PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If there is a margin for error, it’s razor-thin for the Pitt basketball team and aspirations of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech comes to the Pete on Saturday as the Panthers deal with the cliché of the season, but one that is also true, it being a ‘must-win’ game.
“We try to treat every game like that,” said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network. “I’m certainly human also, that I know there are different types of pressures. When you are in the league season like this and you are in the position we are in. The pressure is a little bit different.”
Following the loss at Wake Forest, the Panthers slipped to 57th in the NET rankings which are a big indicator for the NCAA Tournament. You need to look no further than your opponent as for the reason this game his huge. Virginia Tech is 51st in NET even though they have two fewer overall wins. Both have three ‘Quad 1’ wins.
Combined the Panthers have only four Quad 1 or Quad 2 wins, they need more for the resume. They got a shot for a Quad 2 win against Virginia Tech and a Quad 1 opportunity Tuesday at Clemson. Since those Quad 1 and 2 wins are so important, here are the other teams around them in the NET standings and their combined Quad 1 and 2 victories:
48. James Madison-2
49. Texas A&M-8
50. St. John’s-7
51. Hokies-5
52. Grand Canyon-3
53. McNeese-3
54. Princeton-3
55. Northwestern-9
56. Providence-8
57. Panthers-4
58. South Carolina-8
59. Oregon-6
60. San Francisco-1
61. Xavier-7
62. Butler-7
63. Iowa-8
64. Bradley-3
65. Seton Hall-7
“What I try to tell our guys that pressure is a privilege,” Capel said on 93.7 The Fan. “You get a chance to be in games that are incredibly meaningful. You should embrace it and love it and go out and try to perform.”
There is another shot at a Quad 2 win, March 2 at Boston College and maybe in the regular season finale hosting NC State on March 9.
Capel leans on senior Blake Hinson to relay the message of the importance of the games and dealing with the pressure. The Pitt head coach says the forward sets a great example of having fun, but yet getting to business. He hopes that rubs off on the group.
“It’s easier said than done when you are dealing with 18-year-olds, which we have a couple of, that can be a little bit of a challenge,” Capel said. “Fortunately, we have some older guys in our program. Some guys that have dealt with different types of pressures that hopefully could help us overcome it.”
Even if they would run the table on the regular season or go 4-1, there would still be work to do in the ACC Tournament. They can’t be a one-and-done and look good to the NCAA selection committee. They would need to win at least a game.
When you look at potential matchups within the conference tournament, it’s another jumbled group. After the top three of North Carolina, Duke and Virginia there are seven teams within two games of each other. Wake Forest has nine ACC wins, Clemson, Pitt, NC State, Florida State and Syracuse all have eight conference wins and the Hokies have seven.
Still not done, but a lot of work to do. It’s ‘must-win’ time for the Panthers.
Listen to Saturday’s game on 93.7 The Fan with pregame starting at 5p with the Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove, Panthers great Curtis Aiken and Cale Berger leading up to tip at 5:30p.