Detroit or bust for Panthers

Yep, it really is that simple.

Pitt needs to get to the Final Four this season because (1) the Panthers have the talent to do it (2) they have the experience to do it and (3) now we know they have the bracket to do it.

In fact, I think point three in this case is the most important one as there is no question that the Panthers have an unbelievably favorable draw to get to the Final Four. And I keep hearing about the second round game  -- Oklahoma State or Tennesee -- and it is laughable as both of those teams are seeded where they are for a very good reason -- they are both mediocre and or extremely flawed in one way or another.

Then to get to the Elite Eight, we're talking about beating Xavier or a Florida State team who they already beat......

And as No. 2 seeds go, is there a better matchup for Pitt than soft-as-a-pillow, not very athletic and not very strong in the paint Duke? I think DeJuan Blair already has six rebounds in that game and it hasn't started........

There is really no reason Pitt shouldn't make it to the Final Four this year and I agree with those who say if they don't it is a failure on some level, especially considering the talent which is graduating off of this squad.

That being said, here are some of my other very random thoughts about the field of 65.....

1.) Big East coaches and fans swear that basketball was invented in that conference and that it is the greatest basketball conference going. Unfortunately the numbers don't even come close to supporting all of the bravado coming from Big East apologists. Consider -- In the last 20 years -- the ACC has sent 20 teams to the Final Four (or 1/4th of the final four teams in that time), the Big Ten has sent 14 teams to the Final Four and the SEC has sent 12. The almight Big East? How about SIX. That's not a misprint -- in the last 20 years twice as many SEC teams have made it to the Final Four than Big East teams.

Those numbers don't lie -- and perhaps suggest that critics of the Big East who have the audacity to say that the physical, whistle-less style of play in that conference hurts the teams come tournament time are probably more right than they are wrong.....Just sayin'

2.) West Virginia has a tough first round game  -- Dayton -- but if the Mountaineers survive, a trip to the Elite Eight is not out of the question as they match up well with Kansas and Michigan State.

3.) There is something that makes me smile about the fact that Arizona State and Minnesota are in the field and North Carolina State and Kentucky are not. The delusional fans of both the Wolfpack and Wildcats ran good and successful coaches out of town and now they are getting what they deserved.

4.) There always seems to be a No. 12 seed which upsets a No. 5 and this year I'd say South No. 5 Illinois and Midwest No. 5 Utah are the teams in that category most ripe for an upset.

5.) The Big Ten is always so easy to pick on -- and the delusional arrogance of many Big Ten fans makes it fun as well -- but Purdue might be the most underrated team in the field and frankly, if I had to pick a non-top four seed who is capable of getting to the Final Four it might be the Boilermakers. They defend, they rebound and they are healthy now. They also have the most vulnerable No. 1 seed and least tested No. 2 seed standing in their way.

6.) An unknown who could make some noise is North Dakota State, the No. 14 seed in the Midwest. The Bison are tough, they have some big guys who can play and they are balanced and play great defense. They also get Kansas, which has been inconsistent.

7.) As I predicted, the debate between Connecticut and Memphis for a No. 1 seed was silly because the two will have an opportunity to prove it if they both make it to the Regional Finals as they would then play each other for the right to get to the Final Four.

8.) There are a lot of teams who are capable of either losing in the first round or getting all the way to the Elite Eight. Among them are Tennessee, Texas, MIssissippi State, Florida State, Arizona, Wake Forest, Ohio State. UCLA and LSU. All of them have plenty of talent and all of them have been very inconsistent or have at least one fatal flaw which will likely prohibit them from playing to their potential.

9.) The more I look at Pitt's bracket, the more I think the Panthers will not only get to the Final Four, they will get there without breaking a sweat....

10.) The Big Ten and SEC could both be eliminated before the Sweet 16. The ACC and Big East are both capable of getting three teams to the Final Four.

And finally, like I wrote in my pre-backet ramblings....

11.) Pitt fans have to love the fact that, at least in a very small way, the Panthers contributed to Penn State being left out of the field because the Nittany Lions are the ones who ended the series (for a variety of mostly ridiculous rationalizations) and well, the biggest argument against Penn State getting into the field was a lousy non-conference schedule which led to a low RPI and Strength of Schedule ranking.....