2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team

The 2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Jamie Dixon, who was serving for his 6th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 10th overall at the university. The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Legends Classic Champions
NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 4
2008–09 record31–5 (15–3 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPetersen Events Center
(Capacity: 12,508)
2008–09 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 1 Louisville162 .889  316  .838
No. 4 Pittsburgh153 .833  315  .861
No. 5 Connecticut153 .833  315  .861
No. 11 Villanova135 .722  308  .789
No. 23 Marquette126 .667  2510  .714
No. 13 Syracuse117 .611  2810  .737
West Virginia108 .556  2312  .657
Providence108 .556  1914  .576
Notre Dame810 .444  2115  .583
Cincinnati810 .444  1814  .563
Seton Hall711 .389  1715  .531
Georgetown711 .389  1615  .516
St. John's612 .333  1618  .471
South Florida414 .222  922  .290
Rutgers216 .111  1121  .344
DePaul018 .000  924  .273
2009 Big East Tournament winner
As of April 4, 2009[1]; Rankings from AP Poll

Outlook

The Pittsburgh Panthers, defending Big East Conference Tournament Champions, came off a 27–10 (10–8) record in the 2007–08 season which included their seventh straight 20-win season, seventh straight season with 10 league wins in the Big East Conference, and a seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Pitt advanced to the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Michigan State. That season also marked the seventh time in the last eight seasons that Pitt advanced to the Big East Tournament Championship title game, which tied for the most appearances in league history. Pitt began the season returning three starters, each of its top three scorers, and seven of its top 10 players from the previous year. Pitt found itself ranked among the top 10 teams nationally in most preseason polls and publications. Five newcomers, including one junior college transfer and four freshman, joined Pitt for the 2008–09 season.[2]

Coaching staff

Name[3]PositionYear at
Pittsburgh
Alma Mater (Year)
Jamie Dixon Head coach 10th (6th as head coach) TCU (1987)
Tom Herrion Associate head coach 2nd Merrimack (1989)
Pat Sandle Assistant coach 8th San Francisco State (1987)
Brandin Knight Assistant coach 3rd University of Pittsburgh (2005)
Brian Regan Director of operations 2nd Saint Vincent (1988)

Roster

[4]
Name#PositionHeightWeight (lb.)YearHometownPrevious school
Tyrell Biggs5Forward6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)2504SeniorNanuet, NYDon Bosco Prep HS
DeJuan Blair45Forward6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)2652SophomorePittsburgh, PASchenley HS
Gilbert Brown11Guard/Forward6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)2002Sophomore (RS)Harrisburg, PASouth Kent School
Sean Brown14Forward6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)2154SeniorPittsburgh, PACanon McMillan HS
Jermaine Dixon3Guard6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)1953Junior, TransferBaltimore, MDTallahassee CC
Levance Fields2Guard5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)1904SeniorBrooklyn, NYXaverian HS
Tim Frye24Guard6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)2002SophomoreMars, PAMars Area HS
Ashton Gibbs12Guard6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)1901FreshmanScotch Plains, NJSeton Hall Prep
Gary McGhee52Center6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)2502SophomoreAnderson, INHighland H.S.
Dwight Miller25Forward6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)2301FreshmanNassau, BahamasSt. Pius X HS
Nasir Robinson35Forward6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)2201FreshmanChester, PAChester HS
Ryan Tiesi21Guard6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)1852SophomorePittsburgh, PANorth Allegheny HS
Brad Wanamaker22Guard6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)2052SophomorePhiladelphia, PARoman Catholic HS
Travon Woodall1Guard5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)1901FreshmanBrooklyn, NYSt. Anthony HS
Sam Young23Forward6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)2204SeniorClinton, MDHargrave Military Academy

Schedule

Pitt's 2008–09 schedule included, in addition to their Big East slate, nine non-conference opponents that were ranked the previous season in the nation's top-100 Ratings Percentage Index, nine opponents that advanced to post-season play, and five that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.[2]

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Scrimmage
Sun. Oct. 26*
2:30 pm
Blue/Gold (Scrimmage) Petersen Events Center (N/A)
Pittsburgh, PA
Exhibition
Sun. Nov. 2*
4:00 pm
Seton Hill W 10251 
Petersen Events Center (6,020)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Nov. 9*
1:00 pm
La Roche W 8230 
Petersen Events Center (6,008)
Pittsburgh, PA
Regular season
Fri. Nov. 14*
7:00 pm
No. 5 Fairleigh Dickinson W 8663  10
Petersen Events Center (10,043)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Nov. 17*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 6 Miami (OH) W 8253  20
Petersen Events Center (10,072)
Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Nov. 21*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 6 Akron
Legends Classic Regional
W 8667  30
Petersen Events Center (10,133)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Nov. 22*
4:00 pm
No. 6 Indiana Univ. (PA)
Legends Classic Regional
W 8660  40
Petersen Events Center (9,003)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Nov. 25*
7:00 pm, PantherVision
No. 4 Belmont W 7460  50
Petersen Events Center (9,595)
Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Nov. 28*
7:30 pm, HDNet
No. 4 vs. Texas Tech
Legends Classic Championship Round
W 8067  60
Prudential Center (3,510)
Newark, NJ
Sat. Nov. 29*
7:30 pm, HDNet
No. 4 vs. Washington St
Legends Classic Championship Game
W 5743  70
Prudential Center (2,991)
Newark, NJ
Wed. Dec. 3*
7:00 pm, PantherVision
No. 3 Duquesne
The City Game
W 7851  80
Petersen Events Center (10,387)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 6*
7:00 pm, PantherVision
No. 3 Vermont W 8051  90
Petersen Events Center (10,122)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 13*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 3 Maryland-Baltimore County W 9156  100
Petersen Events Center (10,188)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 17*
9:30 pm, ESPN2
No. 3 Siena W 7966  110
Petersen Events Center (10,045)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Dec. 21*
5:30 pm, FSN National
No. 3 at Florida State W 5648  120
Donald L. Tucker Center (6,522)
Tallahassee, FL
Wed. Dec. 31
2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 3 at Rutgers W 7872  130
(10)
Louis Brown Athletic Center (6,308)
Piscataway, NJ
Sat. Jan. 3
12:00 pm, ESPN
No. 3 at No. 11 Georgetown W 7054  140
(20)
Verizon Center (19,397)
Washington, D.C.
Sun. Jan. 11
12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV
No. 1 St. John's W 9067  150
(30)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Jan. 14
7:00 pm, ESPN-U
No. 1 South Florida W 7562  160
(40)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Jan. 17
6:00 pm, ESPN
No. 1 at No. 20 Louisville L 6963  161
(41)
Freedom Hall (20,082)
Louisville, KY
Mon. Jan. 19
7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday
No. 4 No. 8 Syracuse W 78–60  171
(51)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Jan. 25
4:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 4 at West Virginia
Backyard Brawl
W 7967  181
(61)
WVU Coliseum (14,329)
Morgantown, WV
Wed. Jan. 28
7:00 pm, ESPN-U
No. 3 at No. 21 Villanova L 6757  182
(62)
Wachovia Spectrum (17,491)
Philadelphia, PA
Sat. Jan. 31
12:00 pm, ESPN
No. 3 Notre Dame W 9380  192
(72)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 2*
7:00 pm, PantherVision
No. 6 Robert Morris W 9272  202
Petersen Events Center (10,122)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Feb. 7
2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 6 at DePaul W 9269  212
(82)
Allstate Arena (9,814)
Rosemont, IL
Mon. Feb. 9
7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday
No. 4 West Virginia
Backyard Brawl
W 7059  222
(92)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Feb. 14
4:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 Cincinnati W 8569  232
(102)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 16
7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday
No. 4 at No. 1 Connecticut W 7668  242
(112)
XL Center (16,294)
Hartford, CT
Sat. Feb. 21
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 4 DePaul W 8061  252
(122)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Feb. 24
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 1 at Providence L 8173  253
(123)
Dunkin Donuts Center (11,887)
Providence, RI
Sat. Feb. 28
8:30 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh
No. 1 at Seton Hall W 8978  263
(133)
Prudential Center (9,800)
Newark, NJ
Wed. Mar. 4
7:30 pm, ESPN2
No. 3 No. 13 Marquette W 9075  273
(143)
Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Mar. 7
12:00 pm, CBS
No. 3 No. 1 Connecticut W 7060  283
(153)
Petersen Events Center (12,908)
Pittsburgh, PA
Postseason
Big East Men's Basketball Championship
Thu. Mar. 12
7:00 pm, ESPN
No. 2 (2) vs. No. (7) West Virginia
Big East Championship Quarterfinals, Backyard Brawl
L 7460  284
Madison Square Garden (19,375)
New York City, New York
NCAA Tournament
Fri. Mar. 20
2:55 pm, CBS
No. 4 (1) vs. No. (16) East Tennessee State
First Round
W 7262  294
University of Dayton Arena (12,499)
Dayton, Ohio
Sun. Mar. 22
2:50 pm, CBS
No. 4 (1) vs. No. (8) Oklahoma State
Second Round
W 8476  304
University of Dayton Arena (12,596)
Dayton, Ohio
Thu. Mar. 26
7:27 pm, CBS
No. 4 (1) vs. No. 20 (4) Xavier
Sweet Sixteen
W 6055  31–4
TD Banknorth Garden (N/A)
Boston, Massachusetts
Sat. Mar. 28
7:05 pm, CBS
No. 4 (1) vs. No. 11 (3) Villanova
Elite Eight
L 7678  315
TD Banknorth Garden (18,871)
Boston, Massachusetts
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll.   Postseason ranks represent seeds in the applicable tournament. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

Rankings

Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16WK 17Wk 18Final
AP 5 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 4 3 6 4 4 1 3 2 4 n/a
Coaches 6 6 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 4 3 5 4 4 1 4 2 4 6

Accomplishments

The early minutes of a game against number-one-ranked UConn on March 7, 2009, at the Petersen Events Center. A portion of the Oakland Zoo can be seen at the bottom. Pitt won the nationally televised game 70–60.
  • During the 8th week of the season, the Panthers were ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches poll. This was the first time in program history that the basketball team held the top ranking in either poll.
  • The Panthers were named the champion of the 2nd Annual Legends Classic Tournament. Sam Young was named the tournament MVP.
  • Pitt won their first and second game in their history over a team ranked No. 1 in the AP or Coaches poll when they defeated number one ranked Connecticut 76–68 in Hartford on February 16, 2009, and again defeated the top-ranked Huskies 70–60 at home on March 7, 2009.
  • Pitt won the most regular-season conference games in school history (15) and achieved their best-ever regular-season record in Big East Conference play (15–3, 0.833).
  • Panther center DeJuan Blair was named Big East Player of the Year, an award he shared with UConn center Hasheem Thabeet.
  • Pitt received its record eighth straight bid to the NCAA Tournament and its record ninth straight post-season national tournament bid.
  • Pitt received its first-ever number-one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, with his 162nd win coming in the NCAA Tournament over Oklahoma State, broke the NCAA Division I record for most victories in the first six seasons as a head coach formerly held by North Carolina State coach Everett Case.
  • Pitt reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the second time in three years and the fifth time in the last eight seasons.
  • Pitt tied a school record set in 2003–04 for the most wins in a season, with 31 victories, and won 30 games for only the second time in school history.
  • Pitt's senior class of Sam Young, Levance Fields, and Tyrell Biggs won 112 games during their four-year Pitt careers, giving them the most wins of any senior class in school history.
  • Pitt reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 1974. In doing so, it defeated the highest-seeded NCAA Tournament in school history (seeding began in 1979) and won three NCAA Tournament games for the first time.
  • Jamie Dixon won the Naismith Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year as well as the Jim Phelan Mid-season Coach of the Year award.

References

  1. "Big East Conference Standings - 2008-09." ESPN.com. Retrieved 03-23-10.
  2. Hotchkiss, Greg. "2008-09 Pitt Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). University of Pittsburgh Athletic Media Relations Office. p. 60. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  3. Hotchkiss, pg 66–74
  4. Hotchkiss, pg 64
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