2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team

This article is about 2008–09 Pitt men's basketball. For 2008–09 Pitt women's basketball, see 2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team.

2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball

Legends Classic Champions
NCAA, #1, East Region Elite Eight
Conference	Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 4
2008–09 record	31–5 (15–3 Big East)
Head coach	Jamie Dixon (6th year)
Assistant coach	Tom Herrion (2nd year)
Assistant coach	Pat Sandle (8th year)
Assistant coach	Brandin Knight (1st year)
Home arena	Petersen Events Center (Capacity: 12,508)

2008–09 Big East men's basketball standings
	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
#1 Louisville†	16	–	2	.889	31	–	6	.838
#4 Pittsburgh	15	–	3	.833	31	–	5	.861
#5 Connecticut	15	–	3	.833	31	–	5	.861
#11 Villanova	13	–	5	.722	30	–	8	.789
#23 Marquette	12	–	6	.667	25	–	10	.714
#13 Syracuse	11	–	7	.611	28	–	10	.737
West Virginia	10	–	8	.556	23	–	12	.657
Providence	10	–	8	.556	19	–	14	.576
Notre Dame	8	–	10	.444	21	–	15	.583
Cincinnati	8	–	10	.444	18	–	14	.563
Seton Hall	7	–	11	.389	17	–	15	.531
Georgetown	7	–	11	.389	16	–	15	.516
St. John's	6	–	12	.333	16	–	18	.471
South Florida	4	–	14	.222	9	–	22	.290
Rutgers	2	–	16	.111	11	–	21	.344
DePaul	0	–	18	.000	9	–	24	.273


† 2009 Big East Tournament winner As of April 4, 2009^[1]; Rankings from AP Poll

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

Outlook

The Pittsburgh Panthers, defending Big East Conference Tournament Champions, are coming off of 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. Last season also marked the seventh time in the last eight season that Pitt advanced to the Big East Tournament Championship title game which ties for the most appearance in league history. Pitt begins 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, join Pitt for the 2008-09 season.^[2]

Coaching staff

Name^[3]	Position	Year 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	6th	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	#	Position	Height	Weight (lb.)	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Biggs, TyrellTyrell Biggs	5	Forward	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	250	4Senior	Nanuet, NY	Don Bosco Prep HS
Blair, DeJuanDeJuan Blair	45	Forward	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	265	2Sophomore	Pittsburgh, PA	Schenley HS
Brown, GilbertGilbert Brown	11	Guard/Forward	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	200	2Sophomore (RS)	Harrisburg, PA	South Kent School
Brown, SeanSean Brown	14	Forward	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	215	4Senior	Pittsburgh, PA	Canon McMillan HS
Dixon, JermaineJermaine Dixon	3	Guard	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	195	3Junior, Transfer	Baltimore, MD	Tallahassee CC
Fields, LevanceLevance Fields	2	Guard	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190	4Senior	Brooklyn, NY	Xaverian HS
Frye, TimTim Frye	24	Guard	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	200	2Sophomore	Mars, PA	Mars Area HS
Gibbs, AshtonAshton Gibbs	12	Guard	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	190	1Freshman	Scotch Plains, NJ	Seton Hall Prep
McGhee, GaryGary McGhee	52	Center	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)	250	2Sophomore	Anderson, IN	Highland H.S.
Miller, DwightDwight Miller	25	Forward	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)	230	1Freshman	Nassau, Bahamas	St. Pius X HS
Robinson, NasirNasir Robinson	35	Forward	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	220	1Freshman	Chester, PA	Chester HS
Tiesi, RyanRyan Tiesi	21	Guard	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	185	2Sophomore	Pittsburgh, PA	North Allegheny HS
Wanamaker, BradBrad Wanamaker	22	Guard	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205	2Sophomore	Philadelphia, PA	Roman Catholic HS
Woodall, TravonTravon Woodall	1	Guard	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	190	1Freshman	Brooklyn, NY	St. Anthony HS
Young, SamSam Young	23	Forward	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	220	4Senior	Clinton, MD	Hargrave Military Academy

Schedule

Pitt's 2008-09 schedule includes, in addition to their Big East slate, nine non-conference opponents that were ranked last 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)	Gold 63–54		Petersen Events Center (N/A) Pittsburgh, PA
Exhibition
Sun. Nov. 2* 4:00 pm		Seton Hill	W 102–51		Petersen Events Center (6,020) Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Nov. 9* 1:00 pm		La Roche	W 82–30		Petersen Events Center (6,008) Pittsburgh, PA
Regular season
Fri. Nov. 14* 7:00 pm	No. 5	Fairleigh Dickinson	W 86–63	1–0	Petersen Events Center (10,043) Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Nov. 17* 7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 6	Miami (OH)	W 82–53	2–0	Petersen Events Center (10,072) Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Nov. 21* 7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 6	Akron Legends Classic Regional	W 86–67	3–0	Petersen Events Center (10,133) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Nov. 22* 4:00 pm	No. 6	Indiana Univ. (PA) Legends Classic Regional	W 86–60	4–0	Petersen Events Center (9,003) Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Nov. 25* 7:00 pm, PantherVision	No. 4	Belmont	W 74–60	5–0	Petersen Events Center (9,595) Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Nov. 28* 7:30 pm, HDNet	No. 4	vs. Texas Tech Legends Classic Championship Round	W 80–67	6–0	Prudential Center (3,510) Newark, NJ
Sat. Nov. 29* 7:30 pm, HDNet	No. 4	vs. Washington St Legends Classic Championship Game	W 57–43	7–0	Prudential Center (2,991) Newark, NJ
Wed. Dec. 3* 7:00 pm, PantherVision	No. 3	Duquesne The City Game	W 78–51	8–0	Petersen Events Center (10,387) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 6* 7:00 pm, PantherVision	No. 3	Vermont	W 80–51	9–0	Petersen Events Center (10,122) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 13* 7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 3	Maryland-Baltimore County	W 91–56	10–0	Petersen Events Center (10,188) Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 17* 9:30 pm, ESPN2	No. 3	Siena	W 79–66	11–0	Petersen Events Center (10,045) Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Dec. 21* 5:30 pm, FSN National	No. 3	at Florida State	W 56–48	12–0	Donald L. Tucker Center (6,522) Tallahassee, FL
Wed. Dec. 31 2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 3	at Rutgers	W 78–72	13–0 (1–0)	Louis Brown Athletic Center (6,308) Piscataway, NJ
Sat. Jan. 3 12:00 pm, ESPN	No. 3	at No. 11 Georgetown	W 70–54	14–0 (2–0)	Verizon Center (19,397) Washington, D.C.
Sun. Jan. 11 12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV	No. 1	St. John's	W 90–67	15–0 (3–0)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Jan. 14 7:00 pm, ESPN-U	No. 1	South Florida	W 75–62	16–0 (4–0)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Jan. 17 6:00 pm, ESPN	No. 1	at No. 20 Louisville	L 69–63	16–1 (4–1)	Freedom Hall (20,082) Louisville, KY
Mon. Jan. 19 7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday	No. 4	No. 8 Syracuse	W 78–60	17–1 (5–1)	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 79–67	18–1 (6–1)	WVU Coliseum (14,329) Morgantown, WV
Wed. Jan. 28 7:00 pm, ESPN-U	No. 3	at No. 21 Villanova	L 67–57	18–2 (6–2)	Wachovia Spectrum (17,491) Philadelphia, PA
Sat. Jan. 31 12:00 pm, ESPN	No. 3	Notre Dame	W 93–80	19–2 (7–2)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 2* 7:00 pm, PantherVision	No. 6	Robert Morris	W 92–72	20–2	Petersen Events Center (10,122) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Feb. 7 2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 6	at DePaul	W 92–69	21–2 (8–2)	Allstate Arena (9,814) Rosemont, IL
Mon. Feb. 9 7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday	No. 4	West Virginia Backyard Brawl	W 70–59	22–2 (9–2)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Feb. 14 4:00 pm, ESPN	No. 4	Cincinnati	W 85–69	23–2 (10–2)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 16 7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday	No. 4	at No. 1 Connecticut	W 76–68	24–2 (11–2)	XL Center (16,294) Hartford, CT
Sat. Feb. 21 7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 4	DePaul	W 80–61	25–2 (12–2)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Feb. 24 7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 1	at Providence	L 81–73	25–3 (12–3)	Dunkin Donuts Center (11,887) Providence, RI
Sat. Feb. 28 8:30 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh	No. 1	at Seton Hall	W 89–78	26–3 (13–3)	Prudential Center (9,800) Newark, NJ
Wed. Mar. 4 7:30 pm, ESPN2	No. 3	No. 13 Marquette	W 90–75	27–3 (14–3)	Petersen Events Center (12,508) Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Mar. 7 12:00 pm, CBS	No. 3	No. 1 Connecticut	W 70–60	28–3 (15–3)	Petersen Events Center (12,908) Pittsburgh, PA
Postseason^† Big East Men's Basketball Championship
Thu. Mar. 12 7:00 pm, ESPN	No. (2)	vs. No. (7) West Virginia Big East Championship Quarterfinals, Backyard Brawl	L 74–60	28–4	Madison Square Garden (19,375) New York City, New York
NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship
Fri. Mar. 20 2:55 pm, CBS	No. (1)	vs. No. (16) East Tennessee State NCAA Championship First Round	W 72–62	29–4	University of Dayton Arena (12,499) Dayton, Ohio

Sun. Mar. 22 2:50 pm, CBS	No. (1)	vs. No. (8) Oklahoma State NCAA Championship Second Round	W 84–76	30–4	University of Dayton Arena (12,596) Dayton, Ohio

Thu. Mar. 26 7:27 pm, CBS	No. (1)	vs. No. (4) Xavier NCAA Sweet Sixteen	W 60–55	31-4	TD Banknorth Garden (N/A) Boston, Massachusetts

Sat. Mar. 28 7:05 pm, CBS	No. (1)	vs. No. (3) Villanova NCAA Elite Eight	L 76–78	31–5	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

Main article: 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

Ranking Movement
**Legend:** ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
Poll	Pre	Wk 1	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Wk 15	Wk 16	WK 17	Wk 18	Final
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 02/16/2009 and again defeated the top ranked Huskies 70-60 at home on 03/07/2009.
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

↑ "Big East Conference Standings - 2008-09." ESPN.com. Retrieved 03-23-10.
1 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.
↑ Hotchkiss, pg 66–74
↑ Hotchkiss, pg 64

Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball

Venues	Motor Square Garden (1905–1912) Duquesne Gardens (1905–1912) Trees Gym (1912–1925) Pitt Pavilion (1925–1951) Fitzgerald Field House (1951–2002) Civic Arena (alternate; 1984–2002) Petersen Events Center (2002–present)

Rivalries	Duquesne

Culture & lore	History Oakland Zoo "Hail to Pitt" "Pitt Victory Song"

People	Head coaches Award winners NBA players

Seasons	1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Helms national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

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