Pitt Already Internalized Preseason Disrespect

The Pitt Panthers are once again using preseason polls to motivate them

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers knew how low the expectations were for them last year and used that to fuel a transformative year in which they set program records, returned to the NCAA Tournament and reinvented the country's low image of the program. 

There are still high expectations within the program, but after losing some key pillars of that landmark team, the external belief that they can be just as good is not as high and Pitt's players know that. 

“The last time I checked, we were expected to finish 13th in the ACC, so we’re going to remember that one," senior forward Blake Hinson said, referencing The Almanac preseason conference power rankings. "That’s all we know, all we’re paying attention to. Until another list comes out, that’s how we feel about that."

Hinson is pegged as a First-Team All-ACC player and his team is projected to make it to the NIT, something The Alamanac deemed "a success" for this program. He doesn't see it that way. 

He believes the Panthers have the talent to complete for the league title as they did last year and even win the whole thing, so he found a 13th-place prediction disappointing and disrespectful. 

“Honestly, I feel like we’re the best team in the ACC, so hearing something like that is crazy," Hinson said. "But it’s cool. We respect the league, but we feel like we can win it.”

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