The math is now simple for Pitt with regards to securing a spot in the ACC Tournament.
With a win Saturday at Syracuse in the regular-season finale, the Panthers are in. A loss would disqualify Pitt by virtue of Boston College and Notre Dame facing each other to complete the season.
A loss by the Panthers (11-19, 4-13 ACC) coupled with an Eagles (10-20, 3-14) win would propel Boston College into the 15th and final tournament slot by virtue of tiebreaker, with Pitt having lost on the road in Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Jan. 21.
Pitt losing to the Orange and a Notre Dame (13-17, 4-13) win would see the Fighting Irish sneak into 15th place with a superior end-of-year league record. If the Panthers and Notre Dame both win Saturday, it’d be Pitt in the tournament, as the Panthers beat the Irish on Feb. 21 and hold a tiebreaker.
For Pitt, redeeming a brutal season is mostly out of the question. But whether the Panthers are to get a crack at additional games and possibly enjoying a run at the ACC Tournament now hinges on their performance at 4:30 p.m. at JMA Wireless Dome.
“Our journeys,” senior Barry Dunning Jr. said when asked about what keeps the Panthers fighting at this late stage. “What got us and led us to this point right here. Meeting each other at Pitt. Everybody here has a testament. Everybody here has a reason, a purpose, a mission and that’s what keeps us fighting.
“We’ve been through a lot this season, losing some guys to injury and things of that nature. We’re not going to quit. We know what we have in this room. … We’re just going to keep fighting. All we’ve got to do is win one more. That’s it. We’re fighting for our lives right now, so that’s what it is. There’s still some fight. It ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.”
Dunning did just about everything within his power to guide Pitt to a win Wednesday at Petersen Events Center on senior night, dropping a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds in a 75-74 loss to Florida State.
Pitt trailed by 16 at halftime and 24 early in the second half, but orchestrated an aggressive comeback effort that resulted in the game being up for grabs until the final second of regulation.
In the end, the Panthers weren’t able to complete the comeback, losing their home finale to set up Saturday’s do-or-die contest at Syracuse.
From an on-the-court perspective, coach Jeff Capel’s eighth season at the helm at Pitt has offered little to celebrate.
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s game and if Pitt participates in or is excluded from the ACC Tournament, athletic director Allen Greene will likely be taking a thorough look at the viability of Capel’s continued stewardship of the Panthers men’s basketball program.
But one thing that’s for certain is that Capel’s players haven’t given up on him or the season.
“I feel like this year has been like four years,” outgoing senior guard Damarco Minor said. “Just the adversity we went through from the beginning of the season from September. We took a big blow, a huge blow (in losing project starting center Dishon Jackson for the year). We stayed fighting. We took another one, stayed fighting, took another one and stayed fighting.
“It’s really a blessing to see young men and adults, as well, our coaches, face adversity and keep getting up. A lot of people in the opposition would have quit, thrown in the towel and start pointing the finger. We’re still together and hopefully the Lord will reward us for it. But if he (doesn’t), we’re still blessed.”
For Pitt, the ability to salvage the season has long since passed.
Their aspirations reduced to simply qualifying for the annual league tournament, Pitt’s players intend to give it their all heading into tipoff at Syracuse on Saturday.
“We’re good. Trust me, we’re connected,” Dunning said. “We’re ready. We ain’t listening to outside noise. We know we’ve got one more. In our locker room, we’re motivated. We don’t have our heads down. We’re not mad. All we need is a chance, an opportunity. That’s it.”
