Pitt Panthers Men’s Basketball Predictably Drops In Polls After Rough Week
By Matt Gajtka
Feb 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Cameron Wright (3) handles the ball as Virginia Cavaliers guard London Perrantes (left) defends during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Following a pair of home losses over the past seven days, the Pitt Panthers men’s basketball team predictably paid for it in the national polls.
Although the Panthers remain ranked in both surveys, they dropped from No. 17 to No. 22 in the USA Today coaches’ poll and from 18th to 25th according to the Associated Press.
Pitt (18-4, 6-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) fell decisively to Duke last Monday at the Petersen Events Center, then lost at the buzzer to Virginia on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers are now tied with Duke for third place in the ACC, trailing leader Syracuse (8-0 ACC) and second-place Virginia (8-1).
Pitt begins another two-game week with a Wednesday trip to Miami (Fla.), and Virginia Tech visits the Pete on Saturday for a noon tipoff. Both teams are well below .500 in conference play, so the next few days present an opportunity for the Panthers to get their game back together.
Syracuse (21-0 overall) remained a unanimous No. 1 in both polls, while Duke (No. 11 in AP and coaches’) and Virginia (No. 20 in AP, No. 21 in coaches’) gave the ACC four teams in the top 25.