Men’s hoops picked fourth

The Pitt men’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Big East preseason… The Pitt men’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, according to a release on the Big East’s official website.

The rankings, voted on by all 16 Big East coaches, were released yesterday at the Big East’s annual media day at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Both Louisville and Georgetown were tied for first place. Marquette was the other team picked to finish ahead of Pitt in third place.

Pitt and Georgetown split their regular season meetings last year, each team winning at home. But the Hoyas beat the Panthers in the finals of the Big East Tournament, en route to a Final Four berth.

Pitt lost to both Louisville and Marquette at home last year, and lost again at Marquette in its final regular season game. The Panthers beat both teams in the Big East Tournament, though, Marquette in the quarterfinals and Louisville in the semifinals.

Numerous experts and preseason publications this season have ranked Pitt anywhere from 12th to 24th in the country.

Head coach Jamie Dixon’s Panthers are the only Big East team to have played in the last six NCAA Tournaments, and are also the only league team to have won 10 Big East games in each of those last six seasons.

Pitt won 12 Big East games last season after being picked by the coaches in the preseason as the unanimous front-runner for the regular-season crown. The Panthers ended up finishing third behind Georgetown and Louisville.

The Panthers begin the regular season Friday, Nov. 9 at home against Houston Baptist.

No current Panthers were chosen for the preseason All-Big East team.