Pitt Basketball supporters and observers are in full panic mode, and for good reason. It has been quite some time since Pitt Basketball was on a six game losing streak. It has been a while since Pitt was "on the bubble" for the NCAA tournament. This is uncharted waters for a spoiled fan base that expects to be the best. Pitt Basketball went from a nobody to a high profile program seemingly overnight. The construction of the Petersen Events Center created a Basketball atmosphere on the campus, and created a program that could compete nationally. After nine seasons without an NCAA tournament appearance, Pitt has been in the Big Dance the past nine years. Those nine seasons include two number one seeds, one number two seed, and three number three seeds. This stretch has also seen the Panthers win two regular seasons Big East Championships along with two Big East Tournament Titles. Jamie Dixon raced out to 200 career wins as fast as anyone, he also holds the Big East's highest winning percentage, EVER. His resume includes an Elite 8 and two Sweet 16 appearances. That is why this six game losing streak is troubling. Pitt has been over the stench of mediocrity for some time now, and I guess people have forgotten how to deal with it. The people that see Dixon as overrated, or even the extremists that think he should be fired are laughable. They have to realize where the Basketball program was, and where it is now. Pitt is regularly a member in the nation's Top 25, actually more often than not, the Top 10. Pitt plays in the country's toughest conference, and they possess the highest winning percentage over the past eight seasons. Pitt is constantly playing on national television. The postseason success has yet to come, but its hard to dismiss the fact that Pitt is only school in the entire NCAA that has actually won an NCAA tournament game in each of the past six seasons.
When you take into consideration all of the facts listed above, you can conclude Pitt Basketball is a pretty good program. Pitt's recent struggles are not nearly as concerning as people are making them out to be. Many top programs go through struggles. Connecticut won a National Championship the year after they were in the NIT. Syracuse had their struggles, and North Carolina has not always been in the top ten this past decade. Pitt in the scheme of things is a young team. This team evidently was not ready for the rigors of an intense season. They have five freshmen and three sophomores. They are still learning about being contributors. That happens in major college basketball. Pitt's youth this season will translate to experience next season. Pitt will also add the best player it has ever added to the program. Things will be back to the norm next season. Steven Adams is a player to get excited about. He is legitimately a potential one and done prospect. He is a guy you can build a good postseason run around. Khem Birch was a highly rated guy, and thought he would be a similar prospect. That was not the case. He was weak and offensively challenged. Adams has a complete game, and will be one of the better Centers in the country next season. Also, Pitt adds a Point Guard in James Robinson that is a true Point Guard. He will play the position more like LeVance Fields, and he's 6-3. Pitt has the talent next season to be back in the Top 10, and they had the talent this season to do the same, they just happen to be missing an inside presence. I cannot count out Pitt the rest of the way because there is a lot of Basketball left, but things need to change right away for there to be a chance of a tenth straight NCAA appearance. Either way, the panic and worry over the losing streak is warranted, but patience will get you through it. Pitt will be back next season, count on it.
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