Inside The Panthers

Pitt Holds Steady in ESPN NCAA Tournament Projections

The Pitt Panthers' blowout loss to Wake Forest didn't knock them off the bubble just yet.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Holds Steady in ESPN NCAA Tournament Projections
Pitt Holds Steady in ESPN NCAA Tournament Projections /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers suffered an ugly loss on the road to Wake Forest, snapping a five-game losing streak and marring much of the momentum they have built over the past month with a dramatic mid-season turnaround. 

As soon as the buzzer sounded on the 91-58 loss to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, ESPN's Joe Lunardi had a new update on the state of the NCAA Tournament bubble and he had the Panthers in the same place the began the night in - as the last team among his Next Four Out. 

What makes these projections odd is how Lunardi had talked about this game prior to and in the moments following tip-off. He claimed that this was a "must-win" for both Pitt and Wake Forest if they wanted to hold their spots on the bubble and "live to fight another day." 

Lunardi said neither squad could make a leap into a higher category - either First Four Out in Pitt's case or Last Four In in Wake Forest's - with a victory and the Demon Deacons didn't. But he added that a loss would knock either team down a peg. Instead, both sides held serve in their respective categories and will, in fact, live to fight for another day on the NCAA Tournament bubble. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Pitt Blown Out in Rematch With Wake Forest

Pitt's Justin Champagnie Signs With Wizards

Pitt's Damar Hamlin Praises Steelers HC Mike Tomlin

Pitt-Wake Forest Game Gaining National Hype

USA Today: Pitt Closing On NCAA Tournament Bid

Pitt Controls Destiny in NCAA Tournament Race

Published
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:

Home/Basketball