Pitt Jumps Into Top-Ten of National Rankings

Pitt is now a top-ten team in college basketball, according to the NCAA’s NET rankings.

In Sunday’s update of the NET rankings, Pitt jumped from No. 11 up to No. 9, as Maryland and Marquette both dropped. Pitt is 10-2 on the year. Maryland won on Saturday, beating Maryland Eastern Shore by 15 points. Marquette did not play. This move was likely triggered by other results throughout college basketball, adjusting the quality of wins and losses that these teams have by a minimal amount.

Upon the release of the NET rankings in early December, Pitt was ranked in the top-5 of the rankings. The rankings have loved Pitt’s wins over West Virginia and Ohio State, among others. The Panthers dominated West Virginia earlier this season, and now, the Mountaineers have improved their record to 9-2 and sit at No. 33 in the rankings. Ohio State is currently 8-4 on the year, ranked No. 24 in the NET rankings. Pitt beat Ohio State in Columbus on Black Friday this season.

The Panthers have four more Quad 1 opportunities (as of now), starting with a game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 7. The Panthers also have projected Quad 1 opportunities against North Carolina on the road, against Louisville on the road, and against SMU on the road. ACC teams Boston College and Miami are all coming to play in Pittsburgh this year. However, after lackluster starts to the season for those four teams according to the NCAA’s NET rankings, those are projected to be Quad 4 opportunities.

Pitt’s upcoming game against Clemson was initially a Quad 1 game, and still may be. However, the Tigers are now outside the top-30 in the NET rankings and as of now, it will be a Quad 2 game.