What Does Pitt’s Path to the NCAA Tournament Look Like?

Pitt (16-10, 7-8 ACC) is fighting for a spot in the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament currently after picking up two-straight wins in ACC action.

However, after a brutal streak in the beginning-to-middle portions of the conference schedule, Pitt is not in the field in most predictions at the moment. ESPN does not have the Panthers in the field, or, very close to the field. Joe Lunardi has them as the No. 80 team in the country, in the “Considered” section of his breakdown.

Fox Sports’ Mike DeCourcy does not have the Panthers in the field, or in consideration, either.

So, Pitt has lots of work to do to make it back into these predictions, and ultimately, into the actual field of 68 on Selection Sunday. Let’s look at the road ahead for the Panthers.

Pitt has just five games left this regular season. Three of those five will come on the road. However, because Notre Dame and NC State are both having down years, those games are Quad-2 contests. The only remaining game against a Quad-1 opponent on the Panthers’ schedule is against Louisville — a team that is red-hot.

Pitt’s two home games come against Georgia Tech and Boston College, two of the ACC’s middle-to-bottom tier teams. The Georgia Tech game looks like it will be a Quad-3 contest, while BC should be Quad-4. Those wins, while necessary, are not going to move Pitt terribly far up the bubble.

The Panthers will have a chance to bolster their resume in the ACC tournament, though. If Pitt was the No. 8 or No. 9 seed in the ACC Tournament, it would have to face the league’s No. 1 seed — likely, Duke — on day two. Duke beat the Panthers 76-47 earlier this season.

Pitt’s remaining schedule is listed below.

Feb. 22 @ Notre Dame – 2:15 PM

Feb. 25 Vs. Georgia Tech – 7 PM

Mar. 1 @ Louisville – 6 PM

Mar. 5 @ NC State – 7 PM

Mar. 8 Vs. Boston College – 6 PM

Do you think the Panthers will make the NCAA Tournament?