Pitt Basketball
Pitt Declines NIT Invitation, Marking Conclusion of 2023-24 Season
Pitt’s 2023-24 season has come to an end.
Shortly after missing the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers announced on Sunday night that they have declined an invitation to the NIT tournament.
“I am incredibly proud of the performance, development, and fight of our team,” Jeff Capel said in a release. “We ultimately fell short of our goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament, despite ranking favorably in the computers, performing well in conference play with a fourth-place finish and an ACC Tournament Semifinal appearance, and playing our best basketball over the last eight weeks of the season. We made the decision to decline an NIT invitation as a team and with the support of our University leadership. It was a difficult choice, but ultimately what is best for our student-athletes.”
Pitt finished the season 22-11, going 12-8 in conference play and making a run to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament this past week, where it lost to No. 1 seed North Carolina by seven points. The Panthers were the fourth team to miss the NCAA Tournament, and after five teams “stole bids” this week, Pitt was left out of the NCAA Tournament field.
In addition to Pitt, teams such as Indiana and Ole Miss have also declined NIT bids this year.
Pitt now begins the 2024 offseason. The Panthers capped off their second-straight 20-win season and now look forward to next year. Pitt has a young core of talent, including Jaland Lowe, Bub Carrington, Papa Amadou Kante (injured for all of 2023-24), and others. Blake Hinson, KJ Marshall, and Will Jeffress were the only three players to walk on this season’s senior night.
lol . He’s such a petulant loser
The players had SOMETHING to do with this decision. Are they petulant losers??? Clarabell.
Yes.
Rob is hilarious. A name calling grown up.
I have lost all respect for Capel.
What a self important clown
He is walking away from his only avenue to show the experts that they made a mistake.
Good for Pitt, don’t lower your standards and enter the loser tournament
Go lift some weights!
This really looks bad!
Nobody cares about the NIT. I don’t blame them.
Conversely I assumed they would likely decline an NIT bid. However, I come from an extremely competitive environment with a priority on holding to ideals. I figured the money in college sports would overwrite that. I fully support being not interested in the other tournament when the team was worthy of being in the big tournament.
Well stated
Stick to these two word responses. You sound slightly less stupid. But only slightly.
If they were “worthy” they would have been selected
I don’t know why it’s the “trendy” thing to do to decline bowl participation, NIT etc. If anything it should help TEAM development. Your stars don’t want to play, well shoot you have a TEAM! I can understand it it’s the CBI or some other BS post season play but come on. Indiana okay, they were terrible! Whatever but I’ll shoot for the Panthers next season and season after that and pretty much the rest of my life, H2P!
Team? Guess you don’t pay much attention to college sports.
With the transfer window, Pitt will be lucky to have half these guys back next season.
Playing extra games in a meaningless tournament has no benefit.
You mean the “Free Agent Market?” Maybe I wanted to see some of the Freshman play? Good experience plus I think technically I think they would be able to retain their redshirt status if so but whatever.
When Pitt missed the NCAA, I thought the melt down would be limited to this comment board.
I did not think that the powers that be in Oakland would be the folks who would be wailing and gnashing teeth.
Some perspective on why the team may not want to join the NIT. Blake (and possibly Bub) have NBA hopes. Their performance in the NIT likely won’t effect their status very much compared to what the NCCA Tournament can, so no reason to risk an injury. On the same note, these guys want to start focusing on next year right away. Playing in the NIT isn’t going to impact 2025 at all. But resting up and getting back in the gym and weight room (which hasn’t been happening for months) will get started sooner. More time to work on their… Read more »
Michigan State gets in with 19 Wins. That’s fair.
Izzo would get in at 16-15. It is a joke.
What about Mississippi State? They went 8-10 and were 9th in their conference! Now they are playing each other so somebody has to win!!! Ridiculous!!!
Lame
Best for our student athletes? Why? This looks petty and soft.
Looks like the South rose again, Clemson and Virginia do not belong after end season performance!!!!!! NCAA is about done in College sports.
St John’s, Pitt, Memphis, Ole Miss and Indiana opted out of the NIT. I guess no one wants the 69th best team trophy anymore.
C’mon, surely you don’t believe Capel made this decision on his own. Why would Hinson and Carrington want to risk their futures in a meaningless tournament?
nothing to gain for Pitt and Capel can get moving on the TP and recruiting a big
I felt the same with the FSU screw job in football, wouldn’t have shown up with more than 12 players on the field to take the money but give zero product
No doubt the players voted to opt out.
That’s because this generation are not real men – they are spoiled brats!
Syracuse should follow suit.
Hey,st.johns did 5he sa
Silly me, I thought maybe they would play just to give the fans a thank you, what a bunch of selfish quitters.
They gave us a Thank you by having a good season and playing entertaining basketball. They owe us nothing. Playing in a consolation tournament is not a big deal.
Gee Capel your shit don’t stink
It’s actually not that bad for PITT to get so close but come up short. This makes Bub that much more hungry to come back to PITT next year and not pursue any NFL ambitious
NFL? Ok
Absolute correct decision to skip NIT. Nothing to gain…much to lose. Exit interviews, recruit, get healthy, plan for next year. Good year. Program continues to ascend. Bub should leave because he was 2nd best player on floor in UNC game and best pro prospect. If he does we still have Lowe who was superior to all of UNCs guards save Davis and recruits coming in. LGP!!!
It blows that we didn’t make the NCAA tournament. No sugar coating that. We deserved to make it. But it doesn’t do any good to whine at this point. So moving on to next year… If everyone that is able to come back does, do we start off as a top 10 team? I would think so. Possibly the best backcourt in the country. A hopefully more polished Federiko Federiko underneath. The Diaz Graham twins continuing to impact every game they are in. It will be hard to replace Blake’s spacing and leadership. I am excited to see them try… Read more »
Great comment. I just hope they all come back!
H2P!!!
Congratulate to Heather for following the wishes of the team. Didn’t think she would turn down the money.
They turned down money so they could feed their egos and pretend they are above the NIT? Congrats to that? Why? They Fd the school that is giving them a six figure education while treating them better than any other student and they also Fd their fans who want to watch their games. Seems a bit petty, selfish, childish, and ungrateful. Why is this good?
Nobody cares about the NIT. Win the tournament and you’re considered the 69th best team in the country.
They are above the NIT. This was a worthy tournament team. They just had some upsets occur that bumped them out in conference tournament play. They have no obligation to play in a consolation tournament for any reason.
Poor Losers! Now we know where Pickett got his Cry Baby Syndrome! Stop the coddling and whining PITT, Now!
What does Pickett and the basketball team have to do with one another?
I hope they take this extra time to learn about non-conference scheduling.
Too much talk about this bering Izzo’s 25th tournament, thr rapid turnaround at St.John’s due to Pitino. Never mind the lack of success of their teams in the conference. And we can’t let Jamie Dixon out of the conversation. TCU had a worse non conberence schedule than PITT and they were not among the top teams in the conference. Or else they wouldn’t have been the 9th seed. Ratings and who broadcasts your games has too much to do with it. Take a look at all the conferences and see how many teams have in conference records above .500. There… Read more »
Enough of the analytics cottage industry created by networks for attention and the “experts” that generate the nonsense.
Hard to believe any of these people actually watch a basketball game. Too many teams left out that easily pass the eye test, but lose to self created mathematics off the court that the supposed governing body selection committee NCAA actually uses for any purpose other than filling air time to hear themselves speak.
Better to put 320 teams in and play hoops than listen to their nonsense.
Dambrot goes out a champ- Capel and his gang whine like bitches……….par for the course
Capel don’t like you either. Clarabell.
Hey skippy hoping you enjoy watching the Champion Dukes and the City’s best coach
Full name ……..Clarabell RaDICK …….LOL!
How’d you like that selection show loser?
After releasing a statement graciously declining an invitation to the NIT tournament, I have not heard anything unprofessional coming from the school, coaches or players. The only people I’ve noticed bitching and moaning are the ones commenting on this site.
Pitt has a legitimate beef when Michigan State gets in with a 19-14 record.
I think it’s time the Power 4 hold their own tournament and the NCAA can have their Cinderella tournament. The Big East will follow the money.
As a long-term Pitt fan, I don’t understand the
‘NIT’ turn down. With a chance to gain experience and extend the season in a playoff atmosphere?
Several other ACC teams excepted the opportunity… Since when did the Pitt basketball program become ‘too good’ to accept any post-season play?