Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball

This article is about Pitt men's basketball. For Pitt women's basketball, see Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball.
Pittsburgh Panthers
2016–17 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team
University University of Pittsburgh
First season 1905–06
Conference ACC
Location Pittsburgh, PA
Head coach Kevin Stallings (1st year)
Arena Petersen Events Center
(Capacity: 12,508)
Nickname Panthers
Student section Oakland Zoo
Colors Navy Blue and Gold[1]
         
Uniforms
Home
Away
Alternate
Pre-tournament Premo-Porretta champions
1928
Pre-tournament Helms champions
1928, 1930
NCAA Tournament Final Four
1941
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1941, 1974, 2009
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
1957, 1974, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009
NCAA Tournament appearances
1941, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1974, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016
Conference tournament champions

Eastern Eight
1981, 1982


Big East
2003, 2008
Conference regular season champions

EIC
1933, 1934, 1935, 1937


Big East
1987, 1988, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011

The Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers were retroactively recognized as the pre-NCAA Tournament national champion twice by the Helms Athletic Foundation and once by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Pitt has reached one Final Four, received 15 First Team All-American selections, appeared in 25 NCAA and eight National Invitation Tournaments (NIT) and through the 2012–13 season, and has recorded 1,577 victories against 1,111 losses since their inaugural season of 1905–06. On March 28, 2016, the school announced the hiring of Kevin Stallings as coach after the departure of Jamie Dixon.[2]

History

Pitt All-American Don Hennon drives around Duquesne University's Bob Slobodnik during a 71–56 Pitt victory in the Steel Bowl tournament on December 13, 1958

Initial era

The University of Pittsburgh began playing men's basketball in 1905–06 under coach Benjamin Printz. The University did not field a team during the 1909–10 and 1910–11 seasons. The program was resurrected in 1911 under head coach Wohlparth Wegner, and the following year Dr. George M. Flint assumed head coaching duties and began rebuilding Pitt's program essentially from the ground up. Flint led the Panthers to eight winning seasons during his ten years at the helm and coached future Pitt coach H. C. Carlson.

H.C. "Doc" Carlson era (1922–1953)

Henry Clifford "Doc" Carlson, MD took over as coach in 1922 and soon turned Pitt into a national power. In the era preceding the initiation of national tournaments, the Panthers were both contemporaneously[3][4] and later retroactively, by the Helms Athletic Foundation (1927–28 and 1929–30) and the Premo-Porretta Power Poll (1927–28), regarded as national champions.[5] Those teams were led by National Player of the Year, 3-time All-American and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Hyatt. Carlson was a ground-breaking coach who would be inducted into the Naismith and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fames. In the late 1920s, Carlson initiated playing a "national schedule" by taking his teams on midwestern road trips that included games against several Big Ten schools and, in 1931, is credited as the first coach to take an Eastern team out west.[6] He also developed the widely emulated Figure Eight Offense and also experimented with various conditioning techniques, including the use of oxygen on the bench. Under Carlson, and led by two-time All-American Claire Cribbs, Pitt continued success through the 1930s winning four Eastern Intercollegiate Conference Championships. In 1935, Pitt, as Eastern Intercollegiate champions representing the best of the East, lost a 41–37 season-ending contest to SEC champion LSU in the American Legion Bowl in Atlantic City, a game on which LSU bases its claim on that season's national championship.[7] On February 28, 1940, Pitt played in the first ever televised basketball game, a 57–37 victory over Fordham at Madison Square Garden that was televised by NBC station W2XBS.[8] Carlson also led Pitt to its first ever NCAA appearance en route to the 1941 NCAA Final Four. Carlson's tenure at Pitt's helm lasted for 30 consecutive years before he retired following the 1952–53 season.

Pitt moved their competition into the Fitzgerald Field House in 1951, leaving the Pitt Pavilion, housed inside of Pitt Stadium. Pitt would continue to play in the Fieldhouse until 2002.

Bob Timmons era (1953–1968)

Robert Timmons took over as head coach from Carlson for the 1953–54 season and, led by two-time All-American and Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Don Hennon, appeared in two NCAA tournaments during the late 1950s. Timmons also led Pitt to an NCAA appearance in 1963 and its first NIT appearance in 1964.

Buzz Ridl era (1968–1975)

All-American Billy Knight (#34) goes for a rebound against NC State in the 1974 Elite Eight

Timmons was succeeded by head coach Charles "Buzz" Ridl who became famous for his 'amoebe' defense, an ever changing man to zone match-up defense. With All-American Billy Knight, Ridl led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974, with early round victories over St. Joseph's and Furman. Pitt lost to eventual national champion North Carolina State in the Eastern Regional Final (Elite 8) played in Raleigh, North Carolina amid a hostile local crowd. This Pitt team was filled with local players such as Mickey Martin, Jim Bolla, Tom Richards, Keith Starr, Kirk Bruce and Billy Knight, who went on to star in the ABA for the Indiana Pacers and with several teams in the NBA. Following the graduation of Knight and Martin, Pitt made an NIT appearance the following year, Ridl's last before retiring.

Eastern Eight Conference (1976–1982)

Tim Grgurich era (1975–1980)

Pittsburgh native Tim Grgurich, who was an assistant coach under Ridl, became Pitt's next head coach. He led Pitt into the inaugural 1976–77 season of the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, which would change its name to the Eastern Eight (forerunner to the Atlantic 10) the following year. That initial year, Larry Harris, a 6'6" forward with an impressive outside shot and an ability to score points in traffic, won the league scoring title. Grgurich also led Pitt to the 1980 NIT.

Roy Chipman era (1980–1985)

Grgurich was succeeded by Lafayette coach Dr. Roy Chipman who began Pitt's rollercoaster-like ride back to national significance. In his first season at the helm, the Panthers won the Eastern Eight Conference Tournament. In the 1981 NCAA Tournament, Pitt defeated Idaho in overtime in the first round; they lost to North Carolina in the second round. Chipman's Panthers enjoyed similar success the following season, defeating archrival West Virginia for their last Eastern Eight Tournament Championship, energized by remarks by WVU Coach Gale Catlett.[9] Pitt lost to Pepperdine in the first round of the 1982 NCAA Tournament to end Chipman's second season and Pitt's last as a member of the Eastern Eight Conference.

Big East Conference (1982–2013)

For the 1982–83 season, Pitt began play as a member of the Big East Conference.

Paul Evans era (1986–1994)

Although Chipman would lead Pitt to three more postseason appearances, he was replaced by Paul Evans as head coach in 1986–87. Led by All-Americans Charles Smith and Jerome Lane, Pitt would capture its first two regular season Big East Championships and secure several top 10 rankings reaching as high as number two in the nation. However, compared to the expectations of the fans, these teams had disappointing showings in their Big East and NCAA tournaments appearances. After the departures of Smith and Lane, Pitt basketball continued to have a national, if not inconsistent, impact with players such as Sean Miller, Brian Shorter, Jerry McCullough, and Eric Mobley. In eight seasons as head coach Evans' teams advanced to a total of five NCAA tournaments and one NIT.

Ralph Willard era (1994–1999)

Slumping play led to Evans' departure, and he was replaced by Ralph Willard who headed the Pitt program from 1994–95 through 1998–-99. Despite highly regarded recruiting classes and stars such as Mark Blount and Vonteego Cummings, Pitt advanced to only one NIT in five seasons under Willard.

Ben Howland era (1999–2003)

Ben Howland was hired as head coach of the Panthers in 1999–00 and led them to sustained success for 4 seasons. In Howland's second season (2000–01), the Pitt team, led by senior standout Ricardo Greer and All-American guard Brandin Knight, advanced to the Big East Tournament championship game and NIT. In Howland's third (2001–02) and fourth (2002–03) seasons, Pitt won back-to-back Big East regular season championships, appeared in back-to-back Big East tournament championship games and won the Big East tournament in 2003. Pitt advanced to consecutive NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteens (2002, 2003). For his success in the 2001–02 season, Howland was named the Big East Coach of the Year, Naismith College Coach of the Year, and won the Henry Iba Award as best college basketball coach as named by the United States Basketball Writers Association. Following the 2003 season, Howland left Pitt for the only job he said he would ever contemplate leaving Pitt for: the head coach position at UCLA.[10]

In 2002, Pitt began their first season of play at the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center which sits on the former site of Pitt Stadium. The first opponent at "the Pete", as the facility is called by students, was against cross-city rival Duquesne University.

Jamie Dixon era (2003–2016)

Head coach Jamie Dixon (clipboard) huddles with his coaching staff in 2007

Jamie Dixon, Howland's assistant at Northern Arizona and Pitt, was named head coach of the team in 2003. Under Dixon, the Panthers continued the progress begun under Howland, registering a third straight Big East regular season championship (2004), a fourth straight appearance in the Big East Tournament championship game (Pitt 58, UConn 61) and a third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen. With Dixon at the helm, Pitt's success continued with frequent national rankings, four Big East tournament championship game appearances in five seasons (2004, 2006, 2007 2008), a Big East Tournament Championship in 2008, and NCAA tournament appearances in nine of ten years under Dixon's leadership (2004–11, 2013), including trips to the Sweet Sixteen (2004, 2007, 2009) and Elite Eight (2009).

The 2008–09 season was notable for several historic accomplishments. The Panthers were ranked #1 in the Associated Press poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll for the first time in school history, claiming the #1 spot for a total of three weeks. On February 16, 2009, the #4 ranked Panthers defeated the #1 ranked UConn Huskies, 76–68, for Pitt's first-ever win versus a #1 ranked team. The Panthers repeated the feat on March 7, 2009, when the #3 ranked Panthers again defeated #1 ranked UConn again, 70–60, for Pitt's second-ever win versus a #1 ranked team. In doing so, Pitt became only the seventh school in NCAA Division I history to defeat two #1 ranked teams in the same season. On Selection Sunday, March 15, 2009, the Panthers received their first ever No.1 seed (East Region) in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. They reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1974. Pitt's 76–78 last second loss to fellow Big East Conference foe Villanova in the East Regional final for a trip to the Final Four became an instant classic. In 2009, Dixon broke the record for the most victories in the first six seasons as a Division I head coach and won the Naismith Coach of the Year award.

The early minutes of a game against number one ranked UConn in 2009 at the Petersen Events Center. A portion of the Oakland Zoo can be seen at the bottom. Pitt won the nationally televised game 70–60.

The success of the 2008–09 season continued over to the 2009–10 season, somewhat unexpectedly. Having lost the talents of Sam Young, DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields, the Panthers were picked in a pre-season Big East poll to finish ninth in the conference. Instead, Pitt earned a 13–5 Big East record, good enough for a second seed in the Big East tournament, received a third seed in the NCAA Tournament, and finished 25–9 overall record. In 2010–11, Pitt won the regular season Big East title and, for a second time in the program's history, earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The program achieved a school record 10-straight seasons with at least 20 overall wins, 10 conference wins, and an NCAA Tournament appearance from 2002 through 2011. Dixon, who has been named as a national coach of the year in three separate seasons, guided Pitt to NCAA Tournament appearances in his first eight seasons as head coach, and is the only head coach in school history to guide Pitt to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2004–2011).

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced in September 2011 that Pitt and Syracuse would be leaving the Big East and had been accepted as members of the ACC, which would grow from 12 to 14 teams.[11] Pitt officially joined the ACC on July 1, 2013.[12]

In 2011–12, Pitt failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but managed to again surpass 20 wins for the 11th consecutive season and qualify for the College Basketball Invitational for a 12th consecutive post-season appearance. Pitt defeated Washington State in the Finals in a best 2 out of 3 format to win the post-season tournament.

Dixon's record at Pitt stood at 262 wins and 86 losses (.753 win percentage) in ten seasons (2003–04 through 2012–13), second in school history behind only Carlson. His league record of 127–66 in ten seasons made him the winningest coach in Big East history with a .658 winning percentage in league games and tournaments. .

On March 31, 2010, Pitt extended Dixon's contract by two years, making him Pitt's head coach through 2017–18 season. Dixon signed another contract extension on March 23, 2013. This extension ran through the 2022–2023 season. Upon the extension, Dixon commented saying that his intentions were to "finish his career at the University of Pittsburgh."[13] Dixon, however, departed to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, TCU, in March 2016.[14]

Kevin Stallings era (2016–present)

On March 28, 2016, the school hired Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings to fill the vacant head coaching position.[2]

Traditions

Student section

The City Game trophy

Rivalries

The fiercest rivalry was with former Big East Conference member West Virginia University in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl, an extension of the football rivalry. Adding to the importance of the game, Pitt and West Virginia shared membership in the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference (1933–1939),[15] the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League West Division (1977),[16] Eastern 8 Conference(1978–1982),[17] and the Big East Conference (1996–2012). In addition, the two rivals have tangled in the last games played at three of their respective arenas: on February 26, 1951, Pitt defeated WVU 74–72 in the closing seconds of the last college game played at the Pitt Pavilion inside Pitt Stadium; on March 3, 1970, Pitt upset WVU 92–87 in the last game played at the West Virginia University Field House in Morgantown; and on March 2, 2002, Pitt defeated WVU 92–65 in Pitt's last game at Fitzgerald Field House. The rivalry with West Virginia is now dormant due to WVU's move to the Big 12 Conference.

The Panthers also have a sustained rivalry with crosstown opponent Duquesne University in the City Game. Peaking in ferocity from 1977–1982 when both were members of the Eastern Eight Conference, the rivalry has diminished somewhat since Pitt's move to the Big East Conference in 1982.[18]

In addition to their rivalry with West Virginia, Pitt had several rivals in the Big East Conference:

2-time National Champions

Pitt men's basketball teams of 1927–28 (21–0) and 1929–30 (23–2) were recognized as national champions both popularly[21] and by the Helms Athletic Foundation.[22] These teams of "Doc" Carlson, led by three-time All-American and two-time National Scoring Champion Charley Hyatt, played a "national" schedule that during the 1927–28 season that included the following wins:[23]

1927–28 Doc Carlson coached undefeated national championship team featured the nation's top two scorers in Charley Hyatt and Stanley Wrobleski

  • @ Michigan
  • @ Chicago
  • @ Northwestern
  • @ Iowa
  • Ohio State
  • Dartmouth (defending Eastern Collegiate Champions)

  • Syracuse
  • @ Army
  • @ Colgate
  • Notre Dame
  • @ West Virginia
  • @ Penn State

The 1929–30 national championship team racked up wins that included the following:

  • @ Indiana
  • @ Northwestern
  • @ Iowa
  • Ohio State
  • Nebraska
  • Georgetown
  • @ Montana State (defending national champions)

  • Notre Dame
  • Fordham
  • @ Penn State
  • West Virginia
  • @ Temple
  • @ Army

Although there was no NCAA Tournament at that time, there were contests billed as "National Championship Games". The 1930 game in particular helped Pittsburgh legend Charley Hyatt cement his place in history by scoring 27 points, including a last second game-winning shot, at the defending national champions and assumed #1 squad Montana State.[24]

Early-season national tournaments

The Oakland Zoo Pitt student cheering section at the Petersen Events Center

Starting with the NCAA rule change regarding exempt tournaments in the 2006–2007 season, Pitt has participated in an event every year.

Year Event Location Record Result
2006 First Commonwealth Colonial Athletic Association Classic Petersen Events Center 4–0 Champion
2007 Hispanic College Fund Challenge Petersen Events Center 4–0 Champion
2008 Legends Classic Petersen Events Center
Prudential Center
2–0
2–0
Champion
2009 O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Petersen Events Center
Sprint Center
2–0
1–1
Runner-up
2010 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs Cancer Petersen Events Center
Madison Square Garden
2–0
2–0
Champion
2011 Philly Hoop Group Classic Petersen Events Center
Palestra
3–0
1–0
Champion
2012 NIT Season Tip-Off Petersen Events Center
Madison Square Garden
2–0
1–1
3rd Place
2013 Legends Classic Petersen Events Center
Barclays Center
2–0
2–0
Champion
2014 Maui Invitational Tournament Petersen Events Center
Lahaina Civic Center
2–0
1–1
3rd Place
2015 Gotham Classic Petersen Events Center
Madison Square Garden
3–0
1–0
Champion
2016 2K Classic Benefiting The Wounded Warrior Project Petersen Events Center
Madison Square Garden
2–0
1–1
3rd Place

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 26 times. Their combined record is 23–26.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1941 Elite Eight
Final Four
North Carolina
Wisconsin
W 26–20
L 30–36
1957 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game
Morehead State
Kentucky
Notre Dame
W 86–85
L 92–98
L 85–86
1958 First Round Miami (OH) L 77–82
1963 First Round NYU L 83–93
1974 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Saint Joseph's
Furman
NC State
W 54–42
W 81–78
L 72–100
1981 #10 First Round
Second Round
#7 Idaho
#2 North Carolina
W 70–69OT
L 57–74
1982 #7 First Round #10 Pepperdine L 88–99
1985 #12 First Round #5 Louisiana Tech L 54–78
1987 #3 First Round
Second Round
#14 Marist
#6 Oklahoma
W 93–68
L 93–96
1988 #2 First Round
Second Round
#15 Eastern Michigan
#7 Vanderbilt
W 108–90
L 74–80OT
1989 #8 First Round #9 Ball State L 64–68
1991 #6 First Round
Second Round
#11 Georgia
#3 Kansas
W 75–68OT
L 66–77
1993 #9 First Round #8 Utah L 65–86
2002 #3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#14 Central Connecticut
#6 California
#10 Kent State
W 71–54
W 63–50
L 73–78
2003 #2 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#15 Wagner
#7 Indiana
#3 Marquette
W 87–61
W 74–52
L 74–77
2004 #3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#14 UCF
#6 Wisconsin
#2 Oklahoma State
W 53–44
W 59–55
L 51–63
2005 #9 First Round #8 Pacific L 71–79
2006 #5 First Round
Second Round
#12 Kent State
#13 Bradley
W 79–64
L 66–72
2007 #3 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
#14 Wright State
#11 VCU
#2 UCLA
W 79–58
W 84–79OT
L 55–64
2008 #4 First Round
Second Round
#13 Oral Roberts
#5 Michigan State
W 82–63
L 54–65
2009 #1 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
#16 East Tennessee State
#8 Oklahoma State
#4 Xavier
#3 Villanova
W 72–62
W 84–76
W 60–55
L 76–78
2010 #3 First Round
Second Round
#14 Oakland
#6 Xavier
W 89–66
L 68–71
2011 #1 Second Round
Third Round
#16 UNC Asheville
#8 Butler
W 74–51
L 70–71
2013 #8 Second Round #9 Wichita State L 55–73
2014 #9 Second Round
Third Round
#8 Colorado
#1 Florida
W 77–48
L 45–61
2016 #10 First Round #7 Wisconsin L 43–47

NCAA Tournament Seeding History
The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition.

Years → '81 '82 '85 '87 '88 '89 '91 '93 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '13 '14 '16
Seeds→1010123286932395341318910

NIT results

The Panthers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) nine times. Their combined record is 6–9.

Year Round Opponent Result
1964 First Round Drake L 82–87
1975 First Round
Quarterfinals
Southern Illinois
Providence
W 70–65
L 80–101
1980 First Round Duquesne L 63–65
1984 First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
La Salle
Florida State
Notre Dame
W 95–91
W 66–63
L 64–72
1986 First Round SW Missouri State L 52–59
1992 First Round
Second Round
Penn State
Florida
W 67–65
L 74–77
1997 First Round
Second Round
New Orleans
Arkansas
W 82–63
L 71–76
2001 First Round
Second Round
St. Bonaventure
Mississippi State
W 84–75
L 61–66
2015 First Round George Washington L 54–60

CBI results

The Panthers have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) one time. Their record is 5–1 and they were CBI champions in 2012.

Year Round Opponent Result
2012 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals Game 1
Finals Game 2
Finals Game 3
Wofford
Princeton
Butler
Washington State
Washington State
Washington State
W 81–63
W 82–61
W 68–62OT
L 66–67
W 57–53
W 71–65

Conference Championships

Pitt advanced to the Big East Tournament Championship Game in 7 of 8 seasons between 2001 and 2008

1932–33 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1933–34 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1934–35 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1936–37 Eastern Intercollegiate Champions
1980–81 Eastern 8 Tournament Champions
1981–82 Eastern 8 Tournament Champions
1986–87 Big East Regular Season Co-Champions
1987–88 Big East Regular Season Champions
2001–02 Big East Regular Season West Champions
2002–03 Big East Tournament and Regular Season West Co-Champions
2003–04 Big East Regular Season Champions
2007–08 Big East Tournament Champions
2010–11 Big East Regular Season Champions

Pitt was the only team in Big East Conference history to reach the Big East Championship Game seven times in eight seasons having earned a trip to the title game in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Pitt played in the Eastern 8 Tournament Championship games in 1979, 1981, and 1982.

Individual awards & honors

National honors

National Player of the Year

Charley Hyatt won the National Player of the Year in 1929–30, he was the America's leading scorer that season (his second time as leading scorer) and made a last second basket to win the National Title Game with 27 points against what many considered the best team in the country. This season was also to be the third consecutive time he had earned consensus All-American status (the second time he won the honor owing to him being in the inaugural class of consensus in his second season).

National Coach of the Year

Hall of Fame inductees

Men's basketball trophy case as seen in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center in 2008

Three inductees represent the University of Pittsburgh in the Helms Foundation Basketball Hall of Fame; two of them, Carlson and Hyatt, are also represented in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Both Carlson and Hyatt were selected as the first class inducted to each hall.[27][28]

All Americans

Thirteen different Pitt players have received All-American honors 14 unique season. Pitt players have been named First Team All-Americans 15 times, Second Team All-Americans seven times, and Third Team All-Americans six times. In addition, players have been named as Freshman All-Americans four times and Honorable Mention All-Americans six times. A Pitt player has achieved Consensus First Team All-American, as listed in the Official NCAA Records Book, on nine different occasions. Charley Hyatt and Sykes Reed, who together lead Pitt to an undefeated national championship season, were Pitt's first Consensus All-Americans in 1928. The other consensus first-team All-Americans include Don Smith, Claire Cribbs, Don Hennon, and DeJuan Blair.[29] In addition, Don Hennon, Billy Knight and Jerome Lane received Consensus Second Team All-American status.[30]

All-American Selections
First Team
Year Name Selectors
1928 Charley Hyatt* Helms
1928 Sykes Reed* Helms
1929 Charley Hyatt* Helms
1930 Charley Hyatt* Helms
1933 Don Smith* Helms
1933 Claire Cribbs* Helms
1935 Claire Cribbs* Helms
1958 Don Hennon* AP, UPI,
USBWA, Helms
1959 Don Hennon UPI, Helms
1974 Billy Knight USBWA
1987 Charles Smith Wooden
1988 Charles Smith SH, Wooden
2003 Brandin Knight Wooden
2009 DeJuan Blair* AP, USBWA, TSN,
SI, Wooden, ESPN.com
2009 Sam Young Wooden
Second Team
Year Name Selectors
1958 Don Hennon NABC
1959 Don Hennon* AP, NABC
1974 Billy Knight* AP, NABC
1988 Jerome Lane* AP, USBWA
1988 Charles Smith NABC
2002 Brandin Knight TSN
2009 DeJuan Blair NABC
2009 Sam Young SI
Third Team
Year Name Selectors
1974 Billy Knight UPI
1987 Jerome Lane AP, UPI,
NABC
2002 Brandin Knight AP
2007 Aaron Gray AP, NABC
2009 Sam Young AP, TSN
2009 Levance Fields SI
Helms and Wooden select one team of 10 players. *Consensus status for that team.   Ref:[29][30][31][32][33][34]

Honorable Mention All-Americans

1979 Sam Clancy, AP
1988 Charles Smith, AP, UPI
2003 Brandin Knight, AP
2004 Carl Krauser, AP

 

2008 Sam Young, AP
2009 Levance Fields, AP
2011 Ashton Gibbs, AP
2011 Brad Wanamaker, AP

Freshman All-Americans

1978 Sam Clancy, Second Team
1985 Charles Smith, First Team
2004 Chris Taft, Second Team
2008 DeJuan Blair (consensus pick, but not for a particular team)

The floor of the Petersen Events Center. Some of Pitt's championship banners can be seen hanging in the top left of the photo.

Academic awards

Two Pitt players have earned Academic All-American status from the College Sports Information Directors of America.[35] Three Pitt players have earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships which are awarded annually to select student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.[36]

Academic All-Americans
NCAA Postgraduate scholarship winners
Other awards

Conference honors

Player of the Year

  • Charles Smith, 1987–88
  • Brandon Knight (co), 2001–02
  • DeJuan Blair (co), 2008–09

Most Improved Player

  • Ricardo Greer (co), 1999–00
  • Brandin Knight, 2001–02
  • Carl Krauser, 2003–04
  • Aaron Gray, 2005–06
  • Sam Young, 2007–08
  • Ashton Gibbs, 2009–10

Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Sportsmanship Award

  • Jaron Brown, 2003–04
  • Ronald Ramon (co), 2007–08
  • Brad Wanamaker, 2010–11

Coach of the Year

  • Ben Howland, 2001–02
  • Jamie Dixon, 2003–04

Rookie of the Year

  • Charles Smith, 1984–85
  • Sean Miller, 1987–88
  • Brian Shorter, 1988–89
  • Chris Taft, 2003–04
  • DeJuan Blair (co), 2007–08

Tournament MVP

Conference stat champions

Aaron Gray (#33) won the Big East Rebounding Title in 2005 and is one of six Panthers to earn the Big East's Most Improved Player award since 2000

Scoring

Rebounding

Assist

University honors

Retired jerseys

Four players have had their jerseys retired at Pitt.

Player Jersey No. Career at Pitt Date of Jersey Retirement
Don Hennon 10 1956–1959 February 28, 1959
Billy Knight 34 1971–1974 February 20, 1989
Brandin Knight 20 1999–2003 March 4, 2009
Charles Smith 32 1984–1988 March 2, 1988
Levance Fields totaled 1,247 points and 645 assists during his career

Points club

41 total Panther players have achieved the 1,000 points club. Of these, fourteen total Panther players have scored over 1,500 points in their career. Two of these Panther players, Charles Smith and Clyde Vaughan, scored over 2,000 points in their career.

Stats updated through February 5, 2014.

2,000+ points
1,500+ points
  • Larry Harris (1974–1978) 1,914
  • Sam Young (2005–2009) 1,884
  • Don Hennon (1956–1959) 1,841
  • Jason Matthews (1987–1991) 1,840
  • Ricardo Greer (1997–2001) 1,753
  • Ashton Gibbs (2008–2012) 1,748
  • Billy Knight (1971–1974) 1,731
  • Sam Clancy (1977–1981) 1,671
  • Carl Krauser (2002–2006) 1,642
  • Brian Shorter (1988–1991) 1,633
  • Vonteego Cummings (1996–1999) 1,581
  • Demetreus Gore (1984–1988) 1,555
  • Julius Page (2000–2004) 1,512
1,000+ points
  • Brandin Knight (1999–2003) 1,440
  • Lamar Patterson (2009–2014) 1,392
  • Jerry McCullough (1991–1996) 1,342
  • Sean Miller (1987–1992) 1,282
  • Bobby Martin (1987–1991) 1,282
  • Chevon Troutman (2001–2005) 1,274
  • Jaron Brown (2000–2004) 1,258
  • Levance Fields (2005–2009) 1,247
  • Jerome Lane (1985–1988) 1,217
  • Curtis Aiken (1983–1987) 1,200
  • Bob Lazor (1954–1957) 1,175
  • John Riser (1954–1957) 1,164
  • Kent Scott (1969–1972) 1,143
  • Isaac Hawkins (1996–2001) 1,127
  • Calvin Sheffield (1961–1964) 1,115
  • Brian Generalovich (1961–1964) 1,114
  • Aaron Gray (2003–2007) 1,109
  • Tray Woodall (2008–2013) 1,108
  • Donatas Zavackas (1999–2003) 1,099
  • Ronald Ramon (2004–2008) 1,096
  • Brad Wanamaker (2007–2011) 1,090
  • Talib Zanna (2009–2014) 1,089
  • Chris McNeal (1990–1993) 1,067
  • Carlton Neverson (1978–1981) 1,057
  • Julius Pegues (1955–1958) 1,050
  • Rod Brookin (1986–1990) 1,047
  • Gilbert Brown (2006–2011) 1,046
  • Darelle Porter (1987–1991) 1,007

NBA players

Aaron Gray (#33) was drafted in 2007 by the Chicago Bulls
DeJuan Blair was drafted in 2009 by the San Antonio Spurs

Pittsburgh Panthers have been selected 27 times in the NBA draft, 3 times in the ABA draft (Billy Knight was drafted by both the NBA and ABA in 1974). In addition, 11 former Panthers were selected in the CBA draft. Seven Panthers have been selected as first-round NBA draft picks with Steven Adams being the most recent in 2013.

In addition, 48 former Panthers have played professionally in international basketball leagues. Clyde Vaughan especially stands out in averaging 28 points per game over his decade-long basketball career in Europe.

Panthers in the NBA & ABA Draft  
Year Player Round Pick Team
1954 Dutch Burch 5 40 Pistons
1957 Bob Lazor 9 66 Pistons
1958 Julius Pegues 4 31 Hawks
1959 Don Hennon 6 41 Kings
1964 Brian Generalovich 3 19 Knicks
1974 Billy Knight 1 6 Pacers (ABA)
1974 Billy Knight 2 21 Lakers
1974 Mickey Martin 4 69 Pistons
1975 Mel Bennett 1 N/A Squires (ABA)
1975 Kirk Bruce 8 N/A Stars (ABA)
1976 Keith Starr 4 56 Bulls
1978 Larry Harris 4 73 Clippers
1979 Terry Knight 6 125 Spurs
1980 Sammie Ellis 4 73 Nuggets
1981 Carlton Neverson 3 56 Warriors
1981 Sam Clancy 3 62 Suns
1983 Trent Johnson 8 83 Celtics
1984 Clyde Vaughan 6 117 Pacers
1988 Charles Smith 1 3 76ers*
1988 Jerome Lane 1 23 Nuggets
1992 Darren Morningstar 2 47 Celtics
1994 Eric Mobley 1 18 Bucks
1996 Mark Blount 2 55 SuperSonics
1999 Vonteego Cummings 1 26 Pacers#
2005 Chris Taft 2 42 Warriors
2007 Aaron Gray 2 49 Bulls
2009 Sam Young 2 36 Grizzlies
2009 DeJuan Blair 2 37 Spurs
2013 Steven Adams 1 12 Thunder
2014 Lamar Patterson 2 48 Bucks^
 *traded on draft day to the Clippers. #traded on draft day to the Warriors. ^traded on draft day to the Hawks. 

Season-by-season records

References

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  2. 1 2 "Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings hired as Pitt men's basketball coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
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