Anyway, Pitt held Glamack to only 9 points (he had scored 45 earlier that season against Clemson), and Pitt won 26-20. It remains the lower scoring NCAA tournament game in history. Pitt would lose 36-30 to eventual champion Wisconsin in the next round. That game would be the 3rd lowest scoring game in tournament history. Both North Carolina and Pitt made their NCAA tournament debuts in 1941. Since then the Tar Heels have won 5 National Titles, made 18 Final Fours, and have 44 tournament appearances. Pitt hasn't been back to the Final Four since. In fact, North Carolina's entire NCAA tournament history can be traced back to that disappointment in 1941. If they hadn't suffered such a disappointing defeat to Pitt, maybe they never become the program they are today.
You're welcome, North Carolina.
Anyway, North Carolina would beat Pitt the next seven times they played them (the last in 1996) before yesterday.
Pitt had absolutely no answer for James Michael McAdoo. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds. Marcus Paige, a 31% 3 point shooter, made 5-6 because Pitt. North Carolina broke open a close game and led by 12 with 8 minutes left. Somehow, Pitt didn't quit, probably because they wanted to find a new way to disappoint me. Pitt got within 3, but missed an opportunity to get closer when Wright missed a jumper. A few possessions later, Patterson hits two free throws with 44 seconds left to cut the lead to 4. UNC inbounds and after a few passes, McAdoo is holding it. Pitt tries to steal. For as great a game as McAdoo played, he is still a terrible free throw shooter (52% for the year 2-7 in the game). Pitt doesn't foul him, though, they instead wait until Marcus Paige (90% free throw shooter) gets the ball back. Paige makes 2-2 obviously.
Things started to change for Pitt. Robinson missed a layup, but Artis was fouled. He made both (74-70 UNC). On the inbound, Robinson knocked the ball loose to Artis who was fouled again. He made the first but missed the second. In the scramble for the loose ball, a UNC player stepped on the end line. Pitt ball with a chance to tie. Could the Panthers finally be getting some good luck? Maybe this would be the game where the breaks went Pitt's way?
In a word, nope.
Robinson missed a layup (a frequent occurrence it seems), but Pitt got the offensive rebound. Patterson for threeeeeeeeeeeee...missed. Zanna comes up with the offensive rebound. Oh my gosh, there's still time to kick it back out for one last 3 before time expi- what is Zanna doing? He's trying to get the quick two, there's no time left. He misses a layup. UNC rebounds and is fouled. They missed the first, intentionally probably, because they wanted me to think that Pitt could rebound a second miss and tie the game with an 80 foot heave at the buzzer. He made the second, Dixon calls time-out to draw up a super secret 4 point play that doesn't exist, and there you have it.
Pitt doesn't play again until Sunday night against Florida State. That leaves plenty of time for them to invent new ways to lose.
Hail to Pitt,
J.O.
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