Pitt Panthers

From Hoopedia

The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related, doctoral/research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pitt has an undergraduate enrollment of 17,000.

Pittsburgh's sports teams are called the "Pitt Panthers". The Panthers participate in NCAA Division I and in the Big East Conference. Team colors are blue and gold.

Home court for the Panthers is the Petersen Events Center, which has a capacity of 12,508. "The Pete," as the facility is called by students, was christened in 2002 with a men's game against cross-city rival Duquesne University.

Pitt and Duquesne University have a long-standing rivalry in men's basketball. Their annual game, alternating locations between the two campuses but once held every year at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena, attracts lots of local interest and has thus been dubbed "the City Game." Both schools' women's teams also play their annual version of the City Game.

Contents 1 Men's Basketball 1.1 History 1.2 Two-Time National Champions 1.3 Conference Championships 1.4 Post-Season 1.5 Honors 1.5.1 All Americans 1.5.2 National Player of the Year 1.5.3 National Coach of the Year 1.5.4 Conference Honors 1.5.5 Hall of Famers 1.5.6 NBA Players 1.6 Season-by-Season Basketball 2 Women's Basketball

Men's Basketball

History

Pitt began playing men's basketball in 1905-06 and 20 years later had become a national power as evidenced by Pitt's two Helms Foundation National Championships in 1927-28 and 1929-30. Those teams were lead by National Player of the Year, 3-time All-American and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt. During this period, Pitt was coached by the legendary and ground-breaking Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, MD, who would end up being at the reigns of Pitt's hoops program for 30 consecutive seasons (1923-24 to 1952-53). Led by 2-time All-American Clarie Cribbs, Pitt continued success through the 30s winning four Eastern Collegate Conference Championships. Pitt appeared in the 1941 NCAA Final Four, and, led by two-time All-American and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame inducte Don Hennon, appeared in two NCAA tournaments during the 50s. Bob Timmons took over for "Doc" Carlson and led Pitt to an NCAA and NIT appearance in the 60s and was followed by head coach Chuck Ridl who, with All-American Billy Knight, led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974 and an NIT appearance the year after.

Following a short stint at head coach by Tim Grgurich, who led Pitt to the 1980 NIT, Lafayette coach Dr. Roy Chipman was hired to lead the Panthers into what could be considered the modern, Big East era of Pitt basketball, and the start of a rollercoaster-like trip back to national significance. In his first season at the helm, the Panthers won the Eastern Eight (forerunner of the Atlantic 10) Conference Tournament. Pitt continued onto the NCAA tournament, where after a thrilling overtime defeat of Idaho, they were eliminated in the second round by the North Carolina. Chipman's Panthers were able to experience similar success the following season, defeating rival West Virginia for their last Eastern Eight Tournament Championship - energized by insulting remarks by WVU Coach Gale Catlett[1]. Pitt was knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the first round by Pepperdine to end Chipman's second season, as well was Pitt's last as a member of the Eastern Eight Conference.

With the opening of the 1982-1983 season, Pitt began play as a member of the new Big East Conference. Although Chipman would lead Pitt to three more post-season appearances, he was replace by Paul Evans as head coach in 1986-87. In eight seasons as head coach, Paul Evans' teams, lead by All-Americans Charles Smith and Jerome Lane, would capture two regular season Big East Championships, secure several top 10 rankings, and advance to 5 NCAA tournaments and 1 NIT. Following Evans' departure, Ralph Willard took over the Pitt program in 1994-95 and advanced to one NIT in 5 seasons.

Ben Howland, who would become national coach of the year while at Pitt in 2002, took over in 1999-2000. In his second season as head coach, Howland's Pitt team would be led by All-American guard Brandin Knight to the Big East tournament championship game and NIT, followed the next two seasons by back-to-back NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances, back-to-back Big East regular season championships, and two more Big East tournament championship game appearances topped by winning the Big East tournament in 2003.

During Howland's tenure, Pitt found itself holding onto top 10 national rankings for several seasons. During this period, in 2002, Pitt began their first season of play at the 12,508 seat Petersen Events Center. Pitt had previously played at Fitzgerald Field House and prior to that the Pitt Pavillion inside Pitt Stadium (now demolished). Their first opponent at "the Pete", as the facility is called by students, was against cross-city rival Duquesne University.

Howland's assistant, Jamie Dixon, took over as head coach of the team in 2003-2004 and the program didn't miss a beat registering a third straight Big East regular season championship and NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance as well as another appearance in the Big East tournament championship game. The success has continued with almost continuous national rankings, two more Big East tournament championship appearances and 3 additional consecutive NCAA appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2007.

Two-Time National Champions

Pitt's men's basketball team were National Champions in 1927-28 (21-0) and 1929-30(23-2), although there was no NCAA Tournament at that time, the Helms Foundation retroactively named champions for the prior years. The 1930 game helped Pitt legend Charley Hyatt cement his place in history with a last second shot to win the game, after scoring 27 points.

Conference Championships

1932-33 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1933-34 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1934-35 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1936-37 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1980-81 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1981-82 Eastern Eight Tournament Champions
1986-87 Big East Regular Season Co-Champions
1987-88 Big East Regular Season Champions
2001-02 Big East Regular Season West Champions
2002-03 Big East Tournament and Regular Season West Co-Champions
2003-04 Big East Regular Season Champions

Pitt holds the record for most consecutive appearances in the Big East Championship Game having earned a trip to it in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 (Syracuse is second with 5 consecutive appearances). Pittsburgh played in the Eastern Eight Tournament Championship in 1979, 1981, and 1982.

Post-Season

NCAA tournament appearances (19)

1941, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Pitt reached the NCAA Final Four (national semifinal) in 1941, "Elite Eight" (regional final) in 1974, and the "Sweet Sixteen" (regional semifinal) in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.

NIT tournaments appearances (8)
1964, 1975, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1997, 2001

In addition, Pitt has never missed making the Big East Tournament (see conference championships above). In the last eight seasons it has missed the Big East Championship Game only once.

Honors

All Americans

19 All American honors have been awarded to 12 Pitt Players, 17 team honors and 2 honorable mentions. Although Pitt players have been named consensus (AP, UPI, USBWA, TSN, NCAA) 1st Team All-Americans only seven times, Charley Hyatt (twice) was part of the very first Consensus All-American team in 1929, a year after he was voted an All-American, won the National Title and led the nation in scoring. The other consensus All-Americans include Don Smith (once), Claire Cribbs (twice), and Don Hennon (twice). In addition, Billy Knight and Jerome Lane received consensus 2nd-Team All-American status. Two Pitt legends won All-American Honorable Mention status as their highest national honor, Sam Clancy (1978-79), and Carl Krauser (2003-04).

The complete listing of players receiving All-American status:

• Charley Hyatt (1927-28, 1928-29, 1929-30)
  
• Sykes Reed (1927-28)
  
• Don Smith (1932-33)
  
• Clarie Cribbs (1933-34, 1934-34)
  
• Don Hennon (1957-58, 1958-59)
  
• Billy Knight (1973-74)
  
• Sam Clancy (1978-79) Honorable Mention
  
• Jerome Lane (1986-87, 1987-88)
  
• Charles Smith (1986-87, 1987-88)
  
• Brandin Knight (2001-02, 2002-03)
  
• Carl Krauser (2003-04) Honorable Mention
  
• Aaron Gray (2006-07)
  

Freshman All-Americans:

• Sam Clancy (1977-78)
  
• Charles Smith (1984-85)
  
• Chris Taft (2003-04)
  

National Player of the Year

Charley Hyatt won the National Player of the Year in 1929-30. He was the nation's leading scorer that season (his second time as leading scorer) and made a last-second basket to win the "game of the year" against a highly-touted Notre Dame squad. He was a consensus All-American three years in a row.

National Coach of the Year

Ben Howland won National Coach of the Year honors in 2001-02 from the AP, Naismith, USBWA, ESPN Magazine and the Sporting News

Conference Honors

• Larry Harris won Eastern 8 Scoring Title in the 1976-77 season.
  
• Sam Clancy won Eastern 8 Rebounding Titles in both the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons.
  
• Lenny McMillan won Eastern 8 Tournament MVP 1981.
  
• Dwayne Wallace won Eastern 8 Assist Title in the 1981-82 season.
  
• Clyde Vaughan won Eastern 8 Tournament MVP 1982.
  
• Clyde Vaughan won Big East Scoring Title in the 1982-83 season.
  
• Jerome Lane won Big East Rebounding Titles in both the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons.
  
• Charles Smith won Big East Player of the Year in 1987-88 season.
  
• Darelle Porter won Big East Assist Title in the 1989-90 season.
  
• Brandon Knight won Big East Co-player of the Year in 2001-02.
  
• Ben Howland won Big East Coach of the Year in 2001-02.
  
• Julius Page won Big East All-Tournament MVP in 2003.
  
• Jamie Dixon won Big East Coach of the Year in 2003-04.
  

Hall of Famers

Three inductees represent the University of Pittsburgh in the Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame, two of those are also represented in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, both Carlson and Hyatt were selected as the first class inducted to each hall in 1959.

• Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, M.D., Pitt head coach from 1922-1953. He is noted as the innovator of the "figure 8" play, the first coach to take his team cross country and a leading advocate for intersectional games. Despite great modern era's in Pitt Basketball (late 50's, 80's, 2000's) he continues to be the most winningest coach in program history as well as the only one to lead the program to National Championships.
  

• Charley Hyatt, Pitt player and 3-time All-American and 2-time national scoring leader, he also was a senior year All American in High School and earned 3 other all-pro awards in the pre-NBA era playing after Pitt. He was a member of the very first Consensus All American team in 1929.
• Don Hennon, two time All-American (with one being a Consensus All American), led Pitt to two NCAA Tournament bids.

NBA Players

The Pittsburgh Panthers have had 35 players drafted by the pros, 25 picks in the NBA (Billy Knight was drafted twice in 1974) and 11 in the CBA. This number, while impressive doesn't reflect the many other Panthers that pre-NBA have played professionally such as national MVP and 3 time All-American Charley Hyatt in the 1930's. Chris Taft in 2005 has been the most recent Panther drafted, although almost everyone in the NBA believe that Aaron Gray will be drafted in 2007.

Six Panthers have been selected as first-round NBA draft picks with Vonteego Cummings being the most recent in 1999. Before him Eric Mobley in 1994 was drafted 18th overall.

Although not the NBA, 28 Panthers have either solely or additionally played in the successful international basketball leagues. Clyde Vaughan stands out especially playing over a decade in Europe and posting a 28 ppg career average solely in international play.

Season-by-Season Basketball

The Pittsburgh Panthers have won 1,353 games since their inception in 1905.

2006-07	29	7	Jamie Dixon	#2	BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Beat Marquette 89-79 Beat Louisville 65-59 Lost to Georgetown 65-42	NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Beat Wright State 79-58 Beat Virginia Commonwealth 84-79 OT Vs. UCLA TBD
2005-06	24	7	Jamie Dixon	#8	BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Beat Louisville 61-56 Beat West Virginia 68-57 Beat Villanova 68-54 Lost to Syracuse 65-61	NCAA SECOND ROUND Beat Kent State 79-64 Lost to Bradley 72-66
2004-05	20	9	Jamie Dixon	#7	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Villanova 58-67	NCAA FIRST ROUND Lost to Pacific 71-79
2003-04	31	5	Jamie Dixon	#3	BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Beat Virginia Tech 74-61 Beat Boston College 62-53 Lost to UConn 58-61	NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Beat UCF 53-44 Beat Wisconsin 59-55 Lost to Oklahoma State 51-63
2002-03	28	5	Ben Howland	#2	BIG EAST CHAMPIONS Beat Providence 67-59 Beat Boston College 61-48 Beat UConn 74-56	NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Beat Wagner 87-61 Beat Indiana 74-52 Lost to Marquette 74-77
2001-02	29	6	Ben Howland	#7	BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Beat Boston College 76-62 Beat Miami 76-71 Lost to UConn 65-74 2OT	NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Beat Central Conn. St. 71-54 Beat California 63-50 Lost to Kent St. 73-78 OT
2000-01	19	14	Ben Howland	NR	BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP Beat Miami 78-69 Beat NotreDame 66-54 Beat Syracuse 55-54 OT Lost to Boston College 57-79	NIT SWEET SIXTEEN Beat St. Bonaventure 84-75 Lost to Mississippi St. 61-66
1999-00	13	15	Ben Howland	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Villanova 55-65
1998-99	14	16	Ralph Willard	#18	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Rutgers 51-64
1997-98	11	16	Ralph Willard	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Villanova 93-96 2OT
1996-97	18	15	Ralph Willard	NR	BIG EAST SECOND ROUND Beat UConn 63-62 Lost to Boston College 68-76	NIT SWEET SIXTEEN Beat New Orleans 82-63 Lost to Arkansas 71-76
1995-96	10	17	Ralph Willard	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Boston College 66-70
1994-95	10	18	Ralph Willard	NR	BIG EAST SECOND ROUND Beat St. John's 74-71 Lost to UConn 78-81
1993-94	13	14	Paul Evans	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to St. John's 72-80
1992-93	17	11	Paul Evans	#13	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Syracuse 50-55	NCAA FIRST ROUND Lost to Utah 65-86
1991-92	18	16	Paul Evans	#24	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Miami 71-83	NIT SWEET SIXTEEN Beat Penn St. 67-65 Lost to Florida 74-77
1990-91	21	12	Paul Evans	#11	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Seton Hall 69-70	NCAA SECOND ROUND Beat Georgia 76-68 OT Lost to Kansas 66-77
1989-90	12	17	Paul Evans	#18	BIG EAST SECOND ROUND Beat Boston College 88-70 Lost to Syracuse 55-58
1988-89	17	13	Paul Evans	NR	BIG EAST SECOND ROUND Beat Villanova 71-66 Lost to Georgetown 62-85	NCAA FIRST ROUND Lost to Ball St. 64-68
1987-88	24	7	Paul Evans	#2	BIG EAST SEASON CHAMPS Beat UConn 75-58 Lost to Villanova 69-72	NCAA SECOND ROUND Beat E. Michigan 108-90 Lost to Vanderbilt 74-80
1986-87	25	8	Paul Evans	#7	BIG EAST SEASON CHAMPS Beat Seton Hall 96-88 Lost to Syracuse 85-99	NCAA SECOND ROUND Beat Marist 93-68 Lost to Oklahoma 93-96
1985-86	15	14	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Georgetown 56-57 OT	NIT FIRST ROUND Lost to Missouri St. 52-59
1984-85	17	12	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Villanova 61-69	NCAA FIRST ROUND Lost to Louisiana Tech 54-78
1983-84	18	13	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to Villanova 65-75	NIT ELITE EIGHT Beat LaSalle 95-91 Beat FSU 66-63 Lost to Notre Dame 64-72
1982-83	13	15	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	BIG EAST FIRST ROUND Lost to St. John's 73-91
1981-82	20	10	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	Eastern 8 Tournament CHAMPIONS Beat Duquesne 66-64 Beat Rutgers 60-47 Beat West Virginia 79-72	NCAA FIRST ROUND Lost to Pepperdine 88-99
1980-81	19	12	Dr. Roy Chipman	NR	Eastern 8 Tournament CHAMPIONS Beat Rutgers 67-62 Beat RhodeIsland 74-45 Beat Duquesne 64-60	NCAA Second Round Beat Idaho 70-69 Lost to North Carolina 57-74
1979-80	17	12	Tim Grgurich	NR	Eastern 8 FINAL FOUR Beat G. Washington 77-68 Lost to Villanova 59-72	NIT SWEET SIXTEEN Lost to Duquesne 63-65
1978-79	18	11	Tim Grgurich	NR	Eastern 8 CHAMPIONSHIP Beat G. Washington 85-80 Beat Villanova 77-64 Lost to Rutgers 57-61
1977-78	16	11	Tim Grgurich	NR	Eastern 8 FINAL FOUR Beat G. Washington 85-83 Lost to Villanova 70-72
1976-77	6	21	Tim Grgurich	NR	Eastern 8 FIRST ROUND Lost to West Virginia 54-66
1975-76	12	15	Tim Grgurich
1974-75	18	11	Chuck Ridl	NR		NIT ELITE EIGHT Beat S. Illinois 70-65 Lost to Providence 80-101
1973-74	25	4	Chuck Ridl	#7		NCAA ELITE EIGHT Beat St. Joseph's 54-42 Beat Furman 81-78 Lost to NC State 72-100
1972-73	12	14	Chuck Ridl
1971-72	12	12	Chuck Ridl
1970-71	14	10	Chuck Ridl
1969-70	12	12	Chuck Ridl
1968-69	4	20	Chuck Ridl
1967-68	7	15	Bob Timmons
1966-67	6	19	Bob Timmons
1965-66	5	17	Bob Timmons
1964-65	7	16	Bob Timmons
1963-64	17	8	Bob Timmons	NR		NIT SWEET SIXTEEN Lost to Drake 82-87
1962-63	19	6	Bob Timmons	NR		NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Lost to NYU 83-93
1961-62	12	11	Bob Timmons
1960-61	12	11	Bob Timmons
1959-60	11	14	Bob Timmons
1958-59	10	14	Bob Timmons	#18
1957-58	18	7	Bob Timmons	NR		NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN Lost to Miami(OH) 77-82
1956-57	16	11	Bob Timmons	NR		NCAA ELITE EIGHT Beat Morehead St. 86-86 Lost to Kentucky 92-98 Lost to Notre Dame 85-86
1955-56	15	10	Bob Timmons
1954-55	10	16	Bob Timmons
1953-54	9	14	Bob Timmons
1952-53	12	11	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1951-52	10	12	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1950-51	9	17	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1949-50	4	14	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1948-49	12	13	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1947-48	10	11	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1946-47	8	10	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1945-46	7	7	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1944-45	8	4	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1943-44	7	7	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1942-43	10	5	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1941-42	5	10	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1940-41	13	6	Dr. H.C. Carlson	NR		NCAA FINAL FOUR Beat North Carolina 26-20 Lost to Wisconsin 30-36
1939-40	8	9	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1938-39	10	9	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1937-38	9	12	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1936-37	14	7	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1935-36	18	9	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1934-35	18	5	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1933-34	18	4	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1932-33	17	5	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1931-32	14	6	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1930-31	20	4	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1929-30	23	2	Dr. H.C. Carlson	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1928-29	16	5	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1927-28	21	0	Dr. H.C. Carlson	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1926-27	10	7	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1925-26	12	5	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1924-25	4	10	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1923-24	10	7	Dr. H.C. Carlson
1922-23	10	5	Andrew Kerr
1921-22	12	8	Dr. George Flint
1920-21	12	9	Dr. George Flint
1919-20	9	6	Dr. George Flint
1918-19	7	7	Dr. George Flint
1917-16	5	9	Dr. George Flint
1916-15	12	6	Dr. George Flint
1915-14	15	2	Dr. George Flint
1914-15	13	5	Dr. George Flint
1913-14	7	8	Dr. George Flint
1912-13	15	7	Dr. George Flint
1911-12	10	9	Dr. George Flint
1910-11	6	6	Wol Wegner
1907-08	10	6	Harry Hough
1906-07	6	5	Ben Printz
1905-06	2	9	Ben Printz

Women's Basketball

Women's intercollegiate varsity basketball at the University of Pittsburgh began during the 1914-1915 [2] season and found early success until 1926-1927 after which it was disbanded in favor of intermural sports programs. Varsity basketball for women was reinstated during the 1970-1971 season. Although participants were awarded varsity letters and competed intercollegiately, the program wasn't taken over by the Athletic Department until the 1974-1975 season. During the '70s, the team posted several conference and NWIT/EAIAW Tournament Appearances. In 2007, the Pitt women advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual national champion Tennessee.[3]