Inside The Panthers

Jim Boeheim Endorses Pitt as NCAA Tournament Team

A former Pitt Panthers rival believes they should be in the NCAA Tournament.

Stephen Thompson

Jim Boeheim Endorses Pitt as NCAA Tournament Team
Jim Boeheim Endorses Pitt as NCAA Tournament Team /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers weren't always kind to Jim Boeheim when he was the head coach of the Syracuse Orange and the two teams were battling in the Big East and ACC, but he had some kind words to say about the Panthers at halftime of their final road game against Boston College.  

Boeheim said during the ACC Network halftime show that Pitt should be an NCAA Tournament team - or at least close to it - with a win over the Eagles and it looked like the Panthers were headed that way as they held a 15-point lead at intermission. 

Boeheim cited Pitt's landmark wins over Duke and Virginia on the road, and a Quad 1 win over Wake Forest at home, plus their 18 and potentially 19 overall wins as reasons why the Panthers should earn and at-large bid to the big dance. 

He added that, if the NET rankings didn't exist, the bare bones of Pitt's NCAA Tournament resume would be good enough. 

The Panthers have been steadily rising in NCAA Tournament discussions, with ESPN's Joe Lunardi elevating them to "Next Four Out" position entering the weekend. But with a subpar non-conference record and few more opportunities for marquee wins left on the schedule, the Panthers are fighting an uphill battle to earn their second NCAA Tournament trip in as many years. 

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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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