The Pittsburgh Panthers were projected to finish in the middle of the pack in the ACC. Except for a blowout loss to Mississippi State in the horrendous ACC/SEC Challenge, Pitt showed their ability to beat or battle quality opponents. They even began ACC play by winning their first three matchups. However, after this they lost four consecutive games, Pitt now desperately needs to find a few wins in the next few weeks. What may not be immediately visible is the positive impact that this slide may have on the ACC.
ACC Contender Loses Fourth Straight: It May Be a Good Thing
The Impact on Pitt
The injury to Damian Dunn appeared to put Pitt in a vulnerable position. Both of their losses in the first 14 games came without Dunn playing more than a couple of minutes, as he got hurt early in the game against Wisconsin. He fought to come back after a thumb surgery in a crucial battle against Duke. They fought hard, but Duke pulled away late. Since his return, they’ve lost every single game and fallen behind by double digits in each contest.
Their loss on Saturday likely sparks the Panthers going into their week off. Whenever an ACC contender loses their fourth straight, it could spell doom for what matters: the NCAA Tournament. However, Pitt’s non-conference opponents continue to mostly perform well. Wisconsin is 15-3, West Virginia is 13-4, LSU is 12-6, and Mississippi State is 15-3. Their losses in the conference have all been Quad One (Q1) except for their home loss to Clemson, who sits at 31 in the NET (the threshold for Q1 home games is 1-30). They’ve missed out on opportunities for big wins, but Pitt is hardly eliminated with these quality losses.
The Impact on NCAA Tournament Hopes for the ACC
When an ACC contender loses fourth straight, teams have to win those games. Each team that beat Pitt received a significant boost.
- Duke: Duke opened the door for an undefeated ACC run when they stomped the Panthers. They passed their stiffest conference test at the time with flying colors and have shown no signs of slowing down since then.
- Louisville: The win for Louisville cemented the Cardinals as an NCAA Tournament team. As long as they continue to win the games they should win, their strength of schedule and plethora of quality wins will put them in position for a six- or seven-seed in the tournament.
- Florida State: The Seminoles struggled to win important games early in the season and lacked a truly big win. Beating Pitt finally gives them that. Their wins have moved them up to 66th in the NET rankings. It marks their first Q1/Q2 win of the season and they’ll likely need at least six or seven to make the tournament, but each win puts them closer to that spot.
- Clemson: People had begun to doubt the Tigers after an underwhelming non-conference slate. The win cements them as an ACC contender and firmly puts them in the NCAA Tournament. They picked up a couple of quality wins in the non-conference but beating Pitt gives them a good conference win too.
Each team improved their NCAA Tournament aspirations with a win over Pitt. It may not be the best news for the Panthers, but the ACC as a whole is grateful for this rough stretch.
Pitt Loses Fourth Straight: Don’t Panic!
The season is not over for the Panthers, They have North Carolina twice, and SMU, Wake Forest, and Louisville on the road. These will all be at least Q2 games if not Q1. It is a disappointing start to ACC play for Pitt, but they’re not done yet. Jaland Lowe and Ishmael Leggett are still elite guards. They can stretch the floor with seven-foot Guillermo Diaz Graham and 6-foot 11-inch Jorge Diaz Graham (he’s shooting 61.5% from three on the season!) Coach Jeff Capel needs to find a combination to win, but they started slowly last season in ACC play (1-5) and managed to finish 12-8 and make the ACC Tournament semifinal. Breathe, Panther fans. Don’t panic for three more weeks: there is still time to turn this all around.
