After losing four starters from last year’s Elite Eight team, Pittsburgh was picked ninth in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Yet two weeks into the Big East season, the Panthers (14-2, 4-0) are one of just two unbeaten teams in the league, Villanova (15-1, 4-0) being the other.
“It’s all these predictions,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, whose team lost to Pitt on Jan. 2. “It’s all based on who you lost. And if you don’t have like five McDonald’s All-Americans coming in like North Carolina, you’re picked low. And Pitt’s got very good players.”
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