Pitt carries little hope into ACC Tournament, but even that's something

Since the middle of the previous decade, there’s been a common thread to the latter stages of Pitt’s basketball seasons:

The team has staggered to the finish line every year since 2015. No matter the coach.

Jamie Dixon ended his final two seasons 0-5 and 1-4, including NIT and NCAA Tournament defeats to George Washington and Wisconsin.

Kevin Stallings’ teams were 1-5 and 0-19 at the end. Jeff Capel’s first team last year closed with a 2-14 slump.

But Capel’s not done yet with this season’s version. Pitt opens the ACC Tournament at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against Wake Forest at the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum.

Is there any hope for the Panthers (15-16), who have lost seven in a row? Here’s a couple reasons why there might be:

1. The bracket is kind

You might remember the Wake Forest game Jan. 4.

Playing without Au’Diese Toney (elbow), Pitt led 22-6 in the first half. The Panthers also had several chances to win in the final minutes while Wake Forest hung on to a one-point lead at Petersen Events Center. But they were scoreless in the last 3 minutes, 7 seconds and lost, 69-65.

All other things being equal, Toney, a strong defender, could make a difference. He has averaged 13.3 points and nearly five rebounds over the last 11 games, including 27- and 24-point efforts on the road at Duke and N.C. State.

Afte defeating Pitt, Wake Forest (13-17) lost 10 of 13 before recovering with late-season victories against Duke and Notre Dame.

How interested will either team be in their current states of disrepair? Not an easy victory for Pitt, but the Panthers can win if they carry the right mindset into the game.

2. ‘Pack’ mentality?

This one won’t be easy because the Wolfpack (19-12) appear headed to the NCAA Tournament. Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology on ESPN.com lists N.C. State as an 11 seed.

But Pitt played one of its better late-season games Feb. 29 in Raleigh, leading at halftime and through most of the second half before N.C. State won, 77-73. It was Pitt’s best scoring output during the losing streak.

Faint praise, indeed, but we’re grasping at straws.

The crowd won’t be any less hostile in Greensboro than it was in Raleigh, but it’s not like Pitt is playing Duke. Actually, the Blue Devils would show up in the quarterfinals.

3. Time to rest

Pitt is the only team in the ACC that didn’t get to enjoy its off week until after the last game.

Capel would have preferred to rest his players during the rigors of the season, but a six-day break can help no matter when it shows up on the calendar. Pitt has four players — Toney, Xavier Johnson, Trey McGowens and Justin Champagnie — averaging 30 or more minutes per game.

Considering there is no momentum for Pitt, time away from the game can only help.

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