Pitt left out of this NCAA tournament celebration

Tuesday, 11 December 2012 08:00

Written by Ray Fittipaldo

The NCAA unveiled its top 75 March Madness players of all-time, top 35 moments and top 25 teams as part of its 75thy anniversary celebration this season. The lists can be viewed at ncaa.com/all-time-march-madness.

Here is how the NCAA came about its lists:

“From a pool of more than 100 former players, NCAA staff analyzed statistical data compiled exclusively from performances in NCAA tournament games [e.g., points, rebounds, field goals, free throws, three-pointers (since 1987), assists, steals, blocks] to determine the 75 player finalists.

The lists were compiled and researched by the NCAA’s basketball and statistics staff, which consulted with the NCAA’s media partners and selected members of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).”

No Pitt players are among the 75 honored. Pitt does not appear in any of the top 35 moments. And, of course, no Pitt teams are honored. The 25 teams honored won NCAA championships.

There was one West Virginia player honored – Jerry West.

If you had to pick one Pitt player as the school’s all-time best NCAA performer who would it be?

Here are some choices:

1. Billy Knight – shares the school record for most points in an NCAA tournament game with 34 points in a 1974 game vs. Furman. The other player to score 34 was John Riser in 1957.
2. Charles Smith – holds the school record for scoring average in an NCAA tournament with 26.0 points per game in 1988
3. Jerome Lane – Owns school record for rebound average in an NCAA tournament with 18.5 per game in 1988
4. Sam Young – Owns the school record for most points scored in career NCAA tournament games with 177 from 2006-09.
5. Levance Fields – Owns school record for most assists in career NCAA tournament games with 55 from 2006-09.

Any other suggestions?

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