Growing up in New England, I grew accustomed to the phrase, “There’s always next year.”

In a… Growing up in New England, I grew accustomed to the phrase, “There’s always next year.”

In a new city with new sports teams, I find myself thinking the same old thing: Next year is the year.

After watching Selection Monday, the women’s basketball answer to Selection Sunday for their NCAA tournament, I was disappointed.

My disappointment came after watching Pitt’s women’s basketball team grind its way to its best season in five years only to be left out by the NCAA Selection Committee on Monday night.

The 2005-2006 Panthers did some things that Pitt’s teams in the past could only dream of, such as winning a Big East conference tournament game for the first time in a decade while posting the fourth-highest win total in school history.

This year’s Panthers gave their fans something to latch onto, something to enjoy. They played competitive basketball, home and away, and arguably came within one or two wins of making the NCAA tournament for the first time in the program’s history.

Pitt missed out on a few key chances to win a marquee game for its tournament resume, but they certainly didn’t falter in the eyes of their fans.

At the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 24, the Panthers battled the Connecticut Huskies, falling behind in the final minutes before losing to the perennial powerhouse.

But the loss meant more than just an “L” in the outcome column and the sixth loss of the season for Pitt. It gave the program a taste of competing at the highest level in Division I basketball.

At that point in the season, Pitt fell to 12-6 and just 3-4 in the Big East. The team’s season appeared to be headed down the old path toward mediocrity, but the Panthers did exactly the opposite, battling back to win six of their next seven games, including huge wins at Villanova, Cincinnati and South Florida.

Pitt earned just the fourth bid to a postseason tournament in the program’s 32-year history, hosting Delaware Saturday in the first round of the Women’s NIT.

Consider it a step taken in the right direction.

While those who know Berenato know that she is disappointed that her team missed out on the NCAA tournament, we also know that she has to be confident in her team’s chances next season.

In March 2007, seven women’s basketball clubs will travel to Pittsburgh to play in the NCAA tournament at the Petersen Events Center. Mark my words, the eighth team will be the host, as the Panthers seem destined to challenge the old guard of the Big East and make a serious case for an NCAA tournament bid.

Pitt returns four of its five starters, including one of the best inside-outside combinations in the Big East, Marcedes Walker and Mallorie Winn. Also returning are freshman stars Shavonte Zellous, Xenia Stewart and Maddy Brown.

But don’t think the loss of senior Cheron Taylor will leave Walker alone in the post, as incoming 6-foot-5 center Selena Nwude seems fit to take over the empty spot in Pitt’s frontline.

With the core of its young team returning, Pitt will pose a major threat to Rutgers, UConn, DePaul and St. John’s for a top spot in the Big East.

After seeing the teams named in the tournament bracket on Selection Monday, the Panthers now know what they need to do to reach their goal next year.

With Berenato at the helm, success always seems imminent. And with this cast of characters fit to crash the Big East party, Pitt should begin memorizing its dance steps because next year is the year.

Jeff Greer is a staff writer for The Pitt News. E-mail him at [email protected].