Inside The Panthers

Pitt's National Championship Odds Improve After Blake Hinson Returns

The Pitt Panthers' odds of winning it all took a big leap after Blake Hinson announced he would play his senior season.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt's National Championship Odds Improve After Blake Hinson Returns
Pitt's National Championship Odds Improve After Blake Hinson Returns /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- Blake Hinson's announcement that he had exited the NBA Early Entry Process, return to school and play his final season for the Pitt Panthers was the biggest news of the offseason for the program, who retained their leading scorer and rebounder from last year's NCAA Tournament squad.

The sportsbooks took notice and increased the Panthers' odds to win it all next March by a sizable margin. They jumped from +25,000 in early April to +15,000 the day after Hinson's announcement per BetOnline.ag.

Pitt is tied with Arizona State, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Louisville, Clemson, Northwestern and Ole Miss for the 55th-best odds nationally to be the last team standing when March Madness ends.

Six ACC teams - Duke, North Carolina, Miami, Virginia, Syracuse and Virginia Tech - have better odds than the Panthers to take home a national championship. 

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

Pitt's First Round of June Official Visitors

Jets Restructure Former Pitt S Jordan Whitehead's Contract

Pitt Misses Cut for Legacy WR Peter Gonzalez

Pitt Makes Top Five for Dayton Transfer Mike Sharavjamts

Three-Star DL Dominic Kirks Moves Up Official Vist to Pitt

Kickoff Times for Two More Pitt Home Games Announced

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