The two teams playing for the national title are a couple of familiar faces — Kansas and North Carolina. While the two blue bloods have been on the national stage before, their paths to New Orleans this season have been vastly different.

When Pitt men’s basketball heads to Chapel Hill for a Wednesday date with UNC, senior staff writer Frankie Richetti argues it will have a chance to inspire belief that this season’s incremental progress is a step toward something bigger.

The indisputable highlight of a visit this weekend to Charlotte, North Carolina will be watching our very own Panthers win an ACC title. But while you’re there, try to venture off the beaten path that leads from your hotel room to the stadium.

Despite uncharacteristic struggles by Pitt’s offense, the defense stepped up when needed most, leading the Panthers to a 30-23 win and setting up an opportunity to clinch the Coastal Division next weekend.

No. 4 Pitt volleyball continued their dominant start to the 2021 season by beating North Carolina and North Carolina State this weekend. The Panthers struggled at times, but still returned home with a pair of 3-1 wins under their belts.

No. 19 Pitt baseball took two of three games over the weekend against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a series that saw a little bit of everything. From a rain-induced postponement, to a pitchers duel on Saturday and a slugfest on Sunday, there was no shortage of action in the pivotal ACC matchup.

“We still feel like we did have a home-court advantage.” Despite limited attendance, Pitt returned to form at the Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, sweeping UNC for its 10th straight victory.

Pitt women’s basketball (4-9, 2-8 ACC) continued its recent cold-streak futility with its fifth loss in a row, this time against North Carolina (10-8, 5-8 ACC) with a score of 81-72. This comes on the heels of a matchup where Pitt surrendered a late lead to Wake Forest and lost in overtime.

On Tuesday night, just one week removed from the Duke win, the mood had completely flipped. Pitt (8-4 overall, 4-3 ACC) was maddeningly sloppy against North Carolina (11-5 overall, 6-3 ACC) and lost 75-65 in deflating fashion at the Pete.

Both the Pitt men’s and women’s basketball programs postponed games due to COVID-19 protocols on Thursday.