The ACC had 5 teams selected to compete in March Madness and 1 outsider felt slighted after being snubbed.

North Carolina, Duke, NC State, Virginia, and Clemson are all going dancing. Unfortunately for Pitt, it was not one of the ACC teams chosen. After being snubbed, the Panthers decided to decline an invitation to the NIT much like North Carolina did last season.

Head coach Jeff Capel put out a statement on social media talking about the decision. The team is looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season and won’t be participating in the NIT.

“I am incredibly proud of the performance, development, and fight of our team. 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,” Capel said. “… We made the decision to decline an NIT invitation as a team and with the support of our Athletic Department leadership. It was a difficult choice, but ultimately what is best for our student-athletes.”

You can’t knock Pitt for trying to make its case. Hours before Selection Sunday, Pitt posted its resume on X. Pitt finished the season at 22-11 and made a deep run in the ACC Tournament, losing to North Carolina in the semifinal.

The team’s social media account also posted a quote from ESPN’s Jay Bilas about the Panthers’ chances. Bilas credited Pitt for really getting its act together over the last couple of months.

“… They have trended upward towards the end of the season,” Bilas said. “Pittsburgh is a team that is playing as well as any bubble team if not better, and there are teams that the bracketologists say are firmly in the field that Pittsburgh is better than right now.”

The NCAA Tournament begins with First Four games on Tuesday and Wednesday, with First Round action on Thursday and Friday.

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