Inside The Panthers

USA Today: Pitt Closing On NCAA Tournament Bid

The Pitt Panthers could be closer to making the NCAA Tournament field than some think.

Stephen Thompson

USA Today: Pitt Closing On NCAA Tournament Bid
USA Today: Pitt Closing On NCAA Tournament Bid /
In this story:

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are one of the hottest teams in the ACC and America right now, having won seven of their last eight and vaulted back into the NCAA Tournament bid. 

The Panthers have six games left in the regular season, plus an ACC Tournament run, left on their schedule. But they are inches away from earning their second NCAA Tournament bid in as many years, according to Craig Meyer of The USA Today, who released a new slate of bracket predictions that includes Pitt among the First Four Out. 

Meyer slotted Pitt alongside Seton Hall, Butler and Colorado among those just on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament field. Most bracketologists like The Athletic's Justin Williams, ESPN's Joe Lunardi and Fox's Mike DeCourcy have the Panthers one peg lower - among the Next Four Out. 

The Panthers begin the home stretch of the regular season with a big game - a visit to Wake Forest, who's undefeated at home this season - in a clash of bubble teams. The Demon Deacons have slid after losing two in a row to Duke and Virginia, but there should still be a robust contingent of ACC teams included in the Tournament field. 

"Though there are only two ACC teams in the newest Coaches Poll and AP Top 25, they almost certainly won't be the league's lone two inclusions among brackets come March Madness," Meyer wrote. "Clemson continues to have a strong NCAA Tournament resume, and Virginia under Tony Bennett can never be discounted. Wake Forest and Pitt have both played themselves on to the bubble as well."

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

Pitt Controls Destiny in NCAA Tournament Race

Pitt at Wake Forest: Quad 1 Opportunity Available

Pitt's Jeff Capel Remembers Legacy of Lefty Driesell

Pitt to Host TBT Regional in 2024

Pitt's Blake Hinson Earns More Player of the Week Awards

Breaking: Pitt Receives Votes in AP Poll

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