I'm not a long time Pitt fan. I came to Pitt in 2003, and have been a student off and on for undergrad and grad ever since. I've watched them grind out wins in the Big East and challenge national powers. I've watched them lose heartbreakers. This year, I've watched them underachieve in a year of underachievement, when top ranked teams lost time and again. This is a Pitt team that lacks their traditional defensive and rebounding prowess, and doesn't make up for it with offensive ability.

So, after a year with a couple quality wins, Pitt has a shot at an 8 seed. This gives them arguably one of the toughest first round matchups in the tournament. Their reward for winning will be a matchup against one of the best teams in the country. I suffer no delusions about Pitt. They're not a lock to win their first round matchup, and assuming a 1 seed doesn't suffer a critical injury, they are primed to get blown out in the second round. Which begs the question, does it matter?

Pitt's recruiting is far from stellar, and a spirited showing in the tournament could move some prospects on the fence their way, but not likely anyone NBA-bound. They will likely get some financial reward for making the tournament, but be forgotten as one of the many. Since joining the ACC, Pitt has taken a precipitous fall as a Program. They went from not being able to move beyond the sweet 16 to barely being able to make the tournament.

This Program needs to start looking for a replacement for Dixon. He's had more than enough chances to field a team and put a tradition in place. His staff isn't bringing in the talent, and they're not teaching X's and O's well enough to compensate. I look forward to the tournament, but not watching Pitt in it.