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ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi put Pitt in a body bag on Selection Sunday when its social media team attempted to flex its NCAA Tournament resume. The Panthers were squarely on the bubble after finishing the year 22-11.
That was good enough for a Top 4 finish in the ACC, once considered the nation’s premiere college basketball league. That narrative has shifted in recent years, though.
That being said, Pitt was certainly still worthy of Big Dance consideration.
The Panthers ranked 40th in NET while boasting a solid 9-9 record against Quad 1 and 2 foes. The team also won seven games away from home, including taking down Duke and UVA on the road as underdogs.
To make their case for NCAA Tournament inclusion, the Panthers’ social media team put together a graphic highlighting those metrics on selection day.
A worthy resume 📝 pic.twitter.com/4loc0VCLje
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 17, 2024
What they failed to include, understandably, were the lows experienced this year. Most notably, two losses against a non-conference slate that ranked as one of the nation’s worst for a Power Five program.
The Panthers lost by 15 points to Florida before dropping a game versus a Missouri group that went winless in SEC play.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi took the moment to remind Pitt in brutal fashion.
“The line with a 343 Non-Conference SOS must have gotten cut off on my screen,” he replied on his X feed.
That response sparked a major reaction from college basketball fans.
“You didn’t have to respond; you just made an entire fanbase hate you.”
“Imagine having this much bias that you tweet at a programs social media page.”
“Thank you for finally admitting you hate Pitt.”
Joe Lunardi had Pitt listed in the “Next Four Out” in his latest bracketology projection. He’s clearly not high on the Panthers!