It was senior night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center for the Providence Friars. The Friars' bubble had seemingly been burst by their home loss to Notre Dame last Saturday, which left them at 16-11. Yet somehow that loss proved to be the perfect mix for the latest No. 1 upset in college basketball's skittish season as Providence shocked Pitt Tuesday.It was the first time Providence had beaten a top-ranked team since 1976.
So just what the heck happened?
Pitt came out sluggish and sloppy from the start of the game. The Panthers never once led in the game. Surprisingly, Providence attacked Pitt's interior. Providence's Jonathan Kale outplayed Panther star DeJuan Blair inside. Coming into the game, Pitt had averaged just over 11 turnovers per game; the Panthers had 10 in the first half alone.
You will read that DeJuan Blair fouling out was the reason Pitt lost, but it wasn't. Not this time. Blair only had one foul in the first half and yet Pitt was already down 18 at the intermission. Pitt lost because the Panthers looked like a team that had started to believe their own press clippings, that they could just show up and win. They turned the ball over, took poor shots, and were out-hustled by Providence.
Pitt was considered a lock to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament before this game. The Panthers can still get a top seed if they end the season with home victories over Marquette and UConn, both top-10 teams. It is an embarrassment, much like UNC losing to Boston College earlier in the season.
For Providence, it suddenly re-enters the bubble picture. This win will provide a big boost to their computer numbers as well as outsiders' perception of them. The Friars are now 9-7 in the Big East and should be able to at least beat Rutgers to get 10 wins in the conference. As long as they can win a game in the Big East Tournament, they will be right there in the discussion for final teams in the NCAA tournament.
Latest College Basketball Photos
Ohio State's P.J. Hill (4) drives to the basket for two as Penn State's Andrew Jones (22) and Ohio State's B.J. Mullens (32) look on during the second half of an NCAA college men's basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 73-59. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
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Syracuse forward Arinze Onuaku, center, shoots over St. John's guard D.J. Kennedy, left, as Syracuse forward Paul Harris looks for the rebound in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Syracuse guard Jonny Flynn, left, attempts a reverse layup against St. John's guard Quincy Roberts in the fist half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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St. John's center Dele Coker, left, drives against Syracuse forward Arinze Onuaku in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
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Ohio State's William Buford (44) goes up for two as Penn State's Stanley Pringle (11) defends during the first half of an NCAA college men's basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
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Ohio State's P.J. Hill (4) shoots over Penn State's Talor Battle (12) during the first half of an NCAA college men's basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)
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In this Feb. 21, 2009 photo, Maryland's Greivis Vasquez (21) celebrates against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in College Park, Md. Maryland upset North Carolina 88-85 in overtime. Now that the afterglow of beating North Carolina has faded, Maryland faces an even stiffer challenge: a matchup Wednesday against Duke, which ripped the Terrapins by 41 points a month ago. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
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In this Feb. 21, 2009 photo, Maryland coach Gary Williams looks on from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in College Park, Md. Maryland upset North Carolina 88-85 in overtime. Now that the afterglow of beating North Carolina has faded, Maryland faces an even stiffer challenge: a matchup Wednesday against Duke, which ripped the Terrapins by 41 points a month ago. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
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In this Feb. 21, 2009 photo, North Carolina guard Ty Lawson (5) puts up a shot while being defended by Maryland's Greivis Vasquez (21) and Cliff Tucker (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in College Park, Md. Now that the afterglow of beating North Carolina has faded, Maryland faces an even stiffer challenge: a matchup Wednesday against Duke, which ripped the Terrapins by 41 points a month ago. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
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Kansas guard Taylor Tyshawn (15) is fouled as he passes away from Oklahoma guard Omar Leary in the second half during their NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Oklahoma, February 23, 2009. REUTERS/Bill Waugh (UNITED STATES)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-24-2009 @ 10:22PM
sergeantruss said...
It just looks like Arm-Pitt doesn't like to be ranked number 1. They are so over rated it is pathetic. They have only beat one ranked team so far.
Reply
2-24-2009 @ 10:23PM
Jay said...
GO PC March right into the Tourny...
Reply
2-25-2009 @ 3:41PM
j2thequizzo said...
@sergeantruss
That's just a lie. Pitt has beaten four ranked teams, including Number 1 UConn. If you're going to criticize a team, at least look up the facts.
Reply
2-25-2009 @ 3:42PM
sergeantruss said...
Don't get your little panties in a bunch there little fella. If you are referring to Syracuse and Georgetown, they are no longer ranked. Georgetown is on the brink of a NIT bid. Syracuse is right behind them. Florida State will probably fall off the top 25 after their last loss. So, you need to know your facts. Arm-Pitt has one quality win, and that is UConn.
2-25-2009 @ 7:05PM
sergeantruss said...
Memphis is about as over rated as Arm-Pitt. Memphis has only one win over a top 25 team and that was Gonzaga. They were beaten by every other ranked team they played this year. Georgetown and Syracuse aren't even ranked in the top 25 anymore. Memphis has such a lame schedule. I'm not saying they are not a good team. They just need to play a tougher schedule. To get a top 3 seed for the schedule they played and having beaten only one top 25 teams is BS.
Reply
2-25-2009 @ 7:06PM
Tracye said...
since over rated Pitt beat UCon, UCon must be over rated too. Seems like everybody is over rated to you sergeantpuss. What team do you claim
2-25-2009 @ 8:48PM
sergeantruss said...
I don't have to claim any team. I just like watching college basketball. It seems fans just can't stand the truth. I didn't say either UConn or Pitt was not a good team, I am saying both are over rated. Over rated doesn't mean they can't be rated 1 or in the top ten and still be over rated. Over rated means nothing more than how people talk about a team or how sports writers talk about them. Sometimes they talk like a team just can't be beat, then the upset happens. As for Memphis, they have the lamest schedule of any top 25 team. I think they are also over rated, but who knows. It won't be known until they play a team with talent.