The Pitt Panthers are searching for answers after another tough afternoon at the Petersen Events Center. Saturday’s 86-67 loss to SMU dropped them to 9-15 on the season, and while the final score tells part of the story, the second half collapse painted a clearer picture of a team still trying to find consistency on both ends of the floor.
First Half Fight, Second Half Fade
Pitt came out with energy and purpose early. They even held a six-point lead in the first half, thanks in part to solid defensive execution.
The Panthers were getting back in transition, holding their own in one-on-one matchups, and cleaning up the glass. SMU missed some shots, and Pitt made sure they didn’t get second chances.
That stretch gave head coach Jeff Capel a glimpse of what this team can be when it’s locked in.
But that momentum didn’t carry over after halftime.
SMU opened the second half with a 10-0 run, fueled by transition buckets and defensive lapses from Pitt. Missed open looks on one end turned into layups and dunks on the other. The Panthers lost their defensive balance, and SMU didn’t hesitate to capitalize.
“We allowed our missed shots to affect everything,” Capel said postgame. “We didn’t get back in transition, gave them easy baskets, and we could never really recover from that.”
Paint Problems and Perimeter Breakdowns
SMU dominated the paint, racking up 44 points inside. While some of that came from traditional post play, a big chunk was generated in transition - a direct result of Pitt’s inability to get back and set up defensively. SMU also got 25 fast break points, many of which came during that early second-half surge that blew the game wide open.
The Mustangs’ guards were relentless. Boopie Miller, one of the top scorers and assist men in the conference, took control of the game with his ability to get into the lane.
Whether it was off ball screens or just breaking down defenders one-on-one, Miller consistently found seams in the Panthers’ defense. His mid-range game, paired with the contributions of Pierre and Edwards, gave Pitt fits all afternoon.
Capel acknowledged that while Pitt’s ball screen coverage was inconsistent, sometimes it was just about elite shot-making. “At times he just made some heck of a plays,” Capel said of Miller.
“They’re very comfortable in the mid-range. And with a really good big guy down low and us in foul trouble, they were able to exploit that.”
Offensive Frustration Feeding Defensive Letdowns
Offensively, Pitt had stretches where the ball moved better than it did in recent games - a small silver lining. Capel pointed out that the team did a better job avoiding stagnant possessions compared to their outing against Virginia.
In the first half, that movement led to quality looks. But the shots just didn’t fall after halftime, and that cold spell bled into their defensive effort.
“When the ball’s not going through the basket, it can drain the energy from guys,” Capel said. “They start thinking about missing shots, and that affects everything - defense, communication, attention to detail.”
That’s a common challenge for young, inexperienced teams. When things go south offensively, the defensive focus tends to slip. And against a team like SMU, which thrives on pace and precision, those lapses get punished quickly.
Looking Ahead
This was a game where Pitt showed flashes - moments of defensive grit, ball movement, and effort. But those moments weren’t sustained, and against a team as polished and balanced as SMU, that’s just not enough.
The Panthers still have time to grow, but with each passing game, the margin for error shrinks. The challenge now is finding a way to maintain energy and focus, even when shots aren’t falling. Because in a league where transition defense and guard play often dictate outcomes, the Panthers can’t afford to let their offense dictate their defense.
There were some positives, but as Capel put it: “Obviously nowhere near good enough.”