5 Reasons Why Pittsburgh Panthers Won't Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Justin Patrick

5 Reasons Pitt Panthers Won’t Make NCAA Tourney

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh has been on the March Madness bubble for a while, and ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has the Panthers as one of the “Next Four Out” teams in his most recent bracket (Mar. 3). The Panthers are NCAA Tourney regulars, even if they have routinely fallen short of expectations in March Madness, and their bubble hasn’t officially burst yet. But here are five reasons why the Panthers will not make the NCAA Tourney.

5. Out Of Conference Schedule

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

5. Out Of Conference Schedule

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers have been mediocre for much of the season, which is no bueno considering their out of conference schedule wasn’t great. They lost to Hawaii and failed to beat SDSU or Indiana. Their only good win in non-conference play was over KSU. Yes, Pitt plays in the tough ACC, but they didn’t do enough in ACC play to make up for their weak out of conference schedule or the losses they sustained before conference play began.

4. Lack Of Quality Wins

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

4. Lack Of Quality Wins

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The only true quality wins Pitt has this season are over Notre Dame and UNC. They do have five wins over RPI top-100 teams and are now ranked No. 49 in RPI, but only one of those wins came against a non-conference opponent (KSU – now in the top 100). And while that RPI is decent, it’s not good enough when the Panthers’ entire body of work is looked at. They are only 2-7 against RPI top-50 teams, and they have struggled on the road this season.

3. Bad Losses

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

3. Bad Losses

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

If they wanted to prove that they belong in the NCAA Tournament field, then they should have avoided losses to teams like Hawaii, Va. Tech and Wake Forest. The loss on Mar. 1 to the Demon Deacons is especially egregious. They knew they were on the bubble and playing an inferior team, but they failed to have a real sense of urgency, particularly in the final two minutes. When a team is on the bubble, they must win the games they are supposed to.

2. Remaining Schedule

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2. Remaining Schedule

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

If Pitt ended the season by winning five straight and then won a game in the ACC Tournament, they probably would have found themselves in the NCAA Tourney field. Instead they lost to Wake and now the wind has been taken out of their sails. Miami is on the bubble, and the Canes are probably in a slightly more favorable position than Pitt. Miami will bring their A-game on Wednesday, and that game will be anything but easy for the Panthers.

1. They Will Fail To Win The ACC Tournament

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

1. They Will Fail To Win The ACC Tournament

Pitt Panthers March Madness
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

If the Panthers fall short of securing an at-large bid (and the four previous slides indicate they will do just that), they would have to obtain the ACC’s automatic bid by winning the ACC Tournament. They have not done anything this season to suggest they could win the ACC Tournament. The Panthers did manage to beat Notre Dame and UNC, but they are inferior to those teams and they certainly are not better than UVA or Duke.

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