Heartbreaker

Gasps and groans filled the Petersen Events Center Sunday evening as Pitt’s basketball team… Gasps and groans filled the Petersen Events Center Sunday evening as Pitt’s basketball team watched CBS announce the brackets for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

As the team watched, a No. 3 appeared in front of “Pitt” on the television screen.

Then, even worse news — Pitt wasn’t going to play close to home in Columbus, Ohio, and no, Julius Page was not going to play at home in Buffalo, N.Y. Instead, Pitt watched as the NCAA Tournament Committee placed the Panthers in Milwaukee, Wis., for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Nothing could get worse than this.

But then the No. 6 seed in the Panthers’ bracket flashed on the screen as Wisconsin, the Big Ten Champions, who will be playing less than 60 miles away from its campus in Madison, Wis.

Many, including senior Jaron Brown, had felt Pitt deserved a No. 2 seed and to play close to home.

“It’s shocking to me,” Brown said. “I thought we were going to get a two seed, but we have to deal with it. We aren’t worried about seedings. We just have to play hard because every team in this tournament is good.”

Sophomore point guard Carl Krauser was also upset with the No. 3 seed.

“We definitely thought we were going to be higher than [a No. 3 seed],” Krauser said. “But that’s the way the ball bounces, so now we are going to have to take it on the chin and play.”

But in order to get to the second round, Pitt must first win Friday night against No. 14 seed, and Atlantic Sun Conference Champions, Central Florida. The Knights, who are 25-5 on the season, were surprised to see Pitt as a No. 3 seed.

“People are shocked that Pitt wasn’t a No. 1 or No. 2 seed,” Central Florida Future’s Sports Editor Ashley Burns said. “I do think they got screwed. Usually the tournament committee protects the top four seeds. I think it’s tough for Pitt.”

Two years ago, Pitt was given a distinct advantage in the NCAA Tournament, when the Panthers were placed as a No. 3 seed in Pittsburgh’s own Mellon Arena for the first two rounds. The Panthers cruised to the Sweet 16 before being upset by Kent State.

Last year, Pitt was again given the closest site to home in Boston, Mass., as a No. 2 seed, and again, the Panthers cruised into the Sweet 16 before being upset by Marquette.

Even though the seeding and location are not where the Panthers would have liked, the team is prepared for anything that comes its way. Freshman center Chris Taft is disappointed with the No. 3 seed, but he still believes Pitt is the best team in the country.

“I think there is no one better than us.” Taft said. “That’s just what [the selection committee] thinks. It doesn’t matter what they think. It just matters how we go out and play our game.”

“It’s going to be tough, but we are ready for it,” Taft said. “We always play tough teams. We just want to go out there and win.”

Friday’s game against Central Florida begins 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Wisconsin/Richmond game, which should be at approximately 9:50 p.m. If Pitt wins Friday, Sunday’s game will be at either 2:20 or 4:40.

Notes — While the NCAA Tournament Committee may have shown a lack of respect for Pitt, the Panthers seemed to show a lack of respect to the Big East Conference by showing up 45 minutes late to the conference’s awards banquet last Tuesday in New York City.

But, when the Panthers did arrive, Pitt received four of the seven awards given out. Chris Taft won the Freshman of the Year Award after being named Big East Rookie of the Week a Pitt-record six times. Jaron Brown won the Sportsmanship Award for his actions on as well as off the court over the past four seasons.

For the second time in three years, Pitt took home the conference’s Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player Award. Dixon, in his rookie season, won Coach of the Year, and Carl Krauser won the Most Improved Player. In 2001, Ben Howland won Coach of the Year, and Brandin Knight won Most Improved Player.