PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team, 22-11 overall and 9-9 in the ACC, was awarded the 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament East Region as announced by the NCAA selection committeeSunday evening. The Panthers, one of six ACC teams to make the field, open tournament play against Wisconsin in St. Louis Friday, March 18.
“It’s a great opportunity and we’re excited,” head coach Jamie Dixon said. “We’re excited for our kids and the three graduate seniors that came here and wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament. That was their goal and now they will have that opportunity. I’m excited for James [Robinson] and Mike [Lecak] as well. We want to go play good basketball. We have five days to get ready. It’s time to find our best basketball.
Pitt, making its 26th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, is 24-26 all-time in the event, including a 12-10 mark under Jamie Dixon. Dixon has led the Panthers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in his first 13 years as head coach, tied for third-most in NCAA history for a coach through his first 13 seasons.
The Panthers have made the NCAA Tournament 13 times in the past 15 seasons, tied for seventh-most in the NCAA in that span.
Pitt is joined in the East Region by [1] North Carolina, [2] Xavier, [3] West Virginia, [4] Kentucky, [5] Indiana, [6] Notre Dame, [7] Wisconsin, [8] Texas Tech, [9] Butler,[11] Michgan/Tulsa, [12] Chattanooga, [13] Stony Brook, [14] SF Austin, [15] Weber St. and [16] Florida Gulf Coast/[16] Fairleigh Dickinson.
“It means a lot to make the tournament knowing where we were last year,” senior James Robinson said. “We know Wisconsin is going to play hard and we’ll get right to work tomorrow to prepare for the game.”
Game times and TV designations for the 2016 NCAA Tournament will be announced. www.pittsburghpanthers.com
