Pitt is searching for answers, and so far, they’re coming up empty.
At 5-6 on the season and riding a three-game losing streak, the Panthers are in desperate need of a reset. Wednesday’s home matchup against a struggling Binghamton squad (3-8) offers a chance to stop the bleeding-but only if Pitt can find a way to play with consistency, something that’s been elusive so far.
Head coach Jeff Capel isn’t sugarcoating it.
“We work on defense, we work on offense, we work on all kinds of different groups,” Capel said. “We just haven’t been able to sustain what we have to do to be good.”
That lack of sustainability was on full display in Saturday’s 79-61 loss to Villanova. The Panthers hung around early, but a 17-4 Villanova run to close the first half cracked the door open-and Pitt never recovered. The second half brought more of the same: a 9-0 burst followed by a 10-0 run from the Wildcats that put things well out of reach.
Capel pointed to a troubling trend: when the Panthers get punched, they don’t punch back.
“We get down and we drop our heads,” he said. “So instead of a 7-0 run, it becomes a 13, 14, 16-0 run. We have to show we can be consistent and figure out how to bring it all out, all the time.”
The talent is there-at least on paper.
Senior forward Cameron Corhen has been a bright spot, averaging 13.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He’s been the most reliable two-way presence for Pitt, holding his own in the paint and on the glass.
Sophomore guard Brandin Cummings is contributing 12.8 points per game, while senior guard/forward Barry Dunnings Jr. is adding 11.9 points and 5.3 boards. Senior guard Damarco Minor, a player with real breakout potential, is putting up 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, but hasn’t quite found the consistency to take over games the way Capel might’ve hoped.
The issue isn’t just talent-it’s execution, especially when adversity hits. Pitt has shown flashes of being a competitive team, but those moments get washed away too easily when the game turns.
Binghamton, meanwhile, is facing its own uphill battle. The Bearcats are coming off a tough loss to Central Connecticut, where they surrendered a 20-4 run early in the second half and never recovered, falling 84-67.
“We couldn’t stop them,” Bearcats head coach Levell Sanders said. “They have a dynamic scorer and guys who can make shots.
They will be a tough out in the Northeast Conference. But giving up 84 points is way too many … we have to get better defensively and improve overall.”
That defensive vulnerability could be the opening Pitt needs.
Binghamton is giving up 73.6 points per game while scoring just 65.5-a gap that speaks to their struggles on both ends. Still, they’re not without firepower. Senior center Demetrius Lilley is putting up 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, a double-double machine who can control the paint if left unchecked.
Junior forward Zyier Beverly adds 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds, while junior guard Jeremiah Quigley is right behind with 12.1 points per game.
This isn’t a powerhouse Binghamton team, but they’ve got enough scoring threats to make things uncomfortable if Pitt lets them hang around.
For the Panthers, this game isn’t about style points. It’s about digging in, showing some toughness, and proving they can play a complete 40 minutes. Capel’s group doesn’t need to be perfect-but they can’t afford to keep unraveling when things get tough.
A win over Binghamton won’t fix everything, but it might just help Pitt find its footing before ACC play ramps up. For now, the mission is simple: stop the slide, and start building something more sustainable.