‘They Don’t Really Understand It:’ Pittsburgh’s Jeff Capel Sounds Off On Gambling & Point-Shaving Controversy
Jan 14, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel is “worried” about gambling and the impact it could have on college athletes.
Jeff Capel: ‘I’m Worried About It’
The college basketball world is still reeling over the point-shaving scandal that has rocked the sport.
Last week, federal prosecutors unsealed indictments involving a scheme to fix NCAA basketball games. The criminal conspiracy involves Shane Hennen, the alleged mastermind of the illegal enterprise, along with several players, trainers, alumni, and bettors.
One of the former players indicted was Markeese Hastings, who played at Robert Morris. Hastings is accused of accepting bribes to fix games while playing for Robert Morris in February 2024.
Also mentioned in the court documents was Duquense, as opposing players from St. Louis and Fordham attempted to rig the outcomes of their games in February 2024.
The federal indictments did not mention Capel’s Pittsburgh Panthers. However, Robert Morris and Duquesne are located in the greater Pittsburgh area. Capel is more than aware of the dangers of gambling in college athletics and how it’s already created massive problems.
“You look at these kids — they have money now through NIL,” Capel said on a Zoom call via Triblive. “They have a lot of money. It’s so prevalent. It’s everywhere. You watch SportsCenter, and they have segments on there about betting, about gambling. You listen to a sports podcast — they talk about it constantly. The FanDuels, there’s commercials about it. It’s so easy to do. Their peers are doing it. And so, yeah, I worry about it.”
The sport of basketball has become ensnarled in recent gambling controversies. In 2024, the NBA banned former Raptors player Jontay Porter for life after he violated the league’s gambling policies. Porter fixed the outcomes of his player props in an attempt to win lucrative bets.
Last October, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were mentioned in a gambling operation that featured fixed poker games with mafia involvement. Rozier was placed on unpaid leave, while Billups has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA.
College Sports at a Crossroads
The legalization of sports betting has raised the profile of many sports, including college basketball. It has also raised league revenue in collegiate and professional sports.
The NCAA muddied the waters when it made it OK for student-athletes and athletic department officials to gamble on professional sports.
With NIL funds, college athletes are now being treated like professionals. Capel spoke to his team about the Billups and Rozier controversy. However, he knows that young athletes can easily make mistakes when money becomes a primary factor.
“They’re basically pro athletes but without the mindset of what a real pro does,” Capel said. “For a lot of these young people, it’s the first time they’ve had money and this amount of money. The responsibility that comes with it, they don’t really understand it, especially younger guys. There are a lot of opportunities for them to make really immature decisions and not smart decisions.”
Capel added, “I’m worried about it with all of these guys. They’re very, very vulnerable. They’re impressionable, they’re vulnerable, and there’s so many ways to get to them now.”
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