WASHINGTON – The fate of Pitt basketball rests in the hands of the NCAA selection committee Sunday night to determine if the Panthers are going dancing.
The No. 4 seeded Panthers lost to No. 1 North Carolina, 72-65, in the ACC Tournament semifinals from Capital One Arena Friday. Pitt was outscored 39-30 in the second half after taking a 35-33 advantage to the locker room. Baltimore native Bub Carrington scored a team-high 24 points, while fellow freshman Jaland Lowe totaled 17.
Considered by bracketologist to be on the tournament bubble, the Panthers received a double-bye and defeated No. 5 Wake Forest 81-69 Thursday to pad their season resume. Pitt’s 343rd-ranked non-conference strength of schedule is a key detractor to the Panthers, who lost contests against Missouri at home and beat up on a bad West Virginia team. Despite this, the Panthers entered Friday No. 40 in the NET.
After the game, Pitt players spoke as to why they think the program is worthy of a second-consecutive NCAA Tournament selection.
Pitt finds itself in a similar spot as last year, questioning if the Panthers will make the field of 68.
Carrington shot 9-17 from the floor, 4-8 behind the arc, grabbed five rebounds, and dealt three assists in the defeat. He played all 40 minutes. Carrington also confirmed he will be back at Pitt for his sophomore year.
Back from injury and a contributor off the bench, Will Jeffress thinks Pitt’s accomplishments put the Panthers over the final finish line. Jaland Lowe didn’t get to experience the same anxiousness inside the locker room last year when Pitt clinched a spot in Dayton, but soaked in the moment of playing in the ACC Tournament and what may come next for the team.
More must-reads: