Panthers still have work to do before second round

NCAA Tournament bids made dreams come true, but what does March Madness look like for the Pitt… NCAA Tournament bids made dreams come true, but what does March Madness look like for the Pitt women’s basketball team? Awarded the No. 4 seed, the lady Panthers were placed in the Oklahoma City Region. And with the exception of two teams, every school Pitt could possibly face on the road to the Elite Eight either finished first in a conference, won a division title or both. Lacking a top-season finish and conference championship, the Panthers (23-7) finished third in the Big East behind Louisville and undefeated Connecticut. However, according to coach Agnus Berenato, a conference like the Big East is all the preparation a team can ask for. Pitt has a good chance of making the Sweet Sixteen where, if all goes according to plan, the Panthers will play No. 1-seeded Oklahoma on the Sooners’ home court. Before the Panthers make it to Oklahoma, however, they have to survive in Seattle. The Panthers will face Big Sky champion Montana at the University of Washington’s Bank of America Arena on Saturday. The Grizzlies earned an automatic NCAA bid by winning the Big Sky championship in a 69-62 victory over Portland State. Making its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance, Montana enters the weekend with no wins over any NCAA Tournament-bound team. Pitt, meanwhile, has five. The Panthers also have six losses to five teams in the tournament with a seeding of eight or higher. If successful in fulfilling their destiny, the Panthers will play the winner of the Xavier-Gonzaga game in the second round of the tournament. No. 5-seeded Xavier is expected to defeat No. 12 Gonzaga, but March Madness is known to produce upsets. Gonzaga enters the tournament as the regular season and West Coast Conference champions. Gonzaga (26-6) won seven of its last eight games and is making its second Tournament appearance in three years. Like Pitt, Xavier’s Musketeers (25-6) are making their third straight trip to the Tournament by finishing first in the Alantic-10. If seeding prevails, Pitt will defeat Montana, Xavier will crush Gonzaga, and the Musketeers will meet the Panthers where their tournament dance will come to a halt. The Panthers will then hope to defy their No. 4 seed to upset the No. 1 Sooners in Oklahoma, and Pitt will proceed to the Elite Eight where it could match-up against Auburn. Unfortunately, only time will tell if the Panthers have what it takes to live up to their No. 4 seed and beyond. Berenato and company are focused on one game right now, and that will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. against Montana.