NCAA Tournament: Looking Back At Pitt’s Performances Over The Past Decade

Feb 18, 2013: Pittsburgh, PA, USA: Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon reacts after a missed basket against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Pugliese-USA TODAY Sports

The Pitt Panthers will be appearing in their 12th NCAA Tournament in the last 13 years. Head coach Jamie Dixon has made the Big Dance in 10 of his 11 seasons at the helm.

Pitt’s run of success in making the tournament started under Ben Howland, who truly turned this program into one of the elite.

One last step for Pitt is to get over the hump and reach a Final Four. The Panthers are 23-25 all-time in 48 tournament games, winning 15 of their last 26.

Under Dixon, the furthest Pitt has reached was the Elite Eight in 2009. The Panthers, led by the trio of DeJuan Blair, Sam Young, and Levance Fields, were a No. 1 seed that year and lost in dramatic fashion to Villanova in the round of 16.

Scottie Reynolds’ layup at the buzzer still haunts me to this day.

In case you were interested in Pitt’s recent success, here is a little history lesson on the Panthers’ in the NCAA tournament during the Howland-Dixon years.

Only a handful of other NCAA programs can match Pitt’s success over the previous decade.

In 2002, Pitt reached the Big Dance for the first time since 1993, landing a No. 3 seed with a 29-6 record under Howland. Pitt would blow out Central Connecticut State 71-54, defeat No. 6 California 63-50, and fall in the Sweet 16 to 10th-seeded Kent State 78-73.

Antonio Gates, who has made a living as a tight end in the NFL, led Kent State in that game, scoring 22 points. For Pitt, Julius Page and Brandin Knight each scored 18 in the defeat, and Jaron Brown chipped in 13. Kent State would fall to Indiana in the Elite Eight.

In 2003, Pitt won the Big East tournament under Howland, recording a 28-5 record and receiving a No. 2 seed. The Panthers blew out Wagner 87-61 and No. 7 Indiana 74-52, but lost a heartbreaker to Dwyane Wade and Marquette, 77-74 in the Sweet 16.

Wade scored 22 points and gave Pitt much trouble. For the Panthers, Brandin Knight, Chevon Troutman, Julius Page and Jaron Brown all scored in double figures. Marquette would advance to the Final Four.

Ben Howland would then move on to UCLA in 2004, and Jamie Dixon coached his Panthers to a 31-5 record and No. 3 seed in his first year as head coach. Pitt defeated 14th-seeded UCF 53-44, No. 6 Wisconsin 59-55, and fell to No. 2 Oklahoma State 63-51 in the Sweet 16.

For the Cowboys, Tony Allen scored 23 points. For Pitt, Carl Krauser scored 15 and Jaron Brown added 11. Oklahoma State would advance to the Final Four.

In 2005, Pitt finished with a 20-9 record and a ninth-seed. The Panthers would lose to eighth-seeded Pacific 79-71, ending their most disappointing season as of late. Carl Krauser scored 27 for the Panthers, and Chris Taft added 13. For Pacific, Christian Maraker scored 17 points, and David Doubley added 17.

Mar 14, 2014; Greensboro, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Derrick Randall (11) and guard Josh Newkirk (13) celebrate on the bench in the final seconds of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the quarterfinals of the ACC college basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Pittsburgh defeated North Carolina 80-75. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Moving on to 2006, Pitt recorded a 25-8 mark, landing a No. 5 seed. The Panthers would defeat No. 12 Kent State 79-64, but fall to 13th-seeded Bradley 72-66, capping another disappointment.

Pitt had no answer for Bradley center Patrick O’Bryant, who scored 28 points and would be drafted in the NBA the following offseason. For Pitt, Levance Fields scored 18, Krauser had 17 and Aaron Gray added 12.

In 2007, Pitt finished 29-8, and received a No. 3 seed. The Panthers blew out Wright State 79-58, defeated No. 11 VCU 84-79, and fell to Howland’s second-seeded UCLA squad 64-55 in the Sweet 16.

Arron Afflalo scored 17 for UCLA and Josh Shipp added 16. Darren Collison scored 12 points for the Bruins. For Pitt, Ronald Ramon scored 12, Levance Fields 11, and Aaron Gray 10. UCLA would advance to the Final Four.

In 2008, the Panthers won the Big East tournament and qualified as a No. 4 seed with a 27-10 record. Pitt blew away Oral Roberts 82-63 but lost to fifth-seeded Michigan State 65-54. For the Spartans, Drew Neitzel scored 21 and Ken Lucas added 19. For Pitt, Levance Fields scored 19, Sam Young scored 15, and DeJuan Blair added 10.

2009 was arguably the best season for Pitt in the Dixon era, as the Panthers were a No. 1 seed with a 31-5 mark. Sports Illustrated picked the Panthers to win it all. Pitt defeated East Tennessee State 72-62, No. 8 Oklahoma State 84-76, fourth-seeded Xavier 60-55, and fell to No. 3 Villanova 78-76 in the Elite Eight.

Sam Young scored 28 against Villanova, DeJuan Blair added 20, and Levance Fields scored 10. For the Wildcats, Dwayne Anderson scored 17 and Scottie Reynolds added 15. Reynolds’ dagger was a game-winning layup as time expired, and I will never forget that play for the rest of my life. Villanova would then be blown out by eventual champ UNC.

In 2010, Pitt would be given a 3 seed with a 25-9 mark.  The Panthers blew out Oakland 89-66, but would fall to No. 6 Xavier 71-68 in the second round. Pitt couldn’t stop Jordan Crawford, who scored 27 points. Ashton Gibbs scored 19, Brad Wannamaker added 16 and Gilbert Brown scored 14.

In 2011, Pitt would again receive a No. 1 seed, posting a 28-6 record. Pitt would dismantle 16th-seeded UNC-Asheville 74-51, but fell in a huge upset to No. 8 Butler 71-70 on a pair of Matt Howard free throws from a controversial foul call.

For Butler, Shelvin Mack went off and scored 30, whereas Howard added 16. For the Panthers, Gilbert Brown scored 24, Nasir Robinson 16, and Ashton Gibbs 11. Butler would go on to the NCAA Final, where it lost to UConn.

Pitt uncharacteristically missed the tourney in 2012, yet defeated Washington State in a best-of-three series to win the CBI championship.

In 2013, Pitt was deemed an No. 8 seed and met up with ninth-seeded Wichita State. The Shockers dismantled the Panthers, giving Pitt its worst tournament loss, 73-55.

For Wichita State, Malcolm Armstead scored 22 and Cleanthony Early scored 21. Pitt’s Steven Adams scored 13 points and Lamar Patterson added nine. Wichita State would advance to the Final Four and are currently undefeated heading into this year’s dance.

How will Pitt perform in the 2014 tournament? Hopefully we can witness victories over Colorado and top-seeded Florida in the South Region. Anything can happen.