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.

Outlook

The Pittsburgh Panthers, defending Big East Conference Tournament Champions, came off a 27–10 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.

Coaching staff

Roster

Name#PositionHeightWeight YearHometownPrevious school
5Forward2504SeniorNanuet, NYDon Bosco Prep HS
45Forward2652SophomorePittsburgh, PASchenley HS
11Guard/Forward2002Sophomore Harrisburg, PASouth Kent School
14Forward2154SeniorPittsburgh, PACanon McMillan HS
3Guard1953Junior, TransferBaltimore, MDTallahassee CC
2Guard1904SeniorBrooklyn, NYXaverian HS
24Guard2002SophomoreMars, PAMars Area HS
12Guard1901FreshmanScotch Plains, NJSeton Hall Prep
52Center2502SophomoreAnderson, INHighland H.S.
25Forward2301FreshmanNassau, BahamasSt. Pius X HS
35Forward2201FreshmanChester, PAChester HS
21Guard1852SophomorePittsburgh, PANorth Allegheny HS
22Guard2052SophomorePhiladelphia, PARoman Catholic HS
1Guard1901FreshmanBrooklyn, NYSt. Anthony HS
23Forward2204SeniorClinton, 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.
!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Scrimmage
!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Exhibition
!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Regular season
!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Postseason
Big East Men's Basketball Championship
!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | NCAA Tournament

Rankings

PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Wk 16WK 17Wk 18Final
AP5643333311436441324n/a
Coaches66433333114354414246

Accomplishments