2008–09 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team

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.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mediaguide-section3.pdf |format=PDF |first=Greg |last=Hotchkiss |title=2008-09 Pitt Men's Basketball Media Guide |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Athletic Media Relations Office |page=60 |accessdate=12 December 2008 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523133252/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mediaguide-section3.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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.

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Scrimmage

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Oct. 26

| time = 2:30 pm

| nonconf = yes

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank =

| opponent = Blue/Gold (Scrimmage)

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv =

| attend = N/A

| score = Gold
63–54

| overtime =

| record =

| conference = }}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Nov. 2

| time = 4:00 pm

| status = w | score = 102–51

| nonconf = yes

| rank =

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Seton Hill|team=Seton Hill Griffins|title=Seton Hill}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv =

| attend = 6,020

| record = }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Nov. 9

| time = 1:00 pm

| status = w | score = 82–30

| nonconf = yes

| rank =

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=La Roche College|team=La Roche Red Hawks|title=La Roche}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv =

| attend = 6,008

| record = }}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Fri. Nov. 14

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 86–63

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 5

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Fairleigh Dickinson University|team=Fairleigh Dickinson Knights|title=Fairleigh Dickinson}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv =

| attend=10,043

| record = 1–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mon. Nov. 17

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 82–53

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 6

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Miami University|team=Miami RedHawks|title=Miami (OH)}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| attend=10,072

| record = 2–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Fri. Nov. 21

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 86–67

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 6

| opponent = Akron

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = Legends Classic Regional

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| attend=10,133

| record = 3–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Nov. 22

| time = 4:00 pm

| status = w | score = 86–60

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 6

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Indiana University of Pennsylvania|team=Indiana Crimson Hawks|title=Indiana (PA)}}

| site_stadium =Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = Legends Classic Regional

| tv =

| attend = 9,003

| record = 4–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Tue. Nov. 25

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 74–60

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 4

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Belmont University|team=Belmont Bruins|title=Belmont}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = PantherVision

| attend= 9,595

| record = 5–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Fri. Nov. 28

| time = 7:30 pm

| status = w | score = 80–67

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 4

| opponent = Texas Tech

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Prudential Center | site_cityst = Newark, NJ

| gamename = Legends Classic Championship Round

| tv = HDNet

| attend= 3,510

| record = 6–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Nov. 29

| time = 7:30 pm

| status = w | score = 57–43

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 4

| opponent = Washington State

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Prudential Center | site_cityst = Newark, NJ

| gamename = Legends Classic Championship Game

| tv = HDNet

| attend= 2,991

| record = 7–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Dec. 3

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 78–51

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 3

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Duquesne University|team=Duquesne Dukes|title=Duquesne}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = The City Game

| tv = PantherVision

| attend= 10,387

| record = 8–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Dec. 6

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w | score = 80–51

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 3

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=University of Vermont|team=Vermont Catamounts|title=Vermont}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = PantherVision

| attend= 10,122

| record = 9–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Dec. 13

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| score = 91–56

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 3

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=University of Maryland, Baltimore County|team=UMBC Retrievers|title=UMBC}}

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center | site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| attend= 10,188

| record = 10–0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Dec. 17

| time = 9:30 pm

| status = w

| nonconf = yes

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Siena

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 79–66

| overtime =

| attend = 10,045

| record = 11–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Dec. 21

| time = 5:30 pm

| status = w

| nonconf = yes

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Florida State

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Donald L. Tucker Center

| site_cityst = Tallahassee, FL

| gamename =

| tv = FSN National

| score = 56–48

| overtime =

| attend = 6,522

| record = 12–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Dec. 31

| time = 2:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Rutgers

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Louis Brown Athletic Center

| site_cityst = Piscataway, NJ

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 78–72

| overtime =

| attend = 6,308

| record = 13–0

| conference = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Jan. 3

| time = 12:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Georgetown

| opprank = 11

| site_stadium = Verizon Center

| site_cityst = Washington, D.C.

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN

| score = 70–54

| overtime =

| attend = 19,397

| record = 14–0

| conference = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Jan. 11

| time = 12:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = St. John's

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV

| score = 90–67

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 15–0

| conference = 3–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Jan. 14

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = South Florida

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN-U

| score = 75–62

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 16–0

| conference = 4–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Jan. 17

| time = 6:00 pm

| status = l

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Louisville

| opprank = 20

| site_stadium = Freedom Hall

| site_cityst = Louisville, KY

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN

| score = 63–69

| overtime =

| attend = 20,082

| record = 16–1

| conference = 4–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mon. Jan. 19

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = Syracuse

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Big Monday

| score = 78–60

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 17–1

| conference = 5–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Jan. 25

| time = 4:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = West Virginia

| opprank =

| site_stadium = WVU Coliseum

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = Backyard Brawl

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 79–67

| overtime =

| attend = 14,329

| record = 18–1

| conference = 6–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Jan. 28

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = l

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Villanova

| opprank = 21

| site_stadium = Wachovia Spectrum

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN-U

| score = 57–67

| overtime =

| attend = 17,491

| record = 18–2

| conference = 6–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Jan. 31

| time = 12:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Notre Dame

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN

| score = 93–80

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 19–2

| conference = 7–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mon. Feb. 2

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf = yes

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 6

| opponent = Robert Morris

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = PantherVision

| score = 92–72

| overtime =

| attend = 10,122

| record = 20–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Feb. 7

| time = 2:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 6

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=DePaul University|team=DePaul Blue Demons|title=DePaul}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Allstate Arena

| site_cityst = Rosemont, IL

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 92–69

| overtime =

| attend = 9,814

| record = 21–2

| conference = 8–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mon. Feb. 9

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = West Virginia

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename = Backyard Brawl

| tv = ESPN Big Monday

| score = 70–59

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 22–2

| conference = 9–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Feb. 14

| time = 4:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = Cincinnati

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN

| score = 85–69

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 23–2

| conference = 10–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mon. Feb. 16

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = Connecticut

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = XL Center

| site_cityst = Hartford, CT

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Big Monday

| score = 76–68

| overtime =

| attend = 16,294

| record = 24–2

| conference = 11–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Feb. 21

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 4

| opponent = DePaul

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 80–61

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 25–2

| conference = 12–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Tue. Feb. 24

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = l

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Providence

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Dunkin Donuts Center

| site_cityst = Providence, RI

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 73–81

| overtime =

| attend = 11,887

| record =25–3

| conference = 12–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Feb. 28

| time = 8:30 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Seton Hall University|team=Seton Hall Pirates|title=Seton Hall}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Prudential Center

| site_cityst = Newark, NJ

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh

| score = 89–78

| overtime =

| attend = 9,800

| record = 26–3

| conference = 13–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Wed. Mar. 4

| time = 7:30 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Marquette

| opprank = 13

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 90–75

| overtime =

| attend = 12,508

| record = 27–3

| conference = 14–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Mar. 7

| time = 12:00 pm

| status = w

| nonconf =

| homecoming =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 3

| opponent = Connecticut

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = Petersen Events Center

| site_cityst = Pittsburgh, PA

| gamename =

| tv = CBS

| score = 70–60

| overtime =

| attend = 12,908

| record = 28–3

| conference = 15–3

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | Postseason^†
Big East Men's Basketball Championship

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Thu. Mar. 12

| time = 7:00 pm

| status = l

| score = 60–74

| rank = 2 (2)

| opponent = West Virginia

| opprank = (7)

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York City, New York

| gamename = Big East Championship Quarterfinals, Backyard Brawl

| tv = ESPN

| attend =19,375

| record = 28–4 }}

|-

!colspan=9 style="background:#091C44; color:#CEC499;" | NCAA tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Fri. Mar. 20

| time = 2:55 pm

| status = w

| score = 72–62

| rank = 4 (1)

| opponent = East Tennessee State

| opprank = (16)

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = University of Dayton Arena | site_cityst = Dayton, Ohio

| gamename = First Round

| tv = CBS

| attend = 12,499

| record = 29–4 }}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sun. Mar. 22

| time = 2:50 pm

| status = w

| score = 84–76

| rank = 4 (1)

| opponent = Oklahoma State

| opprank = (8)

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = University of Dayton Arena

| site_cityst = Dayton, Ohio

| gamename = Second Round

| tv = CBS

| attend = 12,596

| record = 30–4 }}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Thu. Mar. 26

| time = 7:27 pm

| status = w

| score = 60–55

| rank = 4 (1)

| opponent = Xavier

| opprank = 20 (4)

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = TD Banknorth Garden

| site_cityst = Boston, Massachusetts

| gamename = Sweet Sixteen

| tv = CBS

| attend = N/A

| record = 31–4}}

|-

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Sat. Mar. 28

| time = 7:05 pm

| status = l

| score = 76–78

| rank = 4 (1)

| opponent = Villanova

| opprank = 11 (3)

| neutral = yes

| site_stadium = TD Banknorth Garden

| site_cityst = Boston, Massachusetts

| gamename = Elite Eight

| tv = CBS

| attend = 18,871

| record = 31–5}}

{{CBB schedule end|timezone=Eastern Standard Time|poll=AP Poll.   ^†Postseason ranks represent seeds in the applicable tournament}}

{{main|2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

File:2009PittUConn2ndmin.jpg 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.

{{Reflist|30em}}

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