It’s been several years since Pitt’s basketball program has been mentioned in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
After Pitt got off to a 7-2 start to the 2020-21 season, the Panthers were mentioned in several bracketology predictions. They went on to lose ten of their next 13 games to finish the season 10-12.
While it isn’t much, this year’s team has now been mentioned in that conversation once again, as Fox Sports’ Mike DeCourcy included the Panthers in his “Next Four Out” section of bracketology.
Pitt currently owns a 9-4 record on the year, as well as a 2-0 ACC record. The Panthers’ best wins have come on the road against Northwestern (Kenpom No. 45), NC State ((Kenpom No. 51), and Syracuse (Kenpom No. 88).
Pitt’s next four games come against some of the ACC’s best, as it will host North Carolina (Dec. 30), Virginia (Jan. 3), Clemson (Jan. 7), and then travel to Duke (Jan. 11).
Let’s be honest. This group can definitely score points. If they manage to finish somewhere mid-pack in the ACC, it will be a big improvement over last year. I’d be thrilled to see an NIT bid, but we finished #195 in last year’s KenPom around #100 for a few years before that. Show me some signs that moving up and we will eventually be back in the NCAA regularly and I’m all in favor.
This team is not last years team. They will determine where they finish in the ACC. I never liked the NIT.
How far we’ve fallen…….
Just don’t forget the name former AD Scott F***ing Barnes who put us on that slippery slope.
1st returning WV to our football and basketball schedule and 2nd hiring St**ling because of a debt to his former employer.
Heather has been a godsend after him.