Inside The Panthers

Fox, ESPN Bracketologists Puts Pitt in 'Next Four Out'

The Pitt Panthers are getting more NCAA Tournament consideration as they ride a hot streak.

Stephen Thompson

Fox, ESPN Bracketologists Puts Pitt in 'Next Four Out'
Fox, ESPN Bracketologists Puts Pitt in 'Next Four Out' /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are like a runaway train, rolling through the ACC and back into NCAA Tournament contention. 

Pitt still has plenty of work to do before they can actually earn their second NCAA Tournament berth in as many years, but they have climbed back onto the bubble, according to Fox's Mike DeCourcy and ESPN's Joe Lunardi, who have the Panthers as one of their "Next Four Out" after a landmark win over Virginia. 

Pitt is joined by Rutgers, Utah and Kansas State in the Next Four Out. Those four teams are chasing Seton Hall, Villanova, St. John's and Cincinnati, who make up the First Four Out, and Ole Miss, Butler, Nevada and Wake Forest, the Last Four In. 

The contingent of ACC teams in DeCourcy's projected NCAA Tournament field continues to grow as the season progresses. There are now five squads from the league in the current projected field - North Carolina, Duke, Clemson, Virginia and Wake Forest. 

As one of the Last Four In, DeCourcy has the Demon Deacons following the same path as the Panthers did last season - starting in the First Four against Butler. 

The Panthers have opportunities to improve their resume with games against Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and NC State still on the schedule before they open postseason play in the NCAA Tournament. 

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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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