Inside The Panthers

Bracketology Watch: ESPN Moves Pitt up Overall Seed List

he Pitt Panthers have moved into the top half of Joe Lunardi's projected seed ordering.

Stephen Thompson

Bracketology Watch: ESPN Moves Pitt up Overall Seed List
Bracketology Watch: ESPN Moves Pitt up Overall Seed List /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have strung together four impressive wins over the last two and a half weeks - knocking off Wake Forest, Miami and North Carolina in dramatic fashion before taking Louisville to the woodshed at the Petersen Events Center. 

With this success on the court has come better standing in the projected NCAA Tournament bracket created by ESPN's Joe Lunardi. He bumped the Panthers up three spots in his overall seeing rankings from No. 32 to No. 29 after they dominated Louisville in a 91-57 win at the Pete. 

Pitt is still an eighth seed, but will likely get a more favorable draw the higher up they move in the overall seeding. Right now Lunardi has them facing No. 9 Michigan State in round one with top-seeded Alabama looming in round two of the Midwest Region. They'd play the first two rounds in Birmingham, Alabama - the Crimson Tide's backyard. 

As an eighth seed, if the Panthers win, they'd likely have to face a first seed in round two, barring a wild 16-over-1 upset in round one. Being a higher eight seed means avoiding one of the country's most dominant and complete teams like Houston and Purdue. 

This also increases the likelihood that Pitt moves up to a seventh or sixth seed. Their resume would need to get a lot better a lot quicker for that to happen but for now, the Panthers are on a steady upward climb.  

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

Three Stats Tell Story of Pitt's Dominance over Louisville

Six Pitt Players Invited to NFL Combine

Pitt's Diaz Graham Twins Live Out Dream on Court Together

Pitt vs Louisville Takeaways: Panthers Finally Earning Respect

Pitt Ties For First Place in ACC After Beating Louisville

Bracketology Watch: Fox Believes Pitt's Done Enough

Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

Home/Basketball