Pittsburgh Basketball: Loss to Wagner Proves Panthers Will Struggle in Big East

If Friday's loss to Wagner is any indication, the Pittsburgh Panthers are in for another disappointing campaign, especially with the Big East season just around the corner.

Jamie Dixon's squad struggled to hit shots at the Petersen Events Center against the fearless Seahawks all night, finishing the game with a mere 39.6-percent success rate on its field goals and just 14 free throws made on 23 attempts.

Ashton Gibbs had a particularly tough time getting much of anything against the Wagner defense. The Panthers' senior leader converted 5-of-16 attempts, including but one of his seven three-point shots, with only a single assist against five turnovers. Gibbs was Pitt's lone double-digit scorer on the evening, with forward Nasir Robinson (nine points, nine rebounds, three assists) providing the most support.

Meanwhile, Wagner's backcourt controlled the game from start to finish. Kenneth Ortiz collected seven assists to go along with his 12 points, while Latif Rivers dominated the second half, scoring all 18 of his points in the latter frame and nailing six free throws in the final minute. The sophomores showed tremendous poise throughout, flustering Pitt's guards with their full-court press from start to finish. The Dan Hurley-coached Seahawks held the lead over the final 33 minutes on the way to their first win over a ranked opponent since 1978 and the first-ever for a team from the Northeastern Conference over Pitt.

As for the Panthers, they're left licking their wounds heading into their conference opener at Notre Dame on Tuesday. They've already suffered two disappointing defeats at home this season, with Long Beach State's 86-76 triumph back in November hinting at some weaknesses in the Panthers foundation. Outside of Gibbs, the Panthers are young and particularly vulnerable from the perimeter.

And now that star freshman Khem Birch is on his way out, Pitt will be considerably softer in the middle.

The loss to Wagner wasn't quite as complete as the one suffered at the hands of LBSU, but it was plenty disconcerting nonetheless. If the Panthers struggle so mightily against smaller teams from lesser leagues, how can they so much as hope to hang with the likes of Syracuse, Louisville, Connecticut, Georgetown and Marquette in the Big East? The conference may not be as deep as its been in years past, though that's more a testament to how amazing it was before, than a knock against what it is today.

But while the 'Cuse, the 'Ville and UConn continue to thrive both locally and nationally, Pitt appears to be falling back to the pack, a fading Big East power in desperate need of a jolt to its system.

Another shocking defeat to a mid-major opponent should serve as an important conversation starter for the Panthers. What they do with the residual disappointment may well determine how successful their season ultimately turns out to be.

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