Inside The Panthers

Pitt HC Jeff Capel Calls Out ACC Network for Negative Coverage

Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel believes the ACC Network could do more to promote its men's basketball league.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt HC Jeff Capel Calls Out ACC Network for Negative Coverage
Pitt HC Jeff Capel Calls Out ACC Network for Negative Coverage /
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PITTSBURGH -- The general consensus around college basketball right now is that this iteration of ACC men's basketball is some of the worst the league has ever seen. But if you ask the coaches from the ACC, that perception confuses them. Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel is one of them. 

"I don't really understand it to be completely honest with you," The Pitt head coach said. "I don't really get it. When you look at the success that we've had in the NCAA Tournament, when you look at the success we've had in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge, if you look at what our guys have done nationally as far as coaching, as far as players, as far as talent, as far as draft picks - all of those things - it's more than anyone."

Capel believes the ACC is as strong as ever, but he has noticed the league's flagship television station, the ACC Network, promoting that same negative narrative about the overall strength of the league instead of promoting it like other Power 5 conference networks might. 

Capel recalled watching the ACC Network one day and seeing an opening segment titled "Is Perception a Reality That the ACC is Down?" That rubbed him the wrong way, especially when he sees the Big 10 Network consistently promote the strength of that conference while he watches his friend Chris Collins coach Northwestern to a strong season. 

"I never see that on the Big 10 Network," Capel said. "They are always, always pumping the Big 10. Always. I think it's a really good league but I think ours is too. I wish the people who represent us would have the respect and pump our league and be positive instead of looking at negative things."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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