Inside The Panthers

Bracketology Watch: Pitt Solidified NCAA Tournament Standing

The Pitt Panthers "should be in" according to one ESPN Bracketology analyst.

Stephen Thompson

Bracketology Watch: Pitt Solidified NCAA Tournament Standing
Bracketology Watch: Pitt Solidified NCAA Tournament Standing /
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GREENSBORO -- The Pitt Panthers arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina looking to do more than just secure their first ACC Tournament win in three years. They also wanted to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume and they didn't need much to do it. 

After beating Georgia Tech, 89-81, to earn their spot in the quarterfinals, the Panthers took a big step forward in their pursuit of the program's first bid to the Big Dance, according to ESPN's John Gasway. He thought Pitt entered the afternoon in a precarious spot. They were in danger of falling to the Bubble or even further if they fell to 12 seed Georgia Tech.

"The 40 minutes Pitt played against Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament's second round were going to be vitally important to the Panthers' tournament chances either way," he wrote. "A loss would have exposed Jeff Capel's team to real bubble peril."

But after emerging with a win, Gasway elevated Pitt from his "Work to Do" category up to "Should be In". He is much more bullish on their NCAA Tournament hopes after downing the Yellow Jackets. All that's left is to play competitively against Duke in the quarterfinals. 

"The victory propels the Panthers into the relative safety of a game against Duke in the quarterfinals," Gasway wrote. "A respectable showing in a loss to the Blue Devils won't jeopardize this team's fate on Selection Sunday. Conversely, Pitt might very well win and reach the ACC semifinals for just the second time since joining the league nine years ago. Things are looking much more solid for the Panthers."

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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:

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