2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team

The 2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Jamie Dixon, in his twelfth total year at the university. The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and are members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 28–6, 15–3 in Big East play to capture the regular season conference championship. As the 1 seed in the 2011 Big East men's basketball tournament, they were upset by 9 seed Connecticut in their first tournament game. They received an at-large bid in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the 1 seed in the southeast region. They defeated 16 seed UNC Asheville in the first round before being upset by 8 seed Butler in the second round.

2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Big East Regular Season Champions
Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Champions
Belfast Int'l Basketball Classic Champions
NCAA tournament, Round of 32
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 12
APNo. 4
Record28–6 (15–3 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPetersen Events Center
(Capacity: 12,508)
Seasons
2010–11 Big East men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Pittsburgh153 .833286 .824
No. 5 Notre Dame144 .778277 .794
*#12 Syracuse126 .667278 .771
No. 14 Louisville126 .6672510 .714
No. 18 St. John's126 .6672112 .636
Cincinnati117 .611269 .743
No. 22 West Virginia117 .6112112 .636
Georgetown108 .5562111 .656
No. 10 Connecticut99 .500329 .780
Villanova99 .5002112 .636
Marquette99 .5002215 .595
Seton Hall711 .3891318 .419
Rutgers513 .2781517 .469
Providence414 .2221517 .469
South Florida315 .1671023 .303
DePaul117 .056724 .226
2011 Big East tournament winner
As of April 4, 2011[1]
*Syracuse:: 7 wins vacated due to sanctions against the program; Disputed record: Syracuse–(27–8)(10–6)
Rankings from AP Poll

Outlook

The Pittsburgh Panthers finished the 2009 season 25–9, 13–5 in Big East play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Big East men's basketball tournament. They received an at–large bid to the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, earning a 3 seed in the West Region. They defeated 14 seed Oakland in the first round before being upset by 6 seed and AP No. 25 Xavier in the second round. Finishing at No. 20 in the final Coaches' Poll, Pitt returned four starters and the bulk of their reserves including 86% of its scoring and 88% of its rebounding.[2] Pitt has been ranked in the 2010-11 preseason among the top ten teams in the nation, and among the favorites to win the Big East Conference, by multiple national publications.

The Panthers conducted a preseason tour of Ireland, going undefeated in several exhibition games played against national and professional teams.[3]

At the Big East Conference media day on October 20, Pitt was selected by a vote of the league's coaches to finish first in the Big East Conference receiving 12 out of 15 possible first place votes. Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs received a preseason first-team all-conference selection.[4] The Panthers were ranked fourth in the nation in the preseason USA Today Coaches' Poll[5] and fifth in nation in the preseason AP Poll.[6]

Season

Pittsburgh finished their out-of-conference schedule 12–1, losing only to Tennessee at the Consol Energy Center, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

As of March 7, the Panthers were ranked third nationwide in both polls. They finished the regular season at the top of the Big East Conference, with a 15-3 record in conference play.

The Panthers earned a number one seed in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the third overall seed in the tournament.

The Panthers used a balanced attack, with eight players averaging 4.9 points per game or more. Gilbert Brown and Brad Wanamaker both averaged over ten points a game, while Ashton Gibbs led the team at 15.9 ppg (eighth in the Big East).

Coaching staff

Name[7]PositionYear at
Pittsburgh
Alma Mater (Year)
Jamie DixonHead coach12th (8th as Head Coach)TCU (1987)
Pat SandleAssistant coach10thSan Francisco State (1987)
Brandin KnightAssistant coach5thUniversity of Pittsburgh (2005)
Pat SkerryAssistant coach1stTufts (1992)
Brian ReganDirector of Basketball Operations4thSaint Vincent (1988)
Jordan MarksVideo Coordinator2ndUniversity of Pittsburgh (2008)
Jason RichardsVideo Assistant1stDavidson (2008)

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Isaiah Epps
point guard
Chatham, VirginiaHargrave Military Academy6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)Jan 11, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 93
J. J. Moore
small forward
South Kent, ConnecticutSouth Kent School6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)195 lb (88 kg)Nov 11, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 94
Cameron Wright
shooting guard
Cleveland, OhioBenedictine High School6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m)195 lb (88 kg)Aug 9, 2009 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN grade: 93


Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: not ranked   Rivals: not ranked
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Pittsburgh Commit List for 2010". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  • "Men's Basketball Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  • "Pittsburgh Basketball Recruiting 2010". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  • "2010 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 3, 2010.

Roster

[8]

Name#PositionHeightWeight (lb.)YearHometownPrevious School
Gilbert Brown5Forward6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)2152Senior (RS)Harrisburg, PASouth Kent School
Isaiah Epps2Guard6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)1752FreshmanPlainfield, NJHargrave Military Academy/Plainfield HS
Ashton Gibbs12Guard6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)1901JuniorScotch Plains, NJSeton Hall Prep
Gary McGhee52Center6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)2502SeniorAnderson, INHighland HS
J. J. Moore44Forward6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)2002FreshmanBrentwood, NYSouth Kent School/Brentwood HS
Aron Nwankwo15Forward6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)2002FreshmanBaltimore, MDBaltimore City College
Lamar Patterson21Guard/Forward6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)2201Freshman (RS)Lancaster, PASt. Benedict's Prep/J.P. McCaskey H.S.
J. J. Richardson55Forward/Center6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)2351SophomoreMissouri City, TXFort Bend Hightower HS
Nick Rivers14Guard6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)1801SeniorPhoenix, AZBrophy College Prep
Nasir Robinson35Forward6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)2201JuniorChester, PAChester HS
Dante Taylor11Forward6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)2401SophomoreGreenburgh, NYNational Christian Academy (MD)
Brad Wanamaker22Guard6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)2102SeniorPhiladelphia, PARoman Catholic HS
Travon Woodall1Guard5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)1901Sophomore (RS)Brooklyn, NY-Paterson, NJSt. Anthony HS
Cameron Wright3Guard6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)2001FreshmanCleveland, OHBenedictine HS
Talib Zanna42Forward6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)2251Freshman (RS)Kaduna, NigeriaBishop McNamara HS (MD)

Schedule

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite (attendance)
city, state
Ireland Summer Competition Tour
Sat. Jul. 31*
2:00 pm
Ireland SelectW 99–54 
Neptune Stadium (1,650)
Cork, Ireland
Sun. Aug. 1*
9:00 am
South Regional All-StarsW 92–52 
Neptune Stadium (857)
Cork, Ireland
Tue. Aug. 3*
2:30 pm
Ireland SelectW 110–61 
DCU Arena (897)
Dublin, Ireland
Wed. Aug. 4*
2:30 pm
Dart KillesterW 88–62 
DCU Arena (1,253)
Dublin, Ireland
Fri. Aug. 6*
3:30 pm
vs. Melbourne Tigers
Belfast International Basketball Classic
W 92–76 
Odyssey Arena (3,309)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Sat. Aug. 7*
12:00 pm
vs. England National Team
Belfast International Basketball Classic
W 82–69 
Odyssey Arena (1,830)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Exhibition
Sun. Oct. 31*
2:00 pm, Comcast Network
No. 5 Northwood (Fl.)W 104–62[9] 
Petersen Events Center (6,240)
Pittsburgh, PA
Thu. Nov. 4*
7:00 pm, Comcast Network
No. 5 No. 2 (Div. II)^ Indiana (Pa.)W 73–56 
Petersen Events Center (6,728)
Pittsburgh, PA
Regular season
Mon. Nov. 8*
7:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 5 Rhode Island
2K Sports Classic/Coaches vs. Cancer
W 83–75 1–0
Petersen Events Center (9,256)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Nov. 10*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 5 Illinois-Chicago
2K Sports Classic/Coaches vs. Cancer
W 97–54 2–0
Petersen Events Center (9,148)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Nov. 13*
4:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 5 North FloridaW 95–49 3–0
Petersen Events Center (10,052)
Pittsburgh, PA
Thu. Nov. 18*
7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 5 vs. Maryland
2K Sports Classic/Coaches vs. Cancer
W 79–70 4–0
Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
Fri. Nov. 19*
7:35 pm, ESPN2
No. 5 vs. Texas
2K Sports Classic/Coaches vs. Cancer Championship
W 68–66 5–0
Madison Square Garden (11,723)
New York, NY
Tue. Nov. 23*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 5 Robert MorrisW 74–53 6–0
Petersen Events Center (10,121)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Nov. 27*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 5 PennW 82–58 7–0
Petersen Events Center (10,594)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 1*
9:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 3 vs. Duquesne
The City Game
W 80–66 8–0
CONSOL Energy Center (12,860)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 4*
2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 3 RiderW 87–68 9–0
Petersen Events Center (8,719)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 8*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 3 Delaware StateW 70–42 10–0
Petersen Events Center (8,520)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 11*
3:25 pm, ESPN
No. 3 vs. No. 11 Tennessee
DirecTV SEC/Big East Invitational
L 76–83 10–1
CONSOL Energy Center (15,166)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 18*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 8 Maryland Eastern ShoreW 97–64 11–1
Petersen Events Center (9,515)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 22*
7:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 6 AmericanW 61–46 12–1
Petersen Events Center (9,489)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Dec. 27
8:30 pm, ESPN2
No. 6 No. 4 Connecticut
Big Monday
W 78–63 13–1
(1–0)
Petersen Events Center (12,725)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Jan. 4
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 5 at ProvidenceW 83–79 14–1
(2–0)
Dunkin Donuts Center (9,181)
Providence, RI
Sat. Jan. 8
2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV
No. 5 MarquetteW 89–81 15–1
(3–0)
Petersen Events Center (11,438)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Jan. 12
7:00 pm, ESPN/ESPN2
No. 5 at No. 22 GeorgetownW 72–57 16–1
(4–0)
Verizon Center (15,712)
Washington, D.C.
Sat. Jan. 15
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 5 Seton HallW 74–53 17–1
(5–0)
Petersen Events Center (9,236)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Jan. 17
7:30 pm, ESPN
No. 5 No. 3 Syracuse
Big Monday
W 74–66 18–1
(6–0)
Petersen Events Center (12,925)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Jan. 22
4:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 5 at DePaulW 80–50 19–1
(7–0)
Allstate Arena (8,325)
Rosemont, IL
Mon. Jan. 24
7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 2 No. 15 Notre Dame
Big Monday
L 51–56 19–2
(7–1)
Petersen Events Center (12,591)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Jan. 29
8:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 2 at RutgersW 65–62 20–2
(8–1)
Louis Brown Athletic Center (8,024)
Piscataway, NJ
Sat. Feb. 5
6:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 4 CincinnatiW 71–59 21–2
(9–1)
Petersen Events Center (12,615)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 7
7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 at No. 25 West Virginia
Backyard Brawl, Big Monday
W 71–66 22–2
(10–1)
WVU Coliseum (14,175)
Morgantown, WV
Sat. Feb. 12
9:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 at No. 9 Villanova
ESPN College GameDay
W 57–54 23–2
(11–1)
The Pavilion (6,500)
Villanova, PA
Wed. Feb. 16
7:00 pm, ESPN3
No. 4 South FloridaW 67–55 24–2
(12–1)
Petersen Events Center (12,519)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Feb. 19
12:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 at St. John'sL 59–60 24–3
(12–2)
Madison Square Garden (14,514)
New York, NY
Thu. Feb. 24
9:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 West Virginia
Backyard Brawl
W 71–58 25–3
(13–2)
Petersen Events Center (12,876)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Feb. 27
2:00 pm, CBS
No. 4 at No. 16 LouisvilleL 59–62 OT25–4
(13–3)
KFC Yum! Center (22,758)
Louisville, KY
Wed. Mar. 2
9:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 4 at South FloridaW 66–50 26–4
(14–3)
USF Sun Dome (4,640)
Tampa, FL
Sat. Mar. 5
4:00 pm, CBS
No. 4 No. 19 VillanovaW 60–50 27–4
(15–3)
Petersen Events Center (12,843)
Pittsburgh, PA
Big East tournament
Thu. Mar. 10
12:00 pm, ESPN
(1) No. 3 vs. (9) No. 21 Connecticut
Big East Quarterfinal
L 74–76 27–5
Madison Square Garden (19,375)
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
Thu. Mar. 17*
3:10 pm, truTV
(1 SE) No. 4 vs. (16 SE) UNC Asheville
NCAA Second Round
W 74–51 28–5
Verizon Center (17,578)
Washington, D.C.
Sat. Mar. 19*
7:10 pm, TBS
(1 SE) No. 4 vs. (8 SE) Butler
NCAA Third Round
L 70–71 28–6
Verizon Center (18,684)
Washington, D.C.
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Division I AP Poll unless otherwise noted.  ^Division II NABC Coaches' Poll.. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
SE=NCAA Southeast Regional.
All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Rankings

Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. rv=Others receiving votes.
PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16Wk 17Wk 18Final
AP5553386655524444434n/a
Coaches445338665542444653412

Accomplishments

  • Pitt won the 2010 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer tournament championship in November 2010, defeating Maryland in the semifinals and Texas in the finals at Madison Square Garden.
  • Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon won his 200th game with a 61-46 win over American on December 22, 2010. With the victory, Dixon tied the all-time NCAA Division I record held by Mark Few and Roy Williams for the fastest coach to earn 200 wins by achieving the mark in only eight seasons. The achievement of winning his first 200 out of 255 games also ranked Dixon among the all-time top-15 for the quickest coaches to achieve 200 victories in regards to total number of games played.[10]
  • With a win over third ranked and undefeated Syracuse on January 17, 2011, Pitt started the Big East regular season 6–0 for the first time in school history, and ran its Petersen Events Center record against teams ranked in the top five of the AP Poll to 9–0.[11]
  • With a win at South Florida on March 2, 2011:[12]
Pitt clinched at least a share of the Big East Conference regular season championship
The senior class of Gilbert Brown, Brad Wanamaker and Gary McGhee accumulated the most wins of any class in school history with 109 total wins.
With his 214th win, head coach Jamie Dixon became the all-time NCAA leader in wins through a coach's first eight seasons.
Brad Wanamaker became only the second player in school history to score 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds, and give 400 assists.
Pitt finished a school record 7-2 in Big East road games
  • With a win over Villanova on March 5, 2011, Pitt won the outright Big East Regular Season Championship and tied a school record for Big East wins with 15.
  • Junior guard Ashton Gibbs was named to the All-Big East first-team and senior guard Brad Wanamaker was named to the All-Big East second team.[13]
  • Senior guard Brad Wanamaker won the Big East Sportsmanship Award.[14]
  • Pitt received a number one seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. The seed represented the third overall seed in the tournament.
  • For the sixth straight year, Pitt won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament, the longest such active streak in the nation.
  • 2010-11: Head coach Jamie Dixon won the Sporting News National Coach of the Year award.[15]
  • Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker were named Associated Press Honorable Mention All-Americans.[16]

References