NCAA Tournament March Madness
#46 Pittsburgh
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Projection: first four out
Pittsburgh's overall body of work presents a mixed bag as we head into the tournament. Despite a few blemishes—including losses to lower-ranked teams like Missouri and Miami FL—the Panthers have shown they can hang with the big dogs, evidenced by their impressive away win against a powerhouse like Duke and a gutsy performance on a neutral floor against North Carolina, a team that ranks among the nation's elite. These notable victories, coupled with a robust defense that has been relatively consistent, significantly bolster their resume. On the other side of the ball, the offense hasn't been as flashy, but in college basketball, a stalwart defense can compensate when the shots aren't falling. The late-season surge highlighted by a string of victories over ACC competition illustrates their ability to peak at the right time. However, the drubbing from Wake Forest shows vulnerability that can't be overlooked. Balancing the highs and lows, I see Pittsburgh slotting into the tournament as a team that could surprise some folks but also as one that should not rest on its laurels, given its susceptibility to occasional lapses.
Date | Opponent | Ranking | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
11/6 | NC A&T | 335 | W100-52 |
11/10 | Binghamton | 271 | W89-60 |
11/13 | FGCU | 232 | W86-74 |
11/17 | Jacksonville | 255 | W107-56 |
11/22 | (N)Florida | 18 | L86-71 |
11/24 | (N)Oregon St | 147 | W76-51 |
11/28 | Missouri | 176 | L71-64 |
12/3 | Clemson | 29 | L79-70 |
12/6 | @West Virginia | 152 | W80-63 |
12/9 | Canisius | 273 | W82-71 |
12/16 | S Carolina St | 290 | W86-50 |
12/20 | PFW | 162 | W62-48 |
12/30 | @Syracuse | 70 | L81-73 |
1/2 | North Carolina | 5 | L70-57 |
1/6 | @Louisville | 237 | W83-70 |
1/9 | Duke | 10 | L75-53 |
1/16 | Syracuse | 70 | L69-58 |
1/20 | @Duke | 10 | W80-76 |
1/23 | @Georgia Tech | 130 | W72-64 |
1/27 | @Miami FL | 97 | L72-68 |
1/31 | Wake Forest | 44 | W77-72 |
2/3 | Notre Dame | 124 | W70-60 |
2/7 | @NC State | 60 | W67-64 |
2/13 | @Virginia | 62 | W74-63 |
2/17 | Louisville | 237 | W86-59 |
2/20 | @Wake Forest | 44 | L91-58 |
2/24 | Virginia Tech | 64 | W79-64 |
2/27 | @Clemson | 29 | L69-62 |
3/2 | @Boston College | 84 | W90-65 |
3/5 | Florida St | 88 | W88-73 |
3/9 | NC State | 60 | W81-73 |
3/14 | (N)Wake Forest | 44 | W81-69 |
3/15 | (N)North Carolina | 5 | L72-65 |