Looks like the Panthers will get a full week to practice after their Saturday loss to No. 14 Virginia.
The ACC announced Sunday night that Pitt's scheduled Wednesday game against Louisville has been postponed. The Cardinals had a member of their program test positive over the weekend, leading to the necessary quarantining that forced the ACC to postpone the game.
The only other scheduled ACC games on Wednesday include Virginia at Georgia Tech and Wake Forest at Boston College. Presumably, the ACC could move one of the Panthers' future opponents or previously postponed games to Wednesday to replace the vacancy, but Jeff Capel doesn't see that happening.
"There's been some talk about it," Capel said. "But it doesn't look like it's going to happen."
Capel said that Pitt is not seeking a non-conference opponent to play on Wednesday. That means Pitt's next opponent will most likely be Georgia Tech this Sunday. It's the first time since early January that the Panthers will have a full week in between games to practice.
Considering Pitt has several freshmen to develop in Femi Odukale, William Jeffress, Noah Collier and Max Amadasun, having the week to focus on areas of play that don't just revolve around Pitt's next opponent could prove beneficial.
"It's certainly a different year for the development part," Capel said. "(The postponement) gives us more practice time this week, so that will be good for them and good for us. I think our freshmen have done a good job for us. I'm pleased with them and I think they have very bright futures here."
The Yellow Jackets currently have the same 9-6 record as Pitt, but are 5-4 in the ACC compared to the Panthers at 5-5. But when they meet, Pitt will be their fourth opponent in a span of eight days, including back-to-back nights where Georgia Tech hosts Virginia on Wednesday and visits Clemson on Thursday.
It's an example of the wild adjustments that programs have endured this season with weekly postponements and schedule rearrangements. A challenge that Capel sees as taking away from the fun parts of playing college basketball.
"I think these young people are dealing with a lot this year," Capel said. "Everyone, players, coaches are in need of mental health help with everything that's going on. You have this game that we love and these moments that normally bring joy to their life. And now that's messed up this year. There's no fans, the competition is messed up and the games are weird."
"Then you're judged by that, and when you have a bad performance. And for a young person that can be difficult in general but is magnified right now. That can be even tougher. There's not a lot of joy this year. So as a coach after a loss, I'm mindful of that. When you try to figure out the best way to get what you can out of your team."
Capel has made no secret of his position on the challenges players face in all college sports during this pandemic. He's called for a stoppage in play when the number of COVID-19 deaths skyrocketed in early January to the highest they had been during the pandemic and has been open about the challenge of balancing tough coaching with understanding the mental stress on players.
"I'm grateful for the fact that these guys are willing to play," Capel said. "Maybe I'm being a Debbie Downer, but there hasn't been much joy in the season. Even when you have a great win and there's joy in the moment, you go back to reality. And the reality of the situation is just not good with what's going on."
