Now that Pitt has destroyed their first token middling mid-major, I feel like we can all have a little bit more of an appreciation for the close call against Rhode Island on Monday night. I know that may sound a little counter-intuitive, but let me explain.
It's refreshing, of course, to watch your team run another off the court with shear based on shear talent, as Pitt did to Illinois-Chicago on Wednesday. While it hardly sets this Panther team apart from the other members of the top-25, it's still something a team with championship aspirations has to be able to accomplish. I guess you could say it's almost like one of those eligibility boxes you have to check off when applying for for financial aid. Want to get a student loan? Check off that you're a U.S. Citizen. Want to have a chance to play in the Final Four? Check off that you can blow an inferior opponent off the floor.
However, another one of those check marks for playing until the last weekend of March Madness is an ability to win when you're not at your best. That was the case against Rhode Island on Monday. Perhaps it was the sloppiness and nerves for the Panthers in their first real game. Perhaps it was the Rams shooting the lights out unexpectedly and out of character. Or perhaps the reasons for malaise and underwhelming play weren't even that specific. Whatever the reason, it was a struggle. But Pitt prevailed. Now, that they've flashed an ability to school an opponent they should, a sloppy win doesn't seem so bad.
Really, it's a good thing. Two games down, two boxes checked.
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