Inside The Panthers

Lunardi: Pitt NCAA Tournament Hopes 'Likely' Over

The Pitt Panthers are 'likely' out of the running for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi.

Stephen Thompson

Lunardi: Pitt NCAA Tournament Hopes 'Likely' Over
Lunardi: Pitt NCAA Tournament Hopes 'Likely' Over /
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WASHINGTON, DC -- The Pitt Panthers gave top-seeded North Carolina all they could handle in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, but came up just short in a 72-65 loss at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. 

As they chase a second-straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Pitt is out of chances to improve their resume. They sit just on the wrong side of the bubble, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi, and without any more games to play, he believes they will come up just short of making the projected field. 

"The last No. 1 seed is now Carolina's to lose," Lunardi wrote after Pitt fell to the Tar Heels. "Pitt's NCAA chances are likely just short."

Lunardi has been one of the loudest and most notable voices that have cited Pitt's poor non-conference strength of schedule as a reason why he believes they are entering Selection Sunday on the wrong side of the bubble. 

He moved Pitt up to his First Four Out line after it beat Wake Forest, 81-69 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. And while they didn't drop after falling to the Tar Heels, the Panthers failing to move up will cost them if Lunardi is correct. 

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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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