Pitt's resume should be enough for NCAA Tournament bid
The Pitt Panthers are going to be one of the most controversial bubble teams before the men's tournament field is set on Sunday, but their 81-69 win over Wake Forest in the ACC tournament on Thursday afternoon should remove all doubt.
Even after winning 21 games during the regular season and finishing fourth in the ACC, the Panthers entered Thursday's game very much on the bubble – and narrowly missing out when it comes to most tournament projections.
Even after Thursday's impressive win, ESPN's Joe Lunardi still had them in the "first four out" group.
It is entirely possible Pittsburgh might need to beat North Carolina – the top seed in the ACC Tournament and one of the best teams in the country – to safely secure a bid in the field of 68.
That seems outrageous when you consider Pitt's overall body of work.
The argument against them is going to be their relatively weak out-of-conference schedule and a terrible early-season home loss against Missouri. Pitt also had a rough start in conference play, dropping five of its first six ACC games.
Since then, however, Pitt's season has done a complete 180, producing some of its best basketball down the stretch. Including Thursday's win against Wake Forest, Pitt is 12-3 in its past 15 games and has picked up road wins at No. 7 Duke and No. 21 Virginia, as well as a double-digit neutral site win against another bubble team in Wake Forest.
As Thursday's game wrapped up, ESPN's Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas both made the arguments for Pitt's tournament inclusion.
Not only is Pitt playing some of its best basketball at the right time of year, it is the type of team that could be capable of going on a run if it does get in thanks to its backcourt.
The Panthers have two freshman guards in Carlton Carrington and Jaland Lowe who are able to control the pace of games and take over. Carrington might have a future playing in the NBA. Guard play is the biggest X-factor in the NCAA tournament and Pitt has it.
Blake Hinson is also a dangerous three-point shooter while ACC Sixth Man of the Year Ishmael Leggett put 30 points on the board against Wake Forest on Thursday.
Pitt is a young, talented team that could make a lot of noise if it just gets the opportunity. Even though the ACC is down this year and not what it has been in the past, there is no reason why 22 wins after Thursday, 13 in the conference and road wins over Duke and Virginia should not be enough to land them that NCAA Tournament opportunity.
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