Inside The Panthers

Bracketology Watch: Joe Lunardi Locks Pitt into NCAA Tournament

The Pitt Panthers are a lock for the NCAA Tournament, according to Joe Lunardi.

Stephen Thompson

Bracketology Watch: Joe Lunardi Locks Pitt into NCAA Tournament
Bracketology Watch: Joe Lunardi Locks Pitt into NCAA Tournament /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have won five straight and 11 of 14 games in ACC contests. After solidifying their spot atop the conference standings by beating Florida State, ESPN's resident Bracketology expert, Joe Lunardi left no doubt that the Panthers will go dancing. 

"Let's eliminate the worry now," Lunardi said during ESPN's college basketball studio show this weekend. "This [Pitt] team is going to the NCAA Tournament."

Lunardi said he believes the team's ceiling is a six seed, which would be only a marginal increase from their current standing as an eight seed in his latest bracket projections. 

Other ESPN bracket forecasters are less bullish on the Panthers' odds of making March Madness. John Gasway wrote in his weekend update that Pitt "should be in" but is not guaranteed a spot just yet. 

"Combining the ACC's most perimeter-oriented offense with strong interior D, Pitt has now strung together five straight wins," Gasway said. "While laptops are still markedly suspicious of the Panthers, that attitude will ebb inexorably if Jeff Capel's group continues to outscore the ACC by a healthy margin. Speaking of skeptics, mock brackets are still debating whether Pitt is a No. 8 seed or actually belongs on something closer to the No. 11 line. A favorable remaining schedule for the Panthers might direct this question's resolution toward (if not all the way to) the higher seed."

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

ACC Reports Controversial No Call in Duke-Virginia Was Wrong

Pitt at Florida State Takeaways: Panthers Close in Style

Pitt QB Nick Patti Ends Football Career

Pitt in Line For Top Seed in ACC Tournament

Pitt PG Nelly Cummings Plays Through Pain in Win Over Florida State

Pitt at Florida State: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines

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