Only one question remains for the Panthers after their 70-60 victory over UConn on Saturday: Great Pitt team? or Greatest Pitt team? In his final game at the Peterson Events Center, Sam Young scored a season high 31 points in a dominating performance to help Pitt defeat a #1 ranked UConn squad for the second time this year. Levance Fields embraced Senior Day as well, commanding the floor as usual to the tune of 12 assists. Pitt (28-3, 15-3) finished the season undefeated at home, going 19-0. This game was a party. Young's ridiculous throw-down dunk with 6:29 to play deflated the Huskies and electrified the record crowd to the point of frenzy. It felt like a celebration. It felt like relief. It felt like maybe, just maybe, this Pitt team is different (and better) than all of the Pitt teams that have disappointed us before. The next few weeks should be a lot of fun.Some random Saturday notes, for your enjoyment:
- My conference tournament predictions are a disaster! I've already lost three of my prediction champions...all of those losses coming WAY before the Championship games. Vermont (somehow) lost to Albany today 56-52 in overtime. I've also had Belmont and Murray State lose VERY early on. I'm not giving up. I have a lot of work to do if I want to nail 15 of 30 Conference Tournament Champions correctly. But I'm definitely going to be playing from behind from here on out.
- Cornell is the first team to officially earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Penn and winning the Ivy League title last night. This is the second year in a row Cornell will be in the Big Dance.
- It's crazy that Louisville could beat West Virginia tonight and win the Big East. Their 5 overall losses probably hurt their chances of earning a #1 seed. However...Pitt is practically a lock for a #1...and if Louisville wins the Big East Tournament, how are they not a #1 seed? The reality of having three Big East teams as one seeds is becoming more and more possible by the moment.
- Creighton won a THRILLER last night when Booker Woodfox hit a 16-foot jumper at the buzzer to hold off Wichita State 63-62. The Missouri Valley Tournament always provides drama and excitement. I was so thankful for this win because I was on the verge of losing another one of my Conference Tournament Champions. Remember how I informed you of Creighton and Booker Woodfox the other day? That's called foreshadowing. You're welcome.
- Two HUGE games in the Horizon League tonight as the semi-finals put Wright State against Butler and Cleveland State against UW Green-Bay. Cleveland State came back from down ten with under 4 minutes left last night against Illinois-Chicago. Lucky bastards! I'm not losing my first official March Madness bet. Butler will move on.
- Iowa battled their hearts out and just forced overtime against Penn State after squandering 9 point lead with under three minutes left. I'm not reporting on the final result (whatever it is) to avoid ridicule or anger from the Nittany Lion faithful.
- I'm especially interested in the Louisville/West Virginia and Wright State/Butler games later today. Also, the first three Conference Tournament Champions will be crowned in the Ohio Valley, Big South, and Atlantic Sun. Tomorrow there's the HUGE Duke vs. North Carolina game, along with Robert Morris' NEC semi-final contest against Quinnipiac. It's a great time of year. Enjoy your Saturday.
0201
