City of Champions
Fansided

Pitt Basketball: Panthers chances of beating Irish just took huge hit

By Derek Snyder

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 04: Head coach Kevin Stallings of the Pittsburgh Panthers walks off the court during Pittsburgh's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 4, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 04: Head coach Kevin Stallings of the Pittsburgh Panthers walks off the court during Pittsburgh's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 4, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Pitt basketball team is looking to win their first conference game of the year against Notre Dame on Wednesday, but those hopes may be fading fast.

The Pitt basketball team is doing everything they can to finish the 2017-2018 season with just one conference win. This young and inexperienced squad hasn’t been very competitive this year, but they do have a good chance of beating the Irish on Wednesday night in Sound Bend, Indiana. Even in a tough place to play.

Actually, I take that back, they did have a good shot of beating Notre Dame in their last regular season game of the year.

With reports of the Irish’s best player, Bonzie Colson, returning from action on Wednesday surfacing, there was still some optimism that he may decide to sit this one out. However, those hopes were ultimately dashed on Tuesday night when it was announced Colson would definitely play against the Panthers.

More from Pitt Panthers

Take a look at this blurb from Rob Goldberg in his article from Bleacher Report:

"After missing most of the season with a foot fracture, Notre Dame star Bonzie Colson will return to the court Wednesday against Pittsburgh, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.“I was going to put him out there to start the game, even if the doctors didn’t clear him, and foul right away just to see the place go crazy,” head coach Mike Brey said. “Now I don’t have to foul. He’ll start, and I’m hoping he can play 20 minutes.”Wednesday is the last home game of the season for the Fighting Irish and Senior Night for six players on the roster, including Colson."

Needless to say, whatever optimism we once had about the Panthers winning on Wednesday night were just dashed. With Colson returning to the lineup for the first time in months, the Joyce Center will be going crazy. Not to mention, with Notre Dame’s NCAA Tournament bid still up in the air, they’ll be looking to dominate Pitt all night.

Who knows, maybe the Panthers will surprise us and come out with a tough road victory? This team has learned how to fail in every way possible, but maybe this is the night where it all comes together.

Next: Everything you need to know for Pitt vs Notre Dame

Regardless of what happens, at least the season will finally be over, right?

Home/Pitt Panthers