Just a few pieces mentioning Pitt or Pacific to pass on. A look at Pitt’s stumbles in the last few years.
SWEET 16: Pittsburgh
The Panthers have become a force in the Big East but have been eliminated in the regional semifinals three years in a row. Two of the three teams that eliminated the Panthers (Marquette and Oklahoma State) went to the Final Four. Pitt‘s best chance to get past the Sweet 16 probably was its first, when it lost in overtime against Kent State.
Pitt‘s premature eliminations partly were the result of its nonconference schedules, which led to poorer seedings than the teams’ strength warranted. Last year, for instance, the Panthers were 28-4 in the regular season and went to the Big East Tournament title game — but had only the 45th-best RPI strength of schedule. So in some ways, they were fortunate to be a No. 3 seed but were good enough to be a No. 2.
Pitt‘s schedule was weak again this season, but it will be less of an issue with the Panthers not contending for a high seed. The difference between this team and its predecessors is that it can score, although that requires wing Antonio Graves to be playing aggressively and confidently.
Oh, and since some people are sick of me making comments about the importance of the non-con, I’ll let someone else do it.
Bob Bowlsby wasn’t kidding.
For weeks, he warned us in the media. He warned you in the listening audience. And most of all he warned them — college basketball schools and coaches.
Bowlsby, the chairman of the 2005 NCAA Tournament selection committee, warned anyone who would listen that the non-conference schedule would be a vital line on each candidate’s resume.
When the bracket was released Sunday night, it was clear just how vital.
Interestingly, conference tournaments also played an enormous role in the makeup of the 2005 bracket.
Shockingly, the conference slate — the part of the season coaches think should matter most — was downplayed in the process.
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It told the selection committee to ignore Pittsburgh’s work in the Big East regular season. The Panthers (20-8, 10-6) finished two full games ahead of West Virginia (21-10, 8-8), but West Virginia was seeded two full rungs ahead of Pittsburgh, getting a No. 7 seed compared to Pitt’s No. 9.That was a function of West Virginia’s season sweep but also the other unexpectedly important resume line — conference tournaments. Surely no one thought what happened last week would be unimportant. But who knew it would be that important?
It means less games against teams who have an RPI below 200. Yes, the top-25 game or two would be excellent, but reducing the number of bottom feeders played is more important. Sorry, I can’t help it. This has been an issue for me since this blog started.
From the 65 storylines for 65 teams.
6. Players Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon has tried at the wing positions since senior Yuri Demetris was suspended in January for violating team rules. As important as sophomore center Chris Taft’s progress is, getting consistent offensive and defensive production at shooting guard and small forward will be more important to Pittsburgh’s tournament run.
Can’t really argue with that. In the BC game, DeGroat provided a new wrinkle. In the comeback games against UConn and Syracuse, it was Kendall.
For something fun and to feel better about Pitt. How about the rankings for schools with the best combination of football and basketball.
12. Pittsburgh — No one seemed to really want the Big East championship this year, so Pittsburgh snuck in with a huge win in the Backyard Brawl, and earned a fat paycheck to be Utah’s speed bag in the Fiesta Bowl. The 2004 season marked the anticipated debut of quarterback Tyler Palko and the expected departure of head coach Walt Harris. Indoors, the Panthers have been rather schizophrenic. The same squad that lost to Bucknell and St. Johns also won road games at UConn, Syracuse and Boston College. At 20-8, they’re the No. 9 in the Albuquerque region.
Winter MVP — F Chevon Troutman
