Clemson completed the season sweep of Pittsburgh on Saturday with a 63-52 win at Littlejohn Coliseum, leaning on a deep, balanced offensive effort that saw nine different Tigers get on the scoreboard. Nick Davidson and Carter Welling led the way with 12 points each, but this was less about individual heroics and more about a team that knows how to execute on both ends.
For Pitt, the loss stings-not just because it drops them to 9-13 overall and 2-7 in ACC play-but because it felt like another step backward in a season that’s already had its fair share of tough moments. That 2-7 start in conference play now ties the worst nine-game ACC stretch under Jeff Capel, matching the 2018-19 squad that limped to a 3-15 finish.
The Panthers’ problems started early and never really let up. The first half was brutal: just six made field goals and six turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
Clemson, the second-best defensive team in the ACC, made life miserable for Pitt’s offense, holding them to their second-lowest scoring output of the season. Only a 49-point showing against West Virginia earlier in the year was worse.
Damarco Minor and Roman Siulepa each chipped in 12 points to lead the Panthers, but no other player reached double digits. Minor did his best to keep Pitt in it from deep, knocking down four threes, but the team as a whole struggled mightily from beyond the arc-just 5-of-26 for the game.
Siulepa’s Streak Snapped
If there’s been a silver lining for Pitt lately, it’s been the emergence of freshman forward Roman Siulepa. He came into Saturday riding a streak of three straight double-doubles and looking like a future centerpiece.
That streak came to an end against Clemson, though not for lack of effort. Siulepa still posted 12 points and eight boards, but foul trouble kept him off the floor for long stretches-just eight minutes in the first half and 26 total.
Even in limited action, you can see the potential. He’s got the tools.
It’s just a matter of staying on the court.
Rock Bottom?
It’s hard to pinpoint a single low point in a season like this, but Saturday might be in the running. Pitt’s 16-point first half was its lowest-scoring half of the season, and that’s saying something given some of the rough starts they’ve had lately.
There was the 17 missed layups against Boston College. The 39-8 deficit against Louisville.
This one? It was right there with the worst of them.
The numbers tell the story: 6-of-28 from the field in the first half, 2-of-18 from three. The Panthers did make a push early in the second half, trimming the deficit to single digits and getting it to 62-52 with around two minutes to play.
But the damage had been done. That early hole was too deep-again.
Capel Keeps Tweaking
Jeff Capel continues to search for the right lineup combinations, but the latest change didn’t yield much. After starting the last three games, leading scorer Brandin Cummings came off the bench, while Omari Witherspoon was reinserted into the starting five following a strong showing on Tuesday.
The results? Mixed at best.
Witherspoon scored eight points but also committed five turnovers in 37 minutes. Cummings, meanwhile, played just 12 minutes and scored two points on 1-of-3 shooting.
It’s clear Capel is trying to spark something, anything, with this group. But so far, the answers haven’t come.
A Glimpse of the Future?
Freshman center Kieran Mullen hasn’t seen much action this season-just 12 games and two made field goals coming into Saturday. But he matched that total in the first half alone, finishing with four points in eight minutes.
The 7-footer also picked up four fouls, which limited his time, but there were flashes. He wasn’t expected to be a contributor this season, but if Pitt is looking for building blocks, Mullen might be one to keep an eye on.
Clemson Curse Continues
Pitt’s struggles against Clemson are starting to feel like a full-blown hex. Saturday’s loss was the 15th straight to the Tigers, with the Panthers’ last win in the series coming all the way back in 2014-their first year in the ACC. Jeff Capel is now 0-11 against Clemson during his tenure, and Pitt remains winless (0-6) at Littlejohn Coliseum.
What’s Next
The road doesn’t get any easier. Pitt heads to Charlottesville on Tuesday night to face No.
17 Virginia in what’s shaping up to be one of the toughest stretches of their schedule. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. on the ACC Network.
The Cavaliers are 17-3 on the year and 6-2 in conference play. Pitt will be chasing its first win over a ranked opponent since February 13, 2024-ironically, that came against these same Cavaliers in a 74-63 road win.
If the Panthers want to turn their season around, they’ll need more than flashes. They’ll need consistency, composure, and a much better start than what we saw in Clemson.