Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Encyclopedia
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA
Division I intercollegiate
men's basketball
program of the University of Pittsburgh
, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference
and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center
. The Panthers have won two Helms Athletic Foundation
National Championships, reached one Final Four
, received 15 First Team All-American
selections, have appeared in 23 NCAA
and eight NIT
tournaments, and through the 2010-11 season have recorded 1,465 victories against 1,048 losses since their inaugural season of 1905-06. The head coach of the Panthers since 2003 is Jamie Dixon
.
began playing men's basketball in 1905-06 under coach Benjamin Printz. The University did not field a team during the 1909–10 and 1910–11 seasons. The program was resurrected in 1911 under head coach Wohlparth Wegner, and the following year Dr. George M. Flint
assumed head coaching duties and began rebuilding Pitt's program essentially from the ground up. Flint led the Panthers to eight winning seasons during his ten years at the helm and coached future legendary Pitt coach H. C. Carlson
.
took over as coach in 1922 and soon turned Pitt into a national power as evidenced by Pitt's two Helms Athletic Foundation
National Championships in 1927–28 and 1929–30. Those teams were led by National Player of the Year, 3-time All-American and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt
. Carlson was a legendary and ground-breaking coach who would be inducted into the Naismith and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fames. In the late 1920s, Carlson initiated playing a "national schedule" by taking his teams on midwestern road trips that included games against several Big Ten
schools and, in 1931, is credited as the first coach to take an Eastern team out west. He also developed the widely emulated Figure Eight Offense and also experimented with various conditioning techniques, including the use of oxygen on the bench. Under Carlson, and led by two-time All-American Claire Cribbs
, Pitt continued success through the 1930s winning four Eastern Intercollegiate Conference Championships. In 1935, Pitt, as Eastern Intercollegiate champions representing the best of the East, lost a 41-37 season-ending contest to SEC
champion LSU
in the American Legion Bowl in Atlantic City
, a game on which LSU bases its claim on that season's national championship. On February 28, 1940, Pitt played in the first ever televised basketball game, a 57–37 victory over Fordham
at Madison Square Garden
that was televised by NBC station W2XBS. Carlson also led Pitt to its first ever NCAA appearance en route to the 1941 NCAA Final Four
. Carlson's tenure at Pitt's helm lasted for 30 consecutive years before he retired following the 1952–1953 season.
took over as head coach from Carlson for the 1953-1954 season and, led by two-time All-American and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Don Hennon
, appeared in two NCAA tournaments during the late 1950s. Timmons also led Pitt to an NCAA appearance in 1963 and its first NIT appearance in 1964. Timmons was succeeded by head coach Charles "Buzz" Ridl
who became famous for his 'amoebe' defense, an ever changing man to zone match-up defense. With All-American Billy Knight
, Ridl led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974, with early round victories over St. Joseph's and Furman University
. Pitt lost to eventual National Champion North Carolina State in the Eastern Regional Final (Elite 8) played in Raleigh, North Carolina
amid a hostile local crowd. This Pitt team was filled with local players such as Mickey Martin, Jim Bolla, Tom Richards, Keith Starr, Kirk Bruce and Billy Knight
, who went on to star in the ABA
for the Indiana Pacers
and with several teams in the NBA. Following the graduation of Knight and Martin, Pitt made an NIT appearance the following year, Ridl's last before retiring.
, who was an assistant coach under Ridl, became Pitt's next head coach. He led Pitt into the inaugural 1976–77 season of the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, which would change its name to the Eastern Eight (forerunner to the Atlantic 10) the following year. That initial year, Larry Harris, a 6'6" forward with an impressive outside shot and an ability to score points in traffic, won the league scoring title. Grgurich, who also led Pitt to the 1980 NIT, was succeeded by Lafayette
coach Dr. Roy Chipman
who began Pitt's rollercoaster-like ride back to national significance. In his first season at the helm, the Panthers won the Eastern Eight Conference Tournament. In the 1981 NCAA tournament, Pitt defeated Idaho in overtime in the first round; they lost to North Carolina in the second round. Chipman's Panthers enjoyed similar success the following season, defeating archrival West Virginia for their last Eastern Eight Tournament Championship, energized by remarks by WVU Coach Gale Catlett
. Pitt lost to Pepperdine in the first round of the 1982 NCAA tournament to end Chipman's second season and Pitt's last as a member of the Eastern Eight Conference.
as head coach in 1986-87. Led by All-Americans Charles Smith
and Jerome Lane
, Pitt would capture its first two regular season Big East Championships and secure several top 10 rankings reaching as high as number two in the nation. However, compared to the expectations of the fans, these teams had disappointing showings in their Big East and NCAA tournaments appearances. After the departures of Smith and Lane, Pitt basketball continued to have a national, if not inconsistent, impact with players such as Sean Miller
, Brian Shorter, Jerry McCullough, and Eric Mobley
. In eight seasons as head coach Evans' teams advanced to a total of five NCAA tournaments and one NIT, but slumping play led to Evans' departure, and he was replaced by Ralph Willard
who headed the Pitt program from 1994-95 through 1998-99. Despite highly regarded recruiting classes and stars such as Mark Blount
and Vonteego Cummings
, Pitt advanced to only one NIT in five seasons under Willard.
was hired as head coach of the Panthers in 1999-2000 and led them to sustained success for 4 seasons. In Howland's second season (2000–01), the Pitt team, led by senior standout Ricardo Greer
and All-American guard Brandin Knight
, advanced to the Big East Tournament
championship game and NIT. In Howland's third (2001–02) and fourth (2002–03) seasons, Pitt won back-to-back Big East regular season championships, appeared in back-to-back Big East tournament championship games and won the Big East tournament in 2003
. Pitt advanced to consecutive NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteens (2002, 2003). For his success in the 2001-02 season, Howland was named the Big East Coach of the Year, Naismith College Coach of the Year, and won the Henry Iba Award as best college basketball coach as named by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Following the 2003 season, Howland left Pitt for the only job he said he would ever contemplate leaving Pitt for: the head coach position at UCLA
.
In 2002, Pitt began their first season of play at the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center
which sits on the former site of Pitt Stadium
. Pitt had previously played at Fitzgerald Field House from 1951 until 2002, and prior to that at the Pitt Pavilion from 1925 until 1951. The Pitt Pavilion was located inside Pitt Stadium which was demolished in 1999. Pitt's first opponent at "the Pete", as the facility is called by students, was against cross-city rival Duquesne University
.
Jamie Dixon
, Howland's assistant at Northern Arizona and Pitt, was named head coach of the team in 2003. Under Dixon, the Panthers continued the progress begun under Howland, registering a third straight Big East regular season championship (2004), a fourth straight appearance in the Big East Tournament championship game (Pitt 58, UConn 61) and a third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen. With Dixon at the helm, Pitt's success has continued with frequent national rankings, four Big East tournament championship game appearances in five seasons (2004, 2006, 2007 2008), a Big East Tournament Championship in 2008
, and NCAA tournament appearances in all seven years under Dixon's leadership (2004–10), including trips to the Sweet Sixteen (2004, 2007, 2009) and Elite Eight (2009).
The 2008-09 season was notable for several historic accomplishments. The Panthers were ranked No.1 in the Associated Press poll
and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll for the first time in school history, claiming the No.1 spot for a total of three weeks. On February 16, 2009, the No.4 ranked Panthers defeated the No.1 ranked UConn Huskies, 76-68, for Pitt's first-ever win versus a No.1 ranked team. The Panthers repeated the feat on March 7, 2009, when the No.3 ranked Panthers again defeated the No.1 ranked UConn Huskies, 70-60, for Pitt's second-ever win versus a No.1 ranked team. In doing so, Pitt became only the seventh school in NCAA Division I history to defeat two No.1 ranked teams in the same season. On Selection Sunday, March 15, 2009, the Panthers received their first ever No.1 seed (East Region) in the 2009 NCAA Tournament
. They reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1974. Pitt's 76-78 last second loss to fellow Big East Conference foe Villanova in the East Regional final for a trip to the Final Four became an instant classic. In 2009, Dixon broke the record for the most victories in the first six seasons as a Division I head coach and won the Naismith Coach of the Year award
.
The success of the 2008-09 season continued over to the 2009-10 season, somewhat unexpectedly. Having lost the talents of Sam Young, DeJuan Blair
and Levance Fields
, the Panthers were picked in a pre-season Big East poll to finish ninth in the conference. Instead, Pitt earned a 13-5 Big East record, good enough for a second seed in the Big East tournament, received a third seed in the NCAA tournament, and finished 25-9 overall record. In 2010-11, Pitt won the regular season Big East title
and, for a second time in the program's history, earned a number one seed in the NCAA tournament
. The program has achieved a school record 10th straight season with at least 20 overall wins and 10 conference wins, as well as obtaining a school record 11th consecutive post-season appearance and 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Dixon, who has been named as a national coach of the year in three separate seasons, has guided Pitt to NCAA Tournament appearances in every season as head coach and is the only head coach in school history to guide Pitt to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2004–2011). Dixon's record at Pitt stands at 216 wins and 60 losses (0.783 win perecentage) in eight seasons (2003-04 through 2010-11), second in school history behind only Carlson. His league record of 98-38 in eight seasons makes him the winningest coach in Big East history with a .721 winning perecentage in league games. On March 31, 2010, Pitt extended Dixon's contract by two years, making him Pitt's head coach through 2017-18 season.
in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl
, an extension of the football rivalry. Adding to the importance of the game, Pitt and West Virginia have shared membership in the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference (1933–1939), the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League West Division (1977), Eastern 8 Conference(1978–1982), and the Big East Conference (1996–present) throughout their history. In addition, the two rivals have tangled in the last games played at three of their respective arenas: on February 26, 1951, Pitt defeated WVU 74-72 in the closing seconds of the last college game played at the Pitt Pavilion inside Pitt Stadium; on March 3, 1970, Pitt upset WVU 92-87 in the last game played at the West Virginia University Field House in Morgantown; and on March 2, 2002, Pitt defeated WVU 92-65 in Pitt's last game at Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers also have a sustained rivalry with crosstown opponent Duquesne University
in the City Game
. Peaking in ferocity from 1977–1982 when both were members of the Eastern Eight Conference, the rivalry has diminished somewhat since Pitt's move to the Big East Conference in 1982.
In addition to their archrivalry with West Virginia, Pitt has several rivals within the Big East Conference, notably instate foe Villanova University
who defeated the Panthers in the 2009 NCAA East regional final. An intense rivalry has developed with the University of Connecticut
who played the Panthers in the Big East Tournament
championship game in 2002
, 2003
, and 2004
. A burgeoning rivalry with Marquette University
has evolved since the meeting of the teams in the 2003
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
. The rivalry with perennial power Syracuse University
spills over from the gridiron.
. These teams of "Doc" Carlson, led by three-time All-American and two-time National Scoring Champion Charley Hyatt, played a "national" schedule that during the 1927-28 season that included the following wins:
The 1929-30 National Championship team racked up wins that included the following:
Although there was no NCAA Tournament at that time, there were contests billed as "National Championship Games". The 1930 game in particular helped Pittsburgh legend Charley Hyatt cement his place in history by scoring 27 points, including a last second game-winning shot, at the defending national champions and assumed #1 squad Montana State.
NCAA tournament appearances (23)
NCAA Tournament Seeding History
The NCAA
began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition
.
Pitt has appeared in 45 total NCAA Tournament games and has a record of 22-23 through 2010. Pitt's longest consecutive streak of NCAA appearances is 10 from 2002-current. Pitt has reached the following milestones in the NCAA Tournament:
NIT tournaments appearances (8)
1964
• 1975
• 1980
• 1984
• 1986
• 1992
• 1997
• 2001
1932-33 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1933-34 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1934-35 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1936-37 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1980-81 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1981-82 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1986-87 Big East Regular Season Co-Champions
1987-88 Big East Regular Season Champions
2001-02 Big East Regular Season West Champions
2002-03 Big East Tournament
and Regular Season West Co-Champions
2003-04 Big East Regular Season Champions
2007-08 Big East Tournament
Champions
2010-11 Big East Regular Season
Champions
Pitt is the only team in Big East Conference history to reach the Big East Championship Game seven times in eight seasons having earned a trip to the title game in 2001
, 2002
, 2003
, 2004
, 2006
, 2007
, and 2008
.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08075/865508-175.stm Pitt played in the Eastern Eight Tournament Championship games in 1979, 1981, and 1982.
won the National Player of the Year in 1929-30, he was the America's leading scorer that season (his second time as leading scorer) and made a last second basket to win the National Title Game with 27 points against what many considered the best team in the country. This season was also to be the third consecutive time he had earned consensus All-American status (the second time he won the honor owing to him being in the inaugural class of consensus in his second season).
Three inductees represent the University of Pittsburgh in the Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame, two of those, Carlson and Hyatt, are also represented in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
. Both Carlson and Hyatt were selected as the first class inducted to each hall.
honors 14 unique season. Pitt players have been named First Team† All-Americans 15 times, Second Team All-Americans seven times, and Third Team All-Americans six times. In addition, players have been named as Freshman All-Americans four times and Honorable Mention All-Americans six times. A Pitt player has achieved Consensus First Team All-American, as listed in the Official NCAA Records Book, on nine different occasions. Charley Hyatt
and Sykes Reed, who together lead Pitt to an undefeated national championship season, were Pitt's first Consensus All-Americans in 1928. The other consensus first-team All-Americans include Don Smith
, Claire Cribbs
, Don Hennon
, and DeJuan Blair
. In addition, Don Hennon, Billy Knight
and Jerome Lane
received Consensus Second Team All-American status.
Honorable Mention All-Americans
Freshman All-Americans
The Pittsburgh Panthers have had 37 players drafted by the pros, 26 picks in the NBA (Billy Knight
was drafted twice in 1974) and 11 in the CBA. This number does not reflect the many other Panthers that have played professionally prior to the NBA such as national MVP and 3 time All-American Charley Hyatt in the 1930s. Six Panthers have been selected as first-round NBA draft picks with Vonteego Cummings
being the most recent in 1999. Before him Eric Mobley
in 1994 was drafted 18th overall.
In addition, more than 23 Panthers have played professionally in international basketball leagues. Clyde Vaughan
especially stands out in averaging 28 points per game over his decade-long basketball career in Europe.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I intercollegiate
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
men's basketball
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
program of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center
Petersen Events Center
Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex.The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers basketball teams...
. The Panthers have won two Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
National Championships, reached one Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, received 15 First Team All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
selections, have appeared in 23 NCAA
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
and eight NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
tournaments, and through the 2010-11 season have recorded 1,465 victories against 1,048 losses since their inaugural season of 1905-06. The head coach of the Panthers since 2003 is Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon is an American basketball head coach. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009 gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA...
.
History
Initial Era
The University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
began playing men's basketball in 1905-06 under coach Benjamin Printz. The University did not field a team during the 1909–10 and 1910–11 seasons. The program was resurrected in 1911 under head coach Wohlparth Wegner, and the following year Dr. George M. Flint
George Flint
Dr. George M. "Doc" Flint was an All-American college basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania and a successful head coach of the University of Pittsburgh's intercollegiate basketball team for ten seasons.-Biography:...
assumed head coaching duties and began rebuilding Pitt's program essentially from the ground up. Flint led the Panthers to eight winning seasons during his ten years at the helm and coached future legendary Pitt coach H. C. Carlson
Clifford Carlson
Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson is a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee as the men's college basketball coach of his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1922 to 1953...
.
"Doc" Carlson Era
Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, MDClifford Carlson
Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson is a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee as the men's college basketball coach of his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1922 to 1953...
took over as coach in 1922 and soon turned Pitt into a national power as evidenced by Pitt's two Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
National Championships in 1927–28 and 1929–30. Those teams were led by National Player of the Year, 3-time All-American and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt
Chuck Hyatt
Charles D. "Chuck" Hyatt was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the late 1920s.The Syracuse, New York native played three seasons at University of Pittsburgh under Hall of Fame coach Clifford Carlson . An exceptional shooter, Hyatt scored then-outstanding 880 points throughout his...
. Carlson was a legendary and ground-breaking coach who would be inducted into the Naismith and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fames. In the late 1920s, Carlson initiated playing a "national schedule" by taking his teams on midwestern road trips that included games against several Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
schools and, in 1931, is credited as the first coach to take an Eastern team out west. He also developed the widely emulated Figure Eight Offense and also experimented with various conditioning techniques, including the use of oxygen on the bench. Under Carlson, and led by two-time All-American Claire Cribbs
Claire Cribbs
Claire Linton Cribbs was an American basketball player and high school coach. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh and won over 400 games as a high school coach in the state of Ohio....
, Pitt continued success through the 1930s winning four Eastern Intercollegiate Conference Championships. In 1935, Pitt, as Eastern Intercollegiate champions representing the best of the East, lost a 41-37 season-ending contest to SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
champion LSU
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
in the American Legion Bowl in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, a game on which LSU bases its claim on that season's national championship. On February 28, 1940, Pitt played in the first ever televised basketball game, a 57–37 victory over Fordham
Fordham Rams
The 22 Fordham University varsity sports teams are known as the Fordham Rams. Their colors are maroon and white. The Fordham Rams are members of NCAA Division I and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference for all sports except football. In football, the Rams play in the Patriot League of NCAA...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
that was televised by NBC station W2XBS. Carlson also led Pitt to its first ever NCAA appearance en route to the 1941 NCAA Final Four
1941 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1941 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
. Carlson's tenure at Pitt's helm lasted for 30 consecutive years before he retired following the 1952–1953 season.
Timmons-Ridl Era
Robert TimmonsBob Timmons
Robert Timmons was head coach of men's college basketball team, Pittsburgh Panthers from 1957-1964. Timmons' win-loss record at Pitt was 174-189 . He served as a lieutenant in the South Pacific with the US Navy from 1942-1945. Timmons died in Glenshaw, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.-References:...
took over as head coach from Carlson for the 1953-1954 season and, led by two-time All-American and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Don Hennon
Don Hennon
Don Leroy Hennon is a surgeon and a former basketball player for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers basketball team where he was a two-time Consensus All-American...
, appeared in two NCAA tournaments during the late 1950s. Timmons also led Pitt to an NCAA appearance in 1963 and its first NIT appearance in 1964. Timmons was succeeded by head coach Charles "Buzz" Ridl
Charles Ridl
Charles "Buzz" Ridl was an American college head coach of men's basketball born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Irwin, Pennsylvania.He was the long-time coach at Westminster College in suburban Pittsburgh, until 1968 when he was tapped for Division I by the Pittsburgh Panthers...
who became famous for his 'amoebe' defense, an ever changing man to zone match-up defense. With All-American Billy Knight
Billy Knight
William R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
, Ridl led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974, with early round victories over St. Joseph's and Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
. Pitt lost to eventual National Champion North Carolina State in the Eastern Regional Final (Elite 8) played in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
amid a hostile local crowd. This Pitt team was filled with local players such as Mickey Martin, Jim Bolla, Tom Richards, Keith Starr, Kirk Bruce and Billy Knight
Billy Knight
William R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
, who went on to star in the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and with several teams in the NBA. Following the graduation of Knight and Martin, Pitt made an NIT appearance the following year, Ridl's last before retiring.
Eastern Eight Era
Pittsburgh native Tim GrgurichTim Grgurich
Tim Grgurich is an American basketball coach and native of the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania having attended Central Catholic High School in the city. He also served as the head basketball coach at UNLV for the first seven games of the 1994–95 season before abruptly...
, who was an assistant coach under Ridl, became Pitt's next head coach. He led Pitt into the inaugural 1976–77 season of the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, which would change its name to the Eastern Eight (forerunner to the Atlantic 10) the following year. That initial year, Larry Harris, a 6'6" forward with an impressive outside shot and an ability to score points in traffic, won the league scoring title. Grgurich, who also led Pitt to the 1980 NIT, was succeeded by Lafayette
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
coach Dr. Roy Chipman
Roy Chipman
Dr. Roy Chipman was an American college head coach of men's basketball.Chipman served as Pitt basketball coach from 1980 through 1986...
who began Pitt's rollercoaster-like ride back to national significance. In his first season at the helm, the Panthers won the Eastern Eight Conference Tournament. In the 1981 NCAA tournament, Pitt defeated Idaho in overtime in the first round; they lost to North Carolina in the second round. Chipman's Panthers enjoyed similar success the following season, defeating archrival West Virginia for their last Eastern Eight Tournament Championship, energized by remarks by WVU Coach Gale Catlett
Gale Catlett
Gale Catlett was a basketball player and longtime basketball coach for West Virginia University....
. Pitt lost to Pepperdine in the first round of the 1982 NCAA tournament to end Chipman's second season and Pitt's last as a member of the Eastern Eight Conference.
Initial Big East Era
For the 1982-83 season, Pitt began play as a member of the Big East Conference. Although Chipman would lead Pitt to three more postseason appearances, he was replaced by Paul EvansPaul Evans (basketball coach)
Paul Evans is a former American head coach of men's college basketball.Paul Evans was noted for running a "power offense" with emphasis on distributing the ball through centers and power forwards...
as head coach in 1986-87. Led by All-Americans Charles Smith
Charles D. Smith
Charles Daniel Smith is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.- College career :...
and Jerome Lane
Jerome Lane
Jerome Lane is a retired American professional basketball player. Lane attended Akron Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School. He played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, where he led the Big East Conference in rebounding during the 1986-87 and the 1987-88 regular seasons. He led the...
, Pitt would capture its first two regular season Big East Championships and secure several top 10 rankings reaching as high as number two in the nation. However, compared to the expectations of the fans, these teams had disappointing showings in their Big East and NCAA tournaments appearances. After the departures of Smith and Lane, Pitt basketball continued to have a national, if not inconsistent, impact with players such as Sean Miller
Sean Miller
Sean Miller is an American college basketball coach, and currently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arizona.-Early years:...
, Brian Shorter, Jerry McCullough, and Eric Mobley
Eric Mobley
Eric Mobley is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the National Basketball Association's Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft...
. In eight seasons as head coach Evans' teams advanced to a total of five NCAA tournaments and one NIT, but slumping play led to Evans' departure, and he was replaced by Ralph Willard
Ralph Willard
Ralph Willard is the former men's head basketball coach at the College of the Holy Cross, a member of the NCAA Patriot League in Worcester, Massachusetts. He held this position from 1999 to 2009 and was the 14th head coach in the 88-year history of Holy Cross basketball. Willard was also an...
who headed the Pitt program from 1994-95 through 1998-99. Despite highly regarded recruiting classes and stars such as Mark Blount
Mark Blount
Mark D. Blount is an American professional basketball player. Blount is a 7'0" tall center and weighs 250 lb , being a primarily offensive big man with a soft touch....
and Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Marfeek Cummings is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.91 m combo guard who has played in the National Basketball Association during his career. He has also had a successful career in Europe where he has played in several different countries...
, Pitt advanced to only one NIT in five seasons under Willard.
Ben Howland Era
Ben HowlandBen Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
was hired as head coach of the Panthers in 1999-2000 and led them to sustained success for 4 seasons. In Howland's second season (2000–01), the Pitt team, led by senior standout Ricardo Greer
Ricardo Greer
Ricardo Greer is a Dominican American professional basketball player.- Pro career :* 2001-: Los Prados * 2001-02: BC Kiev * 2002-: Diablos de La Vega...
and All-American guard Brandin Knight
Brandin Knight
Brandin Adar Knight is a former American professional basketball player. He is the brother of Brevin Knight....
, advanced to the Big East Tournament
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
championship game and NIT. In Howland's third (2001–02) and fourth (2002–03) seasons, Pitt won back-to-back Big East regular season championships, appeared in back-to-back Big East tournament championship games and won the Big East tournament in 2003
2003 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Championship Game:On March 15, Pittsburgh won their first-ever Big East Tournament, defeating Connecticut 74–56. They led by one at half-time, but quickly extended their lead in the second half. Jaron Brown led the Panthers with a career-high 19 points. Brown converted all six of his free throw...
. Pitt advanced to consecutive NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteens (2002, 2003). For his success in the 2001-02 season, Howland was named the Big East Coach of the Year, Naismith College Coach of the Year, and won the Henry Iba Award as best college basketball coach as named by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Following the 2003 season, Howland left Pitt for the only job he said he would ever contemplate leaving Pitt for: the head coach position at UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
.
In 2002, Pitt began their first season of play at the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center
Petersen Events Center
Not to be confused with Petersen Sports Complex.The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center is a 12,508-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It hosts the men's and women's Pitt Panthers basketball teams...
which sits on the former site of Pitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium
Pitt Stadium was a stadium located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1999. It served primarily as the home of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers...
. Pitt had previously played at Fitzgerald Field House from 1951 until 2002, and prior to that at the Pitt Pavilion from 1925 until 1951. The Pitt Pavilion was located inside Pitt Stadium which was demolished in 1999. Pitt's first opponent at "the Pete", as the facility is called by students, was against cross-city rival Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
.
Jamie Dixon Era
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon is an American basketball head coach. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009 gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA...
, Howland's assistant at Northern Arizona and Pitt, was named head coach of the team in 2003. Under Dixon, the Panthers continued the progress begun under Howland, registering a third straight Big East regular season championship (2004), a fourth straight appearance in the Big East Tournament championship game (Pitt 58, UConn 61) and a third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen. With Dixon at the helm, Pitt's success has continued with frequent national rankings, four Big East tournament championship game appearances in five seasons (2004, 2006, 2007 2008), a Big East Tournament Championship in 2008
2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, a part of the 2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, took place from March 12–March 15, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament...
, and NCAA tournament appearances in all seven years under Dixon's leadership (2004–10), including trips to the Sweet Sixteen (2004, 2007, 2009) and Elite Eight (2009).
The 2008-09 season was notable for several historic accomplishments. The Panthers were ranked No.1 in the Associated Press poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll for the first time in school history, claiming the No.1 spot for a total of three weeks. On February 16, 2009, the No.4 ranked Panthers defeated the No.1 ranked UConn Huskies, 76-68, for Pitt's first-ever win versus a No.1 ranked team. The Panthers repeated the feat on March 7, 2009, when the No.3 ranked Panthers again defeated the No.1 ranked UConn Huskies, 70-60, for Pitt's second-ever win versus a No.1 ranked team. In doing so, Pitt became only the seventh school in NCAA Division I history to defeat two No.1 ranked teams in the same season. On Selection Sunday, March 15, 2009, the Panthers received their first ever No.1 seed (East Region) in the 2009 NCAA Tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. They reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1974. Pitt's 76-78 last second loss to fellow Big East Conference foe Villanova in the East Regional final for a trip to the Final Four became an instant classic. In 2009, Dixon broke the record for the most victories in the first six seasons as a Division I head coach and won the Naismith Coach of the Year award
Naismith College Coach of the Year
Naismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
.
DeJuan Blair
DeJuan Lamont Blair is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Before turning pro Blair played center for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team from 2007 to 2009...
and Levance Fields
Levance Fields
Levance E. Fields is an American basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.-Early life and high school career:...
, the Panthers were picked in a pre-season Big East poll to finish ninth in the conference. Instead, Pitt earned a 13-5 Big East record, good enough for a second seed in the Big East tournament, received a third seed in the NCAA tournament, and finished 25-9 overall record. In 2010-11, Pitt won the regular season Big East title
2010–11 Big East Conference men's basketball season
The 2010–11 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 32nd season of competitive basketball played by the Big East Conference, since its inception in 1979, and involved its 16 full-time member schools. The season officially opened on December 27, 2010, when Pittsburgh defeated...
and, for a second time in the program's history, earned a number one seed in the NCAA tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
. The program has achieved a school record 10th straight season with at least 20 overall wins and 10 conference wins, as well as obtaining a school record 11th consecutive post-season appearance and 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Dixon, who has been named as a national coach of the year in three separate seasons, has guided Pitt to NCAA Tournament appearances in every season as head coach and is the only head coach in school history to guide Pitt to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2004–2011). Dixon's record at Pitt stands at 216 wins and 60 losses (0.783 win perecentage) in eight seasons (2003-04 through 2010-11), second in school history behind only Carlson. His league record of 98-38 in eight seasons makes him the winningest coach in Big East history with a .721 winning perecentage in league games. On March 31, 2010, Pitt extended Dixon's contract by two years, making him Pitt's head coach through 2017-18 season.
Student Section
Rivalries
The fiercest rivalry is with fellow Big East Conference member West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
, an extension of the football rivalry. Adding to the importance of the game, Pitt and West Virginia have shared membership in the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference (1933–1939), the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League West Division (1977), Eastern 8 Conference(1978–1982), and the Big East Conference (1996–present) throughout their history. In addition, the two rivals have tangled in the last games played at three of their respective arenas: on February 26, 1951, Pitt defeated WVU 74-72 in the closing seconds of the last college game played at the Pitt Pavilion inside Pitt Stadium; on March 3, 1970, Pitt upset WVU 92-87 in the last game played at the West Virginia University Field House in Morgantown; and on March 2, 2002, Pitt defeated WVU 92-65 in Pitt's last game at Fitzgerald Field House.
The Panthers also have a sustained rivalry with crosstown opponent Duquesne University
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne University in college basketball. The team, which started in 1914, has only ever played in NCAA Division I and has had five appearances in the NCAA Tournament...
in the City Game
City Game
The City Game is an annual college basketball game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the Duquesne University Dukes. The term "City Game" is also used refer to women's basketball games played annually between the two universities and may also be used to refer to other athletic...
. Peaking in ferocity from 1977–1982 when both were members of the Eastern Eight Conference, the rivalry has diminished somewhat since Pitt's move to the Big East Conference in 1982.
In addition to their archrivalry with West Virginia, Pitt has several rivals within the Big East Conference, notably instate foe Villanova University
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
who defeated the Panthers in the 2009 NCAA East regional final. An intense rivalry has developed with the University of Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
who played the Panthers in the Big East Tournament
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
championship game in 2002
2002 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2002 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the two highest seeds in each division received...
, 2003
2003 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Championship Game:On March 15, Pittsburgh won their first-ever Big East Tournament, defeating Connecticut 74–56. They led by one at half-time, but quickly extended their lead in the second half. Jaron Brown led the Panthers with a career-high 19 points. Brown converted all six of his free throw...
, and 2004
2004 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Games:*1st round: Wednesday, March 10Noon2PM7PM9PM*Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 11Noon2 PM7 PM9 PM*Semifinals: Friday, March 127 PM9 PM...
. A burgeoning rivalry with Marquette University
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I...
has evolved since the meeting of the teams in the 2003
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
NCAA Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. The rivalry with perennial power Syracuse University
Syracuse Orange men's basketball
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
spills over from the gridiron.
2-Time National Champions
Pitt men's basketball teams of 1927-28 (21-0) and 1929-30 (23-2) were recognized as National Champions both popularly and by the Helms Athletic FoundationHelms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
. These teams of "Doc" Carlson, led by three-time All-American and two-time National Scoring Champion Charley Hyatt, played a "national" schedule that during the 1927-28 season that included the following wins:
- @ Michigan
- @ Chicago
- @ Northwestern
- @ Iowa
- Ohio State
- Dartmouth (defending Eastern Collegiate Champions)
- Syracuse
- @ Army
- @ Colgate
- Notre Dame
- @ West Virginia
- @ Penn State
The 1929-30 National Championship team racked up wins that included the following:
- @ Indiana
- @ Northwestern
- @ Iowa
- Ohio State
- Nebraska
- Georgetown
- @ Montana State (defending National Champions)
- Notre Dame
- Fordham
- @ Penn State
- West Virginia
- @ Temple
- @ Army
Although there was no NCAA Tournament at that time, there were contests billed as "National Championship Games". The 1930 game in particular helped Pittsburgh legend Charley Hyatt cement his place in history by scoring 27 points, including a last second game-winning shot, at the defending national champions and assumed #1 squad Montana State.
Post-season national tournaments
Pitt will have appeared in 31 national post-season tournaments, so far appearing in 53 total games with a combined record of 24-29 (.453). Pitt's longest consecutive streak of making post-season national tournaments is 11 from 2001-current.NCAA
1941 1941 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament -External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1941 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament... 1957 1957 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1957 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1957, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Kansas City, Missouri... 1958 1958 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1958 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 24 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 11, 1958, and ended with the championship game on March 22 in... 1963 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 9, 1963, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Louisville,... 1974 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member... 1981 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
1982 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana... 1985 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began... 1987 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana... 1988 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri... 1989 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington... 1991 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
1993 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana... 2002 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia... 2003 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana... 2004 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... 2005 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... 2006 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season... |
2007 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season... 2008 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season... 2009 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT.... 2010 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's... 2011 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.... |
NCAA Tournament Seeding History
The NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
.
| Years → | '81 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
'82 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'85 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began... |
'87 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'88 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri... |
'89 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington... |
'91 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
'93 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'02 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia... |
'03 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana... |
'04 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,... |
'05 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St... |
'06 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season... |
'07 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season... |
'08 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season... |
'09 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT.... |
'10 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's... |
'11 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds→ | 10 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Pitt has appeared in 45 total NCAA Tournament games and has a record of 22-23 through 2010. Pitt's longest consecutive streak of NCAA appearances is 10 from 2002-current. Pitt has reached the following milestones in the NCAA Tournament:
- Final Four (national semifinal) in 19411941 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1941 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
- "Elite EightElite EightThe term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
" (regional final) in 19411941 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1941 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
, 19741974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member...
, and 20092009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. - "Sweet SixteenNCAA Men's Division I Basketball ChampionshipThe NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
" (regional semifinal) in 19571957 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1957 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1957, and ended with the championship game on March 23 in Kansas City, Missouri...
, 19741974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member...
, 20022002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
, 20032003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, 20042004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
, 20072007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
, and 20092009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
.
NIT
Pitt has made eight appearances to the post-season National Invitational Tournament (NIT), appearing in 14 games with an overall NIT record of 6-8 (.429).NIT tournaments appearances (8)
1964
1964 National Invitation Tournament
The 1964 National Invitation Tournament was the 1964 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
• 1975
1975 National Invitation Tournament
The 1975 National Invitation Tournament was the 1975 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
• 1980
1980 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Illinois 84, UNLV 74...
• 1984
1984 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Virginia Tech 71, Southwestern Louisiana 70...
• 1986
1986 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Louisiana Tech 67, Florida 62...
• 1992
1992 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Utah 81, Florida 78...
• 1997
1997 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Connecticut 74, Arkansas 64Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996-97 schedule after Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster....
• 2001
2001 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Memphis 86, Detroit 71...
Conference Championships
1933-34 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1934-35 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1936-37 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1980-81 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1981-82 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1986-87 Big East Regular Season Co-Champions
1987-88 Big East Regular Season Champions
2001-02 Big East Regular Season West Champions
2002-03 Big East Tournament
2003 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Championship Game:On March 15, Pittsburgh won their first-ever Big East Tournament, defeating Connecticut 74–56. They led by one at half-time, but quickly extended their lead in the second half. Jaron Brown led the Panthers with a career-high 19 points. Brown converted all six of his free throw...
and Regular Season West Co-Champions
2003-04 Big East Regular Season Champions
2007-08 Big East Tournament
2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, a part of the 2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, took place from March 12–March 15, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament...
Champions
2010-11 Big East Regular Season
2010–11 Big East Conference men's basketball season
The 2010–11 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 32nd season of competitive basketball played by the Big East Conference, since its inception in 1979, and involved its 16 full-time member schools. The season officially opened on December 27, 2010, when Pittsburgh defeated...
Champions
Pitt is the only team in Big East Conference history to reach the Big East Championship Game seven times in eight seasons having earned a trip to the title game in 2001
2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the two highest seeds in each division received...
, 2002
2002 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2002 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2002 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the two highest seeds in each division received...
, 2003
2003 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Championship Game:On March 15, Pittsburgh won their first-ever Big East Tournament, defeating Connecticut 74–56. They led by one at half-time, but quickly extended their lead in the second half. Jaron Brown led the Panthers with a career-high 19 points. Brown converted all six of his free throw...
, 2004
2004 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Games:*1st round: Wednesday, March 10Noon2PM7PM9PM*Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 11Noon2 PM7 PM9 PM*Semifinals: Friday, March 127 PM9 PM...
, 2006
2006 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Games:*1st round: Wednesday, March 8Noon2PM7PM9PM*Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 9Noon2 PM7 PM9 PM*Semifinals: Friday, March 107 PM9 PM...
, 2007
2007 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Games:*1st round: Wednesday, March 7Noon2PM7PM9PM*Quarterfinals: Thursday, March 8Noon2 PM7 PM9 PM*Semifinals: Friday, March 97 PM9 PM...
, and 2008
2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, a part of the 2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, took place from March 12–March 15, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament...
.http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08075/865508-175.stm Pitt played in the Eastern Eight Tournament Championship games in 1979, 1981, and 1982.
National Player of the Year
Charley HyattChuck Hyatt
Charles D. "Chuck" Hyatt was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the late 1920s.The Syracuse, New York native played three seasons at University of Pittsburgh under Hall of Fame coach Clifford Carlson . An exceptional shooter, Hyatt scored then-outstanding 880 points throughout his...
won the National Player of the Year in 1929-30, he was the America's leading scorer that season (his second time as leading scorer) and made a last second basket to win the National Title Game with 27 points against what many considered the best team in the country. This season was also to be the third consecutive time he had earned consensus All-American status (the second time he won the honor owing to him being in the inaugural class of consensus in his second season).
National Coach of the Year
- 2001-02: Ben Howland won National Coach of the Year honors from the Associated PressAssociated Press College Basketball Coach of the YearThe Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year award was established in 1967 to recognize the best men's college basketball coach of the year, as voted upon by the Associated Press...
, NaismithNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
, USBWAHenry Iba AwardThe Henry Iba Award was established in 1959 to recognize the best college basketball coach of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association . Five nominees are presented and the individual with the most votes receives the award, which is presented in conjunction with the Final Four....
, ESPN The MagazineESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
, and The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. - 2008-09: Jamie Dixon won the Naismith Men's College Basketball Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
as well as the Jim Phelan Mid-season Coach of the Year award. - 2009-10: Jamie Dixon won the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year AwardJim Phelan AwardThe Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...
. - 2010-11: Jamie Dixon won the Sporting News National Coach of the Year award.
Hall of Fame inductees
College Basketball Experience
The College Basketball Experience featuring the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame is a fan interactive facility located in Kansas City, Missouri...
. Both Carlson and Hyatt were selected as the first class inducted to each hall.
- Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, M.D.Clifford CarlsonHenry Clifford "Doc" Carlson is a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee as the men's college basketball coach of his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, from 1922 to 1953...
, Pitt head coach from 1922–1953. He is noted as the innovator of the "figure 8" play, the first coach to take his team cross country and a leading advocate for intersectional games. Despite great modern eras in Pitt Basketball (late 1950s, 1980s, 2000s) he continues to be the most winningest coach in program history as well as the only one to lead the program to National Championships. - Charley HyattChuck HyattCharles D. "Chuck" Hyatt was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the late 1920s.The Syracuse, New York native played three seasons at University of Pittsburgh under Hall of Fame coach Clifford Carlson . An exceptional shooter, Hyatt scored then-outstanding 880 points throughout his...
, Pitt player and 3-time All-American and 2-time national scoring leader, he also was a senior year All American in High School and earned 3 other all-pro awards in the pre-NBA era playing after Pitt. He was a member of the very first Consensus All American team in 1929. - Don HennonDon HennonDon Leroy Hennon is a surgeon and a former basketball player for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers basketball team where he was a two-time Consensus All-American...
, two time All-American (with one being a Consensus All American), led Pitt to two NCAA Tournament bids.
All Americans
Thirteen different Pitt players have received All-AmericanNCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
honors 14 unique season. Pitt players have been named First Team† All-Americans 15 times, Second Team All-Americans seven times, and Third Team All-Americans six times. In addition, players have been named as Freshman All-Americans four times and Honorable Mention All-Americans six times. A Pitt player has achieved Consensus First Team All-American, as listed in the Official NCAA Records Book, on nine different occasions. Charley Hyatt
Chuck Hyatt
Charles D. "Chuck" Hyatt was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the late 1920s.The Syracuse, New York native played three seasons at University of Pittsburgh under Hall of Fame coach Clifford Carlson . An exceptional shooter, Hyatt scored then-outstanding 880 points throughout his...
and Sykes Reed, who together lead Pitt to an undefeated national championship season, were Pitt's first Consensus All-Americans in 1928. The other consensus first-team All-Americans include Don Smith
Don Smith (Pittsburgh basketball)
Don Smith was an American college basketball player who played for the University of Pittsburgh during the 1930s. He played the guard position and was tall. He was voted as a consensus NCAA All-American as a senior in 1932–33 after guiding the Panthers to their second consecutive Eastern...
, Claire Cribbs
Claire Cribbs
Claire Linton Cribbs was an American basketball player and high school coach. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh and won over 400 games as a high school coach in the state of Ohio....
, Don Hennon
Don Hennon
Don Leroy Hennon is a surgeon and a former basketball player for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers basketball team where he was a two-time Consensus All-American...
, and DeJuan Blair
DeJuan Blair
DeJuan Lamont Blair is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Before turning pro Blair played center for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team from 2007 to 2009...
. In addition, Don Hennon, Billy Knight
Billy Knight
William R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
and Jerome Lane
Jerome Lane
Jerome Lane is a retired American professional basketball player. Lane attended Akron Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School. He played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, where he led the Big East Conference in rebounding during the 1986-87 and the 1987-88 regular seasons. He led the...
received Consensus Second Team All-American status.
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| †Helms Helms Athletic Foundation The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball... and Wooden John R. Wooden Award The John R. Wooden Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding men's and women's college basketball players. The program consists of the men's and women's Player of the Year awards, the Legends of Coaching award and recognizes the All–America Teams.The awards, given by the Los... select one team of 10 players. *Consensus status for that team. Ref: |
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Honorable Mention All-Americans
- 1979 Sam ClancySam ClancySam Clancy is a former defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts...
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... - 1988 Charles SmithCharles D. SmithCharles Daniel Smith is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.- College career :...
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, UPIUnited Press InternationalUnited Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century... - 2003 Brandin KnightBrandin KnightBrandin Adar Knight is a former American professional basketball player. He is the brother of Brevin Knight....
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... - 2004 Carl KrauserCarl KrauserCarlos Isaac Krauser is a United States Virgin Islands professional basketball player. He was a point guard for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers from 2001 to 2006...
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
- 2008 Sam Young, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
- 2009 Levance FieldsLevance FieldsLevance E. Fields is an American basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.-Early life and high school career:...
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... - 2011 Ashton GibbsAshton GibbsAshton Gibbs is an American college basketball player with the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team. In 2010-11, Gibbs was an All-Big East First Team selection and an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, while in 2009-10, he was named Big East Conference Most Improved Player and...
, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists... - 2011 Brad Wanamaker, APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Freshman All-Americans
- 1978 Sam ClancySam ClancySam Clancy is a former defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts...
, Second Team - 1985 Charles SmithCharles D. SmithCharles Daniel Smith is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.- College career :...
, First Team - 2004 Chris TaftChris TaftChris Taft is an American basketball player.-NCAA career:Chris Taft was born in Brooklyn, New York, and began his college career at the University of Pittsburgh after graduating from Xaverian High School in Brooklyn...
, Second Team - 2008 DeJuan BlairDeJuan BlairDeJuan Lamont Blair is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association . Before turning pro Blair played center for the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team from 2007 to 2009...
(consensus pick, but not for a particular team)
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships
Three Pitt players have earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships which are awarded annually to select student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.- Thomas Richards, 1976
- Joseph David, 1986
- Darren MorningstarDarren MorningstarDarren Morningstar is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2nd round of the 1992 NBA Draft. A 6'10" and 235 lb center, Morningstar played in only one NBA season, splitting time with the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz...
, 1992
Other Awards
- Joseph David was selected as a Second Team Verizon/CoSIDa Academic All-American in 1986.
- Orlando AntiguaOrlando AntiguaOrlando Antigua a.k.a. "Hurricane" , an American basketball player, became the first Hispanic and the first non-black to play for the Harlem Globetrotters in 52 years when he signed in 1995....
was selected as the USBWAUnited States Basketball Writers AssociationThe United States Basketball Writers Association was founded in 1956 by Walter Byers and serves the interests of journalists who cover college basketball.-Scholarships:...
Most Courageous Athlete in 1994.
Player of the Year
- Charles Smith, 1987–88
- Brandon Knight (co), 2001–02
- DeJuan Blair (co), 2008–09
Most Improved Player
- Ricardo Greer (co), 1999–00
- Brandin Knight, 2001–02
- Carl Krauser, 2003–04
- Aaron Gray, 2005–06
- Sam Young, 2007–08
- Ashton Gibbs, 2009–10
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Joe David, 1984–85
- Darren MorningstarDarren MorningstarDarren Morningstar is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Boston Celtics in the 2nd round of the 1992 NBA Draft. A 6'10" and 235 lb center, Morningstar played in only one NBA season, splitting time with the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz...
, 1991–92 - Aaron Gray, 2006–07
Sportsmanship Award
- Jaron Brown, 2003–04
- Ronald Ramon (co), 2007–08
- Brad Wanamaker, 2010–11
Rookie of the Year
- Charles Smith, 1984–85
- Sean MillerSean MillerSean Miller is an American college basketball coach, and currently the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arizona.-Early years:...
, 1987–88 - Brian Shorter, 1988–89
- Chris Taft, 2003–04
- DeJuan Blair (co), 2007–08
Tournament MVP
- Lennie McMillianLennie McMillianLennie Lee McMillian is an Irish professional basketball player.After a standout career at the University of Pittsburgh, including winning an Eastern Eight tournament MVP while helping Pitt win the 1981 conference championship, McMilliam narrowly missed out on the NBA draft and opted to go overseas...
, Eastern 8 1981 - Clyde VaughanClyde VaughanClyde Vaughan is a basketball coach and former professional player, who enjoyed a distinguished career at college level and professional level and international level for the England team...
, Eastern 8 1982 - Julius Page, Big East 2003
- Sam Young, Big East 2008
Conference Stat Champions
Scoring
- Larry Harris won the Eastern 8 Scoring Title in the 1976-77 season (22.9 ppg).
- Clyde VaughanClyde VaughanClyde Vaughan is a basketball coach and former professional player, who enjoyed a distinguished career at college level and professional level and international level for the England team...
won the Big East Scoring Title in the 1982–83 season (22.0 ppg).
Rebounding
- Sam Clancy won the Eastern 8 Rebounding Titles in both the 1978–79 (12.8 rpg) and 1979–80 (11.1 rpg) seasons.
- Jerome Lane won the Big East Rebounding Titles in both the 1986–87 (14.0 rpg) and 1987–88 (11.6 rpg) seasons.
- Isaac Hawkins won the Big East Rebounding Title in the 1997-98 season (9.7 rpg).
- Aaron Gray won the Big East Rebounding Title in the 2005–06 season (10.5 rpg).
- DeJuan Blair won the Big East Rebounding Title in the 2008–09 season (12.4 rpg).
Assist
- Dwayne Wallace won the Eastern 8 Assist Title in the 1981–82 season (6.2 apg).
- Darelle Porter won the Big East Assist Title in the 1989–90 season (7.6 apg).
- Levance Fields won the Big East Assist Title in the 2008–09 season (7.5 apg).
Retired jerseys
Four players have had their jerseys retired at Pitt.| Player | Jersey No. | Career at Pitt | Date of Jersey Retirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don Hennon | 10 | 1956–1959 | |
| Billy Knight | 34 | 1971–1974 | |
| Brandin Knight | 20 | 1999–2003 | |
| Charles Smith | 32 | 1984–1988 |
Points club
38 total Panther players have achieved the 1,000 points club. Of these, fourteen total Panther players have scored over 1,500 points in their career. Two of these Panther players, Charles Smith and Clyde Vaughan, scored over 2,000 points in their career.1,500+ points
- Larry Harris (74-78) 1,914
- Sam Young (05-09) 1,884
- Don Hennon (56-59) 1,841
- Jason Matthews (87-91) 1,840
- Ricardo Greer (97-01) 1,753
- Billy Knight (71-74) 1,731
- Sam Clancy (77-81) 1,671
- Carl Krauser (02-06) 1,642
- Brian Shorter (88-91) 1,633
- Vonteego CummingsVonteego CummingsVonteego Marfeek Cummings is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.91 m combo guard who has played in the National Basketball Association during his career. He has also had a successful career in Europe where he has played in several different countries...
(96-99) 1,581 - Demetreus Gore (84-88) 1,555
- Julius Page (00-04) 1,512
1,000+ points
- Brandin Knight (1999–2003) 1,440
- Jerry McCullough (1991–1996) 1,342
- Ashton GibbsAshton GibbsAshton Gibbs is an American college basketball player with the Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team. In 2010-11, Gibbs was an All-Big East First Team selection and an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American, while in 2009-10, he was named Big East Conference Most Improved Player and...
(2008–present) 1,341 - Sean Miller (1987–1992) 1,282
- Bobby Martin (1987–1991) 1,282
- Chevon Troutman (2001–2005) 1,274
- Jaron Brown (2000–2004) 1,258
- Levance Fields (2005–2009) 1,247
- Jerome Lane (1985–1988) 1,217
- Curtis Aiken (1983–1987) 1,200
- Bob Lazor (1954–1957) 1,175
- John Riser (1954–1957) 1,164
- Kent Scott (1969–1972) 1,143
- Isaac Hawkins (1996–2001) 1,127
- Calvin Sheffield (1961–1964) 1,115
- Brian Generalovich (1961–1964) 1,114
- Aaron GrayAaron GrayAaron Michael Gray is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Hornets of the NBA.-High school career:...
(2003–2007) 1,109 - Donatas ZavackasDonatas ZavackasDonatas Zavackas is a professional basketball player from Klaipėda, Lithuania. According to ESPN Zavackas is 6' 8", and weighs 238 pounds. Zavackas had played at the University of Pittsburgh for 4 years on scholarship before moving on to EuroLeague...
(1999–2003) 1,099 - Ronald Ramon (2004–2008) 1,096
- Brad Wanamaker (2007-2011) 1,090
- Chris McNeal (1990–1993) 1,067
- Carlton Neverson (1978–1981) 1,057
- Julius Pegues (1955–1958) 1,050
- Rod Brookin (1986–1990) 1,047
- Gilbert BrownGilbert Brown (basketball)Gilbert Brown is an American basketball player who currently plays for S. Oliver Wurzburg in Germany.-High school:...
(2006-2011) 1,046 - Darelle Porter (1987–1991) 1,007
NBA Players
Billy Knight
William R. "Billy" Knight is an American former professional basketball player who most recently served as the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks from 2003–08.Knight grew up in Braddock, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he...
was drafted twice in 1974) and 11 in the CBA. This number does not reflect the many other Panthers that have played professionally prior to the NBA such as national MVP and 3 time All-American Charley Hyatt in the 1930s. Six Panthers have been selected as first-round NBA draft picks with Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Cummings
Vonteego Marfeek Cummings is an American professional basketball player. He is a 1.91 m combo guard who has played in the National Basketball Association during his career. He has also had a successful career in Europe where he has played in several different countries...
being the most recent in 1999. Before him Eric Mobley
Eric Mobley
Eric Mobley is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the National Basketball Association's Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft...
in 1994 was drafted 18th overall.
In addition, more than 23 Panthers have played professionally in international basketball leagues. Clyde Vaughan
Clyde Vaughan
Clyde Vaughan is a basketball coach and former professional player, who enjoyed a distinguished career at college level and professional level and international level for the England team...
especially stands out in averaging 28 points per game over his decade-long basketball career in Europe.
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| *traded on draft day to the Clippers. #traded on draft day to the Warriors. |