Another day, another preseason college basketball ranking list. This time it's Yahoo Sports checking in and they've got Pitt slotted 14th.
The Big East gets plenty of respect and even at No. 14, Pitt is still only the fifth rated team in the conference behind Syracuse (No. 5), UConn (No. 7), Louisville (No. 9), and Marquette (No. 13). Cincinnati also appears in the top 25 at No. 19.
Insert standard Pitt preview text here:
14. Pittsburgh – The Panthers accomplished one of the toughest things in sports last season by winning the Big East title, but they lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third time in the last four years and have yet to reach the Final Four under coach Jamie Dixon. Standouts such as Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee are gone from last season’s team. But the Panthers still have plenty of firepower thanks to the return of Ashton Gibbs, last year’s leading scorer, and forwards Nasir Robinson, Talib Zanna, Dante Taylor and highly-touted newcomer Khem Birch.
North Carolina predictably (and rightfully) checks in at No. 1.