Pitt Declines NIT Invitation, Marking Conclusion of 2023-24 Season

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Sports Now
By George Michalowski | Last updated 3/17/24

Pitt’s 2023-24 season has come to an end.

Shortly after missing the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers announced on Sunday night that they have declined an invitation to the NIT tournament.

“I am incredibly proud of the performance, development, and fight of our team,” Jeff Capel said in a release. “We ultimately fell short of our goal of reaching the NCAA Tournament, despite ranking favorably in the computers, performing well in conference play with a fourth-place finish and an ACC Tournament Semifinal appearance, and playing our best basketball over the last eight weeks of the season. We made the decision to decline an NIT invitation as a team and with the support of our University leadership. It was a difficult choice, but ultimately what is best for our student-athletes.”

Pitt finished the season 22-11, going 12-8 in conference play and making a run to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament this past week, where it lost to No. 1 seed North Carolina by seven points. The Panthers were the fourth team to miss the NCAA Tournament, and after five teams “stole bids” this week, Pitt was left out of the NCAA Tournament field.

In addition to Pitt, teams such as Indiana and Ole Miss have also declined NIT bids this year.

Pitt now begins the 2024 offseason. The Panthers capped off their second-straight 20-win season and now look forward to next year. Pitt has a young core of talent, including Jaland Lowe, Bub Carrington, Papa Amadou Kante (injured for all of 2023-24), and others. Blake Hinson, KJ Marshall, and Will Jeffress were the only three players to walk on this season’s senior night.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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