tv, and he’s performed a masterful job with this group of gamers. They’d the prospect on the final recreation of the common season to have a bit of the common season ACC championship. They performed a fantastic recreation however got here up simply brief.

“I’m simply so excited for the Pitt followers and extra importantly for his or her gamers. Coach Capel has put collectively not solely a great group of basketball gamers but additionally a very good group of youngsters. I’m simply so excited for Pitt basketball and consider that beneath Coach Capel they’ll be actually good for years to return.”

In some circles, it’s simply assumed that it’s simple to navigate the switch portal to herald expertise however that’s clearly not the case. Having expertise is one factor however that doesn’t at all times assure success. Howland praised Capel for not solely evaluating good expertise but additionally for bringing in good individuals, which could be virtually as essential.

“He and his workers did an amazing job recruiting the switch portal, which is so tough to do,” stated Howland. “The factor I actually like about it’s that Pitt has actually, actually good children. The gamers Pitt introduced in are excessive character, who’re fantastic younger males. [Jamarius] Burton simply had an outstanding yr for them, and he was actually, actually a fantastic chief. I like their children. I assumed that they had toughness, togetherness, unselfishness, performed the correct means and I’m actually fired up for them.”

With all that being stated, Howland is aware of that taking part in effectively within the common season is one factor, however making an attempt to win within the NCAA Match is one thing solely completely different. Tuesday night time can be tough for Pitt, not solely due to the spot that comes with March Insanity but additionally as a result of Mississippi State is a proficient crew and one he’s very acquainted with.

“They’ve a troublesome opponent in Mississippi State,” Howland stated. “Tolu Smith is a very good heart that they should matchup with. Shak Moore, Cam Matthews are actually good, robust, undersized gamers. DJ Jeffries is an efficient participant. Mississippi State has a great crew.”

I requested Howland to place his teaching and analyst hat on to provide us his keys to the sport for Pitt.

“Mississippi State could be very bodily, very effectively coached, play nice protection and can attempt to have the sport at a tempo during which, such as you stated, one thing within the 60’s. It’s going to be a grind it out, hand at hand fight affair,” Howland stated with fun. “Pitt goes to wish to make their open pictures once they get them. Pitt does an excellent job offensively and are very unselfish as a crew. In my view, the most important key for Pitt is to attempt to beat them on the boards, as a result of Mississippi State is an excellent rebounding crew. Mississippi State can be crashing the offensive glass they usually block out very well defensively and work actually exhausting to maintain you off the glass.

“Limiting turnovers, Pitt attending to the foul line and rebounding the basketball can be large keys for Pitt.”

The primary time that Howland took Pitt to the NCAA Match, they had been a No. 3 seed and beat Central Connecticut St, 71-54, in a recreation that came about at Mellon Enviornment in Pittsburgh. The 2023 Panthers gained’t be taking part in at house however can be in close by Dayton, Ohio. This Pitt crew will little doubt be excited, however Howland doesn’t consider they’ll be too amped as much as play.

“These children have been by way of so much already this season,” Howland stated. “They’ve been in large video games, performed in a recreation for the convention championship. They’ve a veteran group and have large management. The primary factor for them can be to go on the market and simply attempt to do what you’ve been doing. Play as exhausting as you possibly can and understand that it’s win or go house. They should attempt to be at their greatest from the opening tip and prepare for a struggle as a result of I can inform you that it is going to be a struggle. Mississippi State can be very bodily and it’s going to be a really enjoyable recreation for me to look at.”