Coaches No. 12 2010–11 record 28–6 (15–3 Big East) Assistant coach Pat Sandle (10th year) | AP No. 4 | |
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Conference Big East Conference (1979–2013) | ||
The 2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their Head Coach was Jamie Dixon, who was in his 8th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 12th overall at the University. The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and are members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 28–6, 15–3 in Big East play to capture the regular season conference championship. As the 1 seed in the 2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, they were upset by 9 seed Connecticut in their first tournament game. They received an at-large bid in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament as the 1 seed in the southeast region. They defeated 16 seed UNC Asheville in the second round before being upset by 8 seed Butler in the third round.
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Outlook
The Pittsburgh Panthers finished the 2009 season 25–9, 13–5 in Big East play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament. They received an at–large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, earning a 3 seed in the West Region. They defeated 14 seed Oakland in the first round before being upset by 6 seed and AP No. 25 Xavier in the second round. Finishing at No. 20 in the final Coaches' Poll, Pitt returned four starters and the bulk of their reserves including 86% of its scoring and 88% of its rebounding. Pitt has been ranked in the 2010-11 preseason among the top ten teams in the nation, and among the favorites to win the Big East Conference, by multiple national publications.
The Panthers conducted a preseason tour of Ireland, going undefeated in several exhibition games played against national and professional teams.
At the Big East Conference media day on October 20, Pitt was selected by a vote of the league's coaches to finish first in the Big East Conference receiving 12 out of 15 possible first place votes. Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs received a preseason first-team all-conference selection. The Panthers were ranked fourth in the nation in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll and fifth in nation in the preseason AP Poll.
Season
Pittsburgh finished their out-of-conference schedule 12-1, losing only to Tennessee at the Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As of March 7, the Panthers are ranked third nationwide in both polls. They finished the regular season at the top of the Big East Conference, with a 15-3 record in conference play.
The Panthers earned a number one seed in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, the third overall seed in the tournament.
The Panthers use a balanced attack, with eight players averaging 4.9 points per game or more. Gilbert Brown and Brad Wanamaker both averaged over ten points a game, while Ashton Gibbs led the team at 15.9 ppg (eighth in the Big East).
Schedule
Pitt's 2010–11 schedule.