Pitt Basketball Struggles Continue as March Madness Hopes Fade

Panther fans long for the glory days under former coach Jamie Dixon

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Pitt men's basketball team is facing another disappointing season, with the program struggling to recapture the success it enjoyed under former head coach Jamie Dixon. The article laments the current state of the team, which has only made the NCAA Tournament once in the 10 seasons since Dixon's departure, compared to 11 tournament appearances in his 13 seasons as head coach. The author reflects on how Pitt fans took that winning for granted and now must endure a program that is a "mess with no light at the end of the tunnel."

Why it matters

Pitt basketball was once a consistent contender in the NCAA Tournament, providing excitement and pride for the city of Pittsburgh. The decline of the program has been a major disappointment for fans who long for a return to those glory days. The article raises questions about the university's commitment to winning and being relevant in the ACC.

The details

Under former head coach Jamie Dixon, the Pitt men's basketball team made the NCAA Tournament 11 times in 13 seasons. However, in the 10 seasons since Dixon's departure, the team has only made the tournament once. The current state of the program has led to dwindling attendance at the Petersen Events Center, with the author lamenting the lack of a sellout or near-sellout crowd for Senior Night. The article also highlights the character and effort of senior Cam Corhen, who has continued to give his all despite the team's struggles.

  • Jamie Dixon replaced Ben Howland as Pitt's head coach in the 2003-04 season.
  • Dixon's Pitt teams made the NCAA Tournament 11 times in his 13 seasons as head coach.
  • In the 10 seasons since Dixon's departure, Pitt has only made the NCAA Tournament once.

The players

Jamie Dixon

Former head coach of the Pitt men's basketball team, who led the program to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 seasons.

Cam Corhen

A senior player on the current Pitt men's basketball team who has continued to give his all despite the team's struggles.

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What they’re saying

“Words such as hopeless, embarrassing, non-factor, irrelevant are words that many fans use when talking about Pitt hoops, and that's sad for old-timers like me.”

— Mike Vukovcan, Author (on3.com)

The takeaway

The decline of the Pitt men's basketball program has been a major disappointment for fans who once took the team's consistent success for granted. The article raises questions about the university's commitment to winning and being relevant in the ACC, and whether the program can ever recapture the glory days under former coach Jamie Dixon.