7 Potential NCAA Tournament Teams Lacking Signature Wins

Feb 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets forward Quinton Stephens (12) dives for a loose ball against Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3, left) guard Derryck Thornton (12) and guard Brandon Ingram (14) in the second half of their game at McCamish Pavilion. The Blue Devils won 80-71. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 27, 2016; Greenville, SC, USA;Pittsburgh Panthers guard Damon Wilson (3) walks off the court at halftime against the Clemson Tigers at Bon Secours Wellnes Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Panthers

RPI: 27
Record vs. Top 50 RPI: 3-2
Best Win: 86-82 at Notre Dame
Worst Loss: 78-61 vs. N.C. State
Best Remaining Game: Feb. 6 vs. Virginia

For a team that’s 17-4 in a power conference, you’d think the talk would be about a potential top two seed in the NCAA tournament. Instead, Pittsburgh is sort of floating around in the tournament field but still on the cusp of dropping off the map completely.

That’s the downfall for the Panthers right now. They have a great record, but what’s inside that record is more telling than the number itself.

No wins inside the top 25 of RPI, no wins over ranked teams and having only played four true road games through the first three months of the regular season, Pittsburgh has some work to do.

Lunardi has Pitt as an eighth seed and Palm has them pegged as a No. 6. That’s territory for the chopping block for major conference teams. Those seeds are generally reserved to teams that get hot late and some of the smaller multi-bid conferences.

Lucky for Pittsburgh, since they’re in the ACC, there’s plenty of chances to get that marquee win, which starts on Saturday at home against Virginia. Immediately after that, it’s two consecutive road games at Miami and at North Carolina.

Earning at least one of those wins on the road would be the ticket for Pitt. Getting two wins in their next three games, all against top 15 teams, would be perfect. Get zero wins in this stretch and we could be re-examining the Panthers’ tournament résumé.

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