PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – President Obama was still picking teams while in office the last time Pitt was in the bracket. March 12, 2023 the Panthers returned as it will play Mississippi State in the play-in game in Dayton in Greensboro.
The Panthers earned it with 22 wins, 15 against ACC teams. With seven road wins, none of the bubble teams had more. Returning to the AP Top 25 for the first time in seven years despite being picked to finish 14th in the conference this season.
Four Panthers players have NCAA Tournament experience-Blake Hinson (one game at Ole Miss), Greg Elliott (one game at Marquette), Nelly Cummings (two games at Colgate), Jamarius Burton (two games at Texas Tech). All on Pitt's coaching staff have experience in the NCAA Tournament, Jeff Capel is 4-3 in his career including a run to the Elite 8 coaching Oklahoma in 2009.
Mississippi State (21-12, 8-10 SEC, 4 road wins)
Best nonconference win-Marquette, TCU
Best conference win-Texas A&M
Bad loss-Drake
Pitt's last NCAA Tournament game was a 47-43 loss to Wisconsin in a game played in St. Louis in 2016. The Panthers last NCAA Tournament win was in 2014 beating Colorado 77-48 in Orlando.
