PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Of what Pitt couldn’t control, how did that play out with games on Saturday? Panthers beat NC State 81-73 to finish fourth in the ACC. Here is a look at several other matchups of teams ranked around the Panthers fighting to get into the NCAA Tournament.
The rankings are the NET ratings, a major metric used by the NCAA Selection Committee. Here is a look at the teams in front of Pitt, starting with the closest ahead of them.
· 26 Texas (20-11) beat 40-Oklahoma (20-11) 94-80 at home
Longhorns probably with a clinching win, the loss by the Sooners was on the road in a Quad 1 matchup
· 31-Villanova (17-14) lost at home to 11-Creighton (23-8) 69-67
Given the opponent, not a killer loss, but would have been a huge win for the Wildcats
· 35-Texas Tech (21-9) beat 13-Baylor (22-8) 78-68
Huge home win by double-figures against the 11th ranked Bears
· 36-Colorado St (22-9) won at Air Force (9-21) 82-73
Single digits against a bad team, will it affect the rankings
· 37-St. John’s (19-12) beat 9-22 Georgetown 86-78
Even though the Hoyas kept it close, St. John’s appears to be a darling with Rick Pitino
· UCF (16-14) won at 38-TCU (20-11) 79-77
A game the Horned Frogs should have won at home
· 39-Miss St (19-12) lost at home to 47 South Carolina (25-6) 93-89 in OT
Big win for South Carolina, who was probably already in ranked 17 in the AP poll, but makes it interesting for State. How will it factor that the game went to overtime
· 41-Wake Forest (18-12) beat 24-Clemson (21-9) 81-76 at home
It’s a Quad 1 win against a Top 25 NET team after a couple of bad losses for the Demon Deacons
There are schools right behind them, of those who played on Saturday, here are the results.
· 45-Cincinnati (18-13) beat WVU (9-22) at home 92-56
Bearcats did what they needed to do and made sure the score was impressive
· 46-Drake (26-6) beat 57-Bradley at a neutral site 72-67
Good win or Drake in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
· 68-Oregon (20-11) with a 66-65 home win over 48-Utah (18-13)
It's a tough road game, but the Utes now with 13 losses.
· 49-Texas A&M (18-13) won at (20-11) Ole Miss (20-11) 86-60
Blowout road win against a 20-win opponent
· 50-Virginia (21-9) beat Georgia Tech (14-16) at home
Virginia needed a win, got one at home in an expected result
· 52-Northwestern (21-10) buried Minnesota 90-66 at home
The committee loves themselves some Big 10 and the Wildcats are now at 21 wins
· 54-Virginia Tech (18-13) won at home against Notre Dame (12-19) 82-76
Hokies won, but by a close margin against a team that is better than their record, but still only 12 wins
· 61-Providence (19-12) lost at home to 2-UConn (28-3) 74-60
Not unexpected, but was the huge boost the Friars needed
· 71-Memphis (22-9) lost at 33-Florida Atlantic (24-7) 92-84
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi consistently has the Tigers as a bubble team
· 76-Kansas St (18-13) beat 8-Iowa State 65-58
Huge win for the Wildcats, how much will it lift them up the standings?
So does Jeff Capel have a better idea of their chances to make the NCAA Tournament?
“I have no idea,” Capel said. “Our numbers are better this year than they were last year. I don’t know. I really and truly don’t worry about it because I can’t control it. I try not to give it much thought.”