Defending has been an issue all season long for the Pitt Panthers and the inability to get stops proved costly once again as No. 7 North Carolina ran away from the Panthers in the second half Thursday, en route to an 88-71 victory, bouncing the Panthers from the ACC Tournament. Now Pitt has to sit back and wait as they will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday evening. The Panthers hung around with the Tar Heels and led late in the first half before a 10-0 UNC (26-6) run closed the half ... Read More
Pitt crushed by No. 9 North Carolina
The Pitt Panthers entered Saturday’s matchup against No. 9 North Carolina desperate for a quality win. Needless to say they had no chance of getting one against the Tar Heels. Brice Johnson scored 19 points and Marcus Paige added 15 as North Carolina dominated the Panthers throughout en route to an 85-64 victory. Pitt (17-7, 6-6 ACC), who trailed by 16 at one point in the first half, was down 42-29 at the half before cutting the deficit to just seven early in the second half. But the ... Read More
Slow start dooms Pitt in loss to North Carolina
The 23rd ranked Pitt Panthers football team entered Thursday night’s primetime showdown against North Carolina looking to show the nation that they have arrived. Those plans are on hold for just a little bit longer. While the Panthers have been able to pull out some fourth-quarter heroics so far this season, it wasn’t meant to be as Pitt didn’t have enough magic in their hat, falling 26-19. Pitt (6-2, 4-1 ACC), who struggled on both sides of the ball in the first half and trailed for ... Read More
North Carolina vs. Pitt: Preview, Analysis, Prediction and more
No. 23 Pitt and North Carolina head into a Thursday night battle at Heinz Field with identical 6-1 records. First place in the ACC Coastal Division will be on the line as each team has something to prove. For the Panthers they need to validate their hot start to the season and make themselves legitimate threats for the Coastal Division title. While Pitt hasn't beaten great teams, the North Carolina schedule has been especially soft. The Heels have beaten a pair of FCS schools and their ... Read More
Pitt wastes another big day from James Conner in loss to UNC
Pitt Panthers running back James Conner keeps on putting up big numbers during his record breaking sophomore season. And the Panthers keep on wasting his big performances. Conner rushed for 220 yards and scored four touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as North Carolina rallied late to defeat Pitt 40-35, all but sticking a fork in the Panthers bowl hopes. Conner’s fourth touchdown of the game put the Panthers on top 35-34 with 3:33 remaining, but it turned out to be too much time left on ... Read More
Panthers waste big comeback, fall to UNC
Paul Chryst's Pitt Panthers entered Saturday's home game needing just one win to become bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season. Pitt erased a 27-3 second half deficit, but their 24-point comeback went all for naught as the Pitt special teams broke down, allowing North Carolina's Ryan Switzer to return his second punt for a touchdown of the game with just 4:46 remaining to give the Tar Heels a 34-27 victory, the fourth consecutive win for the Tar Heels after starting the season ... Read More
Pitt-UNC Preview
Coming off their biggest win of the season, a 28-21 win over Notre Dame, things don’t get easier for the Pitt Panthers as the North Carolina Tar Heels pay their first visit to the city of Pittsburgh since 2000. It’s a big ACC game for both teams as the Panthers can earn their sixth victory of the season and bowl eligibility by defeating the resurgent Tar Heels. The Tar Heels on the other hand have bounced back from a 1-5 start with three consecutive victories, including a 45-14 thumping of ... Read More