Stephen Thompson
@stephenthompson.bsky.social
I write about Pitt athletics for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette | Boston Celtics fan | he/him | be where your feet are
Pinned
Column | All I need to know, I learned at Trees - The Pitt News
Outgoing sports editor Stephen Thompson has spent four years playing on and learning from Pittsburgh’s pick-up basketball courts. This is what they taught him and why he’s sad to leave them behind aft...
pittnews.com
Re-sharing this here because:
a) I want to pin it to my profile again
b) it's my favorite piece of original published writing and
c) it's 70° and I'm playing pickup later.
“Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School.” — Robert Fulghum
a) I want to pin it to my profile again
b) it's my favorite piece of original published writing and
c) it's 70° and I'm playing pickup later.
“Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School.” — Robert Fulghum
The better team won tonight. I’m very sad but can live with that.
February 9, 2026 at 3:20 AM
The better team won tonight. I’m very sad but can live with that.
I think I’m gonna turn my phone off for the second half. Goodnight and god bless.
February 9, 2026 at 1:09 AM
I think I’m gonna turn my phone off for the second half. Goodnight and god bless.
The game is about blocking and tackling and Seattle has been better at both so far.
February 9, 2026 at 12:43 AM
The game is about blocking and tackling and Seattle has been better at both so far.
The Patriots secondary is playing out of its mind right now.
February 9, 2026 at 12:27 AM
The Patriots secondary is playing out of its mind right now.
LETS GO PATRIOTS
February 8, 2026 at 11:38 PM
LETS GO PATRIOTS
There are a few Narragansett lagers in that cup and they are all for Drake Maye.
February 8, 2026 at 10:41 PM
There are a few Narragansett lagers in that cup and they are all for Drake Maye.
Who up missing James White?
February 8, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Who up missing James White?
Reposted by Stephen Thompson
Hell yeah, only another 4 hours and 21 minutes of nervous pacing around my 1 bedroom apartment before kickoff.
February 8, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Hell yeah, only another 4 hours and 21 minutes of nervous pacing around my 1 bedroom apartment before kickoff.
GO ROBERT MUELLER AND THE RULE OF LAW was really one of the best posts of this generation.
February 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
GO ROBERT MUELLER AND THE RULE OF LAW was really one of the best posts of this generation.
So here's the plan. We've got the case of Naragansett and supplies for dark and stormies will arrive later. Dough for a bakery pizza is rising. Main event is stuffed clams. Added names to the guest list last night who will be bringing assorted dips. A few bottles of wine likely to be in rotation.
February 8, 2026 at 4:28 PM
So here's the plan. We've got the case of Naragansett and supplies for dark and stormies will arrive later. Dough for a bakery pizza is rising. Main event is stuffed clams. Added names to the guest list last night who will be bringing assorted dips. A few bottles of wine likely to be in rotation.
Wearing a Patriots crewneck while I run a couple errands in Pittsburgh.
February 8, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Wearing a Patriots crewneck while I run a couple errands in Pittsburgh.
Milton Williams got me today.
February 8, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Milton Williams got me today.
Disagree, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
February 8, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Disagree, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Just woke up and the Patriots are playing in the Super Bowl.
February 8, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Just woke up and the Patriots are playing in the Super Bowl.
The Utah Jazz signed former Pitt wing Blake Hinson to a two-way deal, per a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. Had been lighting up the G-League this season.
February 8, 2026 at 2:48 AM
The Utah Jazz signed former Pitt wing Blake Hinson to a two-way deal, per a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. Had been lighting up the G-League this season.
Okay now I’m ready for tomorrow.
February 7, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Okay now I’m ready for tomorrow.
Okay I’m locked in starting now.
February 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Okay I’m locked in starting now.
The ACC's leading offense took a minute to warm up but once they did, it spelled doom for Pitt, who continued a miserable slog through league play with today's loss to SMU.
"They went on a run to start the second half and we could never really recover."
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...
"They went on a run to start the second half and we could never really recover."
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...
Instant analysis: SMU's league-leading offense torches Pitt in another blowout loss
Pitt students filled the Oakland Zoo, donning black promotional hockey sweaters and creating a rare energetic atmosphere for a Saturday basketball matinee....
www.post-gazette.com
February 7, 2026 at 10:50 PM
The ACC's leading offense took a minute to warm up but once they did, it spelled doom for Pitt, who continued a miserable slog through league play with today's loss to SMU.
"They went on a run to start the second half and we could never really recover."
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...
"They went on a run to start the second half and we could never really recover."
www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/...
6 of Pitt's 9 ACC losses this season have come by 9+ points and 3, including the last 2, have come by 19+ points. Avg. margin of defeat is 13.8.
Conference play started with a couple of close losses to good teams but since the Syracuse game, it's been consistently pretty ugly.
Conference play started with a couple of close losses to good teams but since the Syracuse game, it's been consistently pretty ugly.
February 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
6 of Pitt's 9 ACC losses this season have come by 9+ points and 3, including the last 2, have come by 19+ points. Avg. margin of defeat is 13.8.
Conference play started with a couple of close losses to good teams but since the Syracuse game, it's been consistently pretty ugly.
Conference play started with a couple of close losses to good teams but since the Syracuse game, it's been consistently pretty ugly.
Reposted by Stephen Thompson
heard some industry chatter that Pitt would make a hard run at Josh Schertz, but unless there's some mega-booster (or a group of them) waiting in the wings, I don't know how you afford to eat four years of Jeff Capel's contract while offering up enough to lure the hottest non-P5 coach in the country
February 7, 2026 at 9:32 PM
heard some industry chatter that Pitt would make a hard run at Josh Schertz, but unless there's some mega-booster (or a group of them) waiting in the wings, I don't know how you afford to eat four years of Jeff Capel's contract while offering up enough to lure the hottest non-P5 coach in the country
SMU 86, Pitt 67 -- Final
SMU started the game 2-13 but shot 70% over roughly the final 3/4 of the game. Pitt led by 6 at the 10:17 mark and was outscored 25 over the remainder of the game. They only narrowly avoided a 3rd loss by 20+ points in ACC play.
SMU started the game 2-13 but shot 70% over roughly the final 3/4 of the game. Pitt led by 6 at the 10:17 mark and was outscored 25 over the remainder of the game. They only narrowly avoided a 3rd loss by 20+ points in ACC play.
February 7, 2026 at 9:12 PM
SMU 86, Pitt 67 -- Final
SMU started the game 2-13 but shot 70% over roughly the final 3/4 of the game. Pitt led by 6 at the 10:17 mark and was outscored 25 over the remainder of the game. They only narrowly avoided a 3rd loss by 20+ points in ACC play.
SMU started the game 2-13 but shot 70% over roughly the final 3/4 of the game. Pitt led by 6 at the 10:17 mark and was outscored 25 over the remainder of the game. They only narrowly avoided a 3rd loss by 20+ points in ACC play.
Pitt has separate missed field goal streaks of seven, five and eight today. It's made consecutive field goals five times.
February 7, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Pitt has separate missed field goal streaks of seven, five and eight today. It's made consecutive field goals five times.
SMU 65, Pitt 51 -- 7:51 2H
Panthers showing a little bit of life with a 10-4 burst but it's already late. SMU is still shooting 70.6% in the 2nd half while Pitt is at 32% from the floor and 25% from 3.
Panthers showing a little bit of life with a 10-4 burst but it's already late. SMU is still shooting 70.6% in the 2nd half while Pitt is at 32% from the floor and 25% from 3.
February 7, 2026 at 8:43 PM
SMU 65, Pitt 51 -- 7:51 2H
Panthers showing a little bit of life with a 10-4 burst but it's already late. SMU is still shooting 70.6% in the 2nd half while Pitt is at 32% from the floor and 25% from 3.
Panthers showing a little bit of life with a 10-4 burst but it's already late. SMU is still shooting 70.6% in the 2nd half while Pitt is at 32% from the floor and 25% from 3.
SMU 57, Pitt 41 -- 11:47 2H
The Mustangs are outscoring Pitt 23-9 so far in the 2nd half. League's most prolific offense is looking like just that right now. SMU has made 20 of their 27 field goal attempts, good for 74% shooting, since starting the game 2 for 13.
The Mustangs are outscoring Pitt 23-9 so far in the 2nd half. League's most prolific offense is looking like just that right now. SMU has made 20 of their 27 field goal attempts, good for 74% shooting, since starting the game 2 for 13.
February 7, 2026 at 8:34 PM
SMU 57, Pitt 41 -- 11:47 2H
The Mustangs are outscoring Pitt 23-9 so far in the 2nd half. League's most prolific offense is looking like just that right now. SMU has made 20 of their 27 field goal attempts, good for 74% shooting, since starting the game 2 for 13.
The Mustangs are outscoring Pitt 23-9 so far in the 2nd half. League's most prolific offense is looking like just that right now. SMU has made 20 of their 27 field goal attempts, good for 74% shooting, since starting the game 2 for 13.