Pitt snapped a six-game winning streak Saturday at Virginia Tech (79-72) and fell out of first place in ACC play. Despite the defeat, the Panthers placed at their highest spot of the 2022-23 campaign in the AP Poll.
The Panthers received 34 votes and sit No. 27 overall in the rankings, two spots higher than last week. Pitt received 82 votes for the Feb. 13 poll, 48 additional votes than this week, and finished the week 1-1 after dominating Boston College (77-58) and falling to the Hokies. Jeff Capel’s squad owns the program record for ACC wins in a season (12) and is tied for second with Miami (22-5, 13-4 ACC) entering the final four regular season games.
Virginia (No. 6, 1,228 points) and Miami (No. 13, 833 points) are the only ACC teams in the Top 25. NC State claims the No. 26 spot directly in front of Pitt. Duke also received three votes. Sitting at 19-8 overall and 12-4 in conference action, the Panthers defeated all three teams ahead of them and travels to Miami on March 4 in the final regular season game before the ACC Tournament.
The Panthers have not been ranked since the 2015-16 season, sitting as high as No. 20 under head coach Jamie Dixon. It also marked the last time Pitt reached the NCAA tournament. The team lost 47-43 to No. 7 seed Wisconsin, entering March Madness a No. 10 seed following a 21-12 overall record and a 9-9 ACC mark.
Andy Katz has the Panthers’ No. 31 on his Power 36, down seven spots from No. 24 last week following the VT loss. The Cavaliers (No. 7) moved down one spot while Miami (No. 9) went up one spot. NC State (No. 36 to 26) placed 10 spots higher, and Duke moved from unranked to No. 27 after dominating Syracuse (77-55). Wake Forest dropped out from No. 31.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein moved Pitt from No. 24 to 26 on his latest ROTHSTEIN 45. Virginia (No. 8) is the highest ACC team followed by Miami (No. 13), NC State (No. 23), Pitt (No. 26), Duke (No. 27), and North Carolina (No. 45).
Pitt hosts Georgia Tech at the Petersen Events Center Tuesday at 7 p.m. and welcomes rival Syracuse Saturday at 5 p.m.
That’s about where they should be.., for now. Just wait – great things are coming!!!
H2P
These polls are something else, always have been. In this case, Pitt should have been ranked a couple weeks ago, so 1 loss wouldn’t have booted them from the Top 25.
And then this, they lose….and actually are closer to the Top 25, than they were
previously. LOL
Gotta feeling the ncaa committee will make them a 8/9 seed and then facing a Number 1 seed if they get past the 8/9 game.