Pitt basketball has yet to face a high-major opponent this season, but the Panthers have sure looked like they are picking up where they left off last season.
Pitt is currently 4-0 on the season with four non-conference wins over North Carolina A&T, Binghamton, Florida Gulf Coast, and Jacksonville. The Panthers have looked to Blake Hinson to lead the team, as well as electrifying freshman guard Bub Carrington. Due to the strong start, some national reporters have recently taken notice of the Panthers’ winning ways.
Andy Katz, NCAA.com’s national basketball reporter, has the Panthers rising up his Power 36 rankings after a 2-0 week. Last week, the Panthers were his No. 36 team. Now, they sit at No. 31 in the rankings.
“The Panthers have one of the best freshmen in the country in Carlton Carrington,” Katz said.
Pitt now travels to Brooklyn, New York to compete in the Preseason NIT event this week at Barclays Center. The Panthers open tournament play with a matchup against Florida at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.
Katz has the Panthers’ game against Florida as the No. 9 overall game of the week.
I really like this year’s team (as well as last year’s) but … I think it is way too early to start with all the chatter. Yes, I think we will get better as the season progresses but so will the competition. Let’s be realistic and see how we do in Brooklyn, then reassess as we head into ACC play. H2P !
also .. we may not have needed him yet and the other guys have controlled play more but .. I really want to see Austin step it up. He is at 5PG and 5RPG in 22 minutes. Even Jeffress is at 4/4 in 17 mpg.
We just watched Pitt get blown out by Florida 86-71. Pitt still runs and guns too much and goes long stretches without playing defense. Old habits return..