Vukovcan: Jeff Capel, Pitt Made the Right Call in Passing on NIT

Jeff Capel and the Pitt Panthers goal this season was to have a chance to compete for the NCAA Championship.

Over the last three and a half months, the Panthers were rounding into form and playing as not only one of the best teams in the ACC, but in the country.

With a star in Blake Hinson and one of the best young backcourts in the country in Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe, many people thought Pitt had a chance to continue their strong play in the tournament and possibly be a sleeper team.

However, thanks to a tournament committee that was short-sighted and a system that’s completely flawed, Pitt didn’t get that opportunity to continue their season as they were a tournament snub.

That’s a shame, especially sad for Pitt senior Hinson who didn’t get the opportunity to shine one more time on a national stage. Actually, Hinson did have one more chance, but Pitt said thanks but no thanks.

Following their tournament snub, Pitt was extended a bid to play in the NIT tournament and declined.

Good move Capel, that was the right decision.

While some portion of the Pitt fan base didn’t agree, because they would’ve liked the chance to watch them play one more time, especially at The Pete, what’s the point?

Pitt’s goal and every major college basketball’s program is to compete for the ultimate prize — a National Championship, not the NIT, which is a consolation prize. Without looking it up, who won the NIT last year? That’s my point, no one knows and frankly, no one cares.

Quite honestly, years ago, it was an embarrassment that Jamie Dixon allowed Pitt to compete in the CBI, which they eventually won. To show you how important that “championship” was, Pitt doesn’t even recognize it with a banner in The Pete.

Thankfully, Capel and the Pitt athletic department made the decision to end the 2023-24 season and get a jump on improving for next season.

Aside from it being meaningless, participating in the NIT was just too risky for players such as Carrington, Lowe and Hinson. Can you imagine the criticism that Capel and Pitt would’ve received if one of those players sustained a serious injury during one of those games? Hinson now has the opportunity to start preparing for the NBA combine and some of the other Panthers, who were playing despite being banged up, will have the opportunity to rest and rehab.

More importantly, Capel and his staff can fully concentrate on college free agency, otherwise known as the transfer portal, which opened today. A huge reason that Pitt has enjoyed the success they have the last two seasons is because of the job Capel has done working the transfer portal. Transfer additions Hinson, Nelly Cummings, Nike Sibande, Jamarius Burton, Greg Elliott, Federiko Federiko are a huge reason why Pitt has won a combined 46 games over the last two seasons.

In order for Pitt to maintain and attempt to reach another level, Capel will need to be able to work his magic in the portal to acquire at a big man and possibly more.

Why not get fully invested in that process along with recruiting for a very important Class of 2025?

I fully respect others like former Indiana head coach Tom Crean, who have a completely different opinion than me on this subject. He believes that this is potentially valuable court time for young players to develop and start getting better for next year.

That’s fine and I can understand that line of thinking but I don’t agree with it.

Any tournament other than the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament is meaningless, as are any college football bowl games that are played before December 30th. It’s nice that kids get to play another game, receive nice bowl gifts and travel somewhere but honestly, what’s the point?

Capel comes from a program at Duke with high basketball standards and I’m glad he’s bringing that way of thinking to Pitt. The goal should always be to try and be the best and potentially winning the NIT wouldn’t accomplish that, so what’s the point?