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Abby Schnable's Pitt sports chat: 02.11.26
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Abby Schnable
1:00
Hello everyone! Happy to see there are already a bunch of questions in the queue so let's go ahead and get started.
demosthenes98
1:00
In light of the lawsuit, how likely do you think it is that Tory Verdi will be fired in the next month or so?
Abby Schnable
1:02
Fired? It feels unlikely in the immediate future. Based on the University’s statement — saying the allegations are “without merit” and will be “vigorously defended” — the administration and athletic department appear to be standing behind him right now.

If anything were to happen in the short term, a resignation would be more common than an outright firing. In situations like this, schools often wait for the legal process to play out before making a major personnel move.
Matt from LA
1:02
Although embarrassing, what really is the point if Pitt makes the ACC Tournament? It is not like they are capable of making a serious run?
Abby Schnable
1:06
First, the odds of Pitt even making the ACC Tournament right now are pretty slim. They’d need help and would have to take care of business down the stretch. Second, once you’re in, tournaments are chaos. Weird things happen. Teams get hot for three days. So you never completely rule anything out.
That said, realistically, it’s hard to see Pitt making a serious run — especially if Brandin Cummings is out for the season. Depth becomes a major issue in a tournament setting.

At that point, the value is more about optics and morale. Making the field after a rocky stretch gives the team something to build on and avoids the optics of missing it altogether. It’s not about a title run — it’s about salvaging something positive from the season.
Mike
1:06
Abby I enjoy the content that you put out with the sports chat and volleyball articles. Do you plan on doing any coverages on baseball or softball this spring?
Abby Schnable
1:07
Hey Mike! I'm glad you enjoy my work. I'm hoping to do some features on both teams once basketball season is over. I'm still recovering from surgery so I'm not back 100%.
Matt from LA
1:07
Considering the season, any predictions on who will come back next year and who will be in the transfer portal as soon as possible?
Abby Schnable
1:10
There have been rumors about Brandin Cummings not returning. I haven’t independently confirmed that, so I’d treat that as speculation for now — but his situation is definitely one to watch.

I’d expect Omari Witherspoon to be back. Roman Siulepa should absolutely be a priority, even if that means making a stronger NIL push. As for the injured or low-minute guys — Mullen, Kante, Lau — it’s hard to know what their market looks like externally.

Sometimes limited tape makes it tougher to jump to a new team. That said, low usage can also push guys to look for a bigger role elsewhere.

Moore is interesting. Given how underutilized he’s been, I wouldn’t be shocked if he explored options.
Matt from LA
1:10
All things (e.g., his contract and its buyout) considered, is Capel back next year?
Abby Schnable
1:12
All things considered — especially the contract and buyout — I’d expect Capel to be back next year. Unless there’s a significant financial donor ready to cover a buyout and a clear coach-in-waiting lined up, it’s hard to see a change happening. Those moves don’t just materialize overnight.

The messaging internally has centered around bad luck, youth, and the need for a reset rather than a teardown. There’s also a lot of belief in what GM Kuntz can bring from a recruiting standpoint. The argument is that he hasn’t fully been able to put his stamp on the roster yet, and that the upcoming class will reflect that.
Mr Ed
1:12
Despite eight years of near total lack of success, I actually would bring Capel back for one more year. You can turn it around in one year. He’s off to a good start in that regard with the #7 recruiting class. Give him a chance to keep couple of key returnees and pick up two high impact transfers to leverage those incoming frosh. I mean, what’s one more year? Blow it up this year or next, not much difference. What would you do with him?
Abby Schnable
1:15
Agreed. I’d see if the admin can get him some more money to keep Siulepa and build around him. Bring in a strong transfer portal class — think the 2023 group — and there’s no reason Pitt couldn’t turn things around. Jeff Capel gets a lot of hate, and some of it’s fair, but he does know how to coach. He just needs the right pieces.
Matt from LA
1:15
During the broadcast of the SMU game, the announcers stated that Pitt has and spends a lot less in NIL money than the other ACC schools and thus the reason for their decline in basketball. Is that true? And if so, what real hope do we have for the future?
Abby Schnable
1:17
Yeah, unfortunately that’s true — Pitt spends a lot less on NIL compared to other ACC schools. Part of that comes from the focus on football, since Pittsburgh is a football town. There are also broader financial issues, some of which stem from past missteps under Heather Lyke, plus the fact that success usually drives more money, and Pitt hasn’t exactly been exciting to watch.

That said, Allen Greene seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and there’s reason for hope — it’ll just take time to get things back on track.
Leemarvinwannab
1:18
Why does WVU continue to have a MUCH better bb program than Pitt? Even though they've changed coaches 3 times in the last 4 years
Abby Schnable
1:20
It really comes down to money. WVU’s donors either have deeper pockets or are just more willing to invest heavily in basketball. That funding shows up in NIL deals, recruiting, facilities — basically everything that makes a program competitive. Even with coaching turnover, the resources keep the program strong.
Bruce
1:20
Hi Abby! Thanks for hosting the chat today. Last night's basketball game followed an old familiar script. Pitt played pretty well, but as the game went on, fatigue set in and Duke was able to pull away. Why is Pitt not able to retain players? We never seem to have any depth and it really hurts.
Abby Schnable
1:22
I agree — last night followed the usual pattern, but I thought Pitt hung in longer than expected against the No. 4 team in the country. As for depth and retention, we’re in a new era. Players are chasing money and winning situations, and Pitt just hasn’t consistently offered either lately. That makes it tough to keep talent around.
John Capel
1:26
Abby earlier you mention the internal message around the basketball team as bad luck, youth and the need for a reset. Aside from that all being what most would consider loser talk or excuses do you think the administration believes that or will they actually force assistant coaching changes? Is the administration really counting on 3 freshman to save the day? Coaching is clearly the issue, not recruiting talent. It would be very disappointing if the administration believes that message.
Abby Schnable
1:27
I get why it reads like excuses, but the “bad luck” piece is real — the frontcourt got hammered with injuries and departures. From Dishon Jackson, Cam Corhen, Roman Siulepa, Papa Kante and Kieran Mullen, they were suddenly down to just Corhen, Siulepa and Mullen (who was originally supposed to redshirt). That kind of attrition is hard to plan for.

The “youth” angle is a stretch — three of the top six players are seniors — but the administration does seem to recognize that a reset is needed. Ideally that includes some assistant coaching changes and not just relying on Kuntz’s development.

I don’t think they’re realistically expecting three freshmen to carry the team, but they do feel like they have a solid foundation to build on — something they didn't necessarily have this year. The key will be using the portal wisely to bring in experienced, high-impact pieces.
Bruce
1:30
If the new era is going to be based on payroll, it doesn't bode well for a lot of programs.
Abby Schnable
1:31
That’s why you’re seeing many coaches calling for reform. But unless schools can dig into their wallets, the wealthier programs are going to continue to separate themselves from the rest.
Scooter
1:39
How much did Pitt men's basketball spend on NIL for 2025-26?
Abby Schnable
1:42
There’s no official number — schools aren’t required to disclose exactly how much they spend on NIL, so we don’t know Pitt’s exact 2025-26 figure.

I will say, when people say Pitt spends less on NIL, it means the players have fewer opportunities or deals available to them compared with other schools. It doesn’t mean the athletic department is broke — it’s more about how much the program and boosters are investing directly in helping players earn off their name and brand.
Bruce
1:42
Perhaps some universities will begin to reconsider where athletics fits into the big picture. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Chicago, among others once big time programs. I don't know if anyone would do that now, but you never know.
Abby Schnable
1:44
It’s an interesting thought. Those schools used to be major players in college basketball, but over time priorities shifted toward academics and overall institutional goals. I don’t see anyone doing a full-scale pullback from big-time sports now — the money, exposure, and alumni interest make it tough to walk away — but it’s always possible we could see programs rethink the balance between athletics and academics in smaller ways.
KDub
1:48
Abby what do you make of volleyball's latest recruit?
Abby Schnable
1:50
I’m really excited about her. Maaike Heilig comes in with a ton of experience at the youth and club levels, including playing with multiple Netherlands Youth National Teams and helping the U21 squad win silver at the Shanghai Volleyball Future Star Tournament. She’s also had success at top Dutch clubs, including winning a national championship with VC Sneek.

It’s a bit like when Pitt brought in Marina Pezelj last year — she has a strong resume, though there may be a short adjustment period as she transitions to college volleyball.
RickLovesBaseball
1:52
Do you see NIL and the transfer portal being reigned in anytime soon? I sadly find myself losing interest in college sports because of it.
Abby Schnable
1:54
I think it’s going to be really difficult to put the toothpaste back in the tube. NIL and the transfer portal have changed the landscape of college sports almost overnight. I get why it can be frustrating — it makes college sports look more like the pros, which isn’t really why most people watch in the first place.

On the flip side, it gives programs that can compete financially — like Indiana or some ACC schools — a chance to be more in the mix than they might have been before. But it also leaves programs that can’t keep up, like Pitt, at a clear disadvantage. It’s a double-edged sword and I don’t see major restrictions coming anytime soon.
2:00
Well all, thanks so much for jumping on and apologies about the day change. Stephen or I will be back next week to answer more of your questions. Or feel free to email either of us in the meantime. Thanks!
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