1916:
Jim Denhart becomes Pitt's first four-sport letterman as he letters in basketball, football, baseball and track and field
March 6, 1920:
Pitt defeats West Virginia to lay claim to the Tri State Championship
1922-23:
After going through five coaches in 15 years, Pitt hires 23-year old Dr. H.C. Carlson to direct its fortunes. Carlson proceeds to coach for 31 years and become the Panthers' most successful basketball coach with 367 career wins, two mythical national titles and one NCAA tournament appearance. A colorful, eccentric, gregarious personality, Carlson also employed some rather unconvential methods to training including feeding his players ice cream at halftimes of games. Carlson also went on to become one of college basketball's innovators
January 17, 1924:
Playing the famed Figure 8 offense, Doc Carlson's Panthers trailed West Virginia 3-2 at halftime. Spectators tossed pennies on the floor. West Virginia defeated Pitt 25-23
1925-1926:
Pitt played its first basketball game at the Stadium Pavilion, defeating Cornell, 36-26
1927:
Pitt produces its first All-America basketball selection- Charley Hyatt. As a 6-0 forward, Hyatt goes on to become a three-year All-America player at Pitt while leading the Panthers to a 60-7 record from 1927-30. Nicknamed the "Clipper," he twice led the nation in scoring during his collegiate career. He concluded his career with 880 points and was named to the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame and elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.
February 18, 1928:
Charley Hyatt's last second basket gave Pitt a 24-22 win vs. Notre Dame
1928:
Pitt wins its first mythical national title winning 21 straight games without a loss and averaging a then-phenomenal 38 points per game. Charley Hyatt and Stan Wroblewski were the nation's two highest scorers
1929-1930:
The Panthers are declared winners of yet another National Championship by finishing 23-2 and losing only to West Virginia and Syracuse. Pitt won its first 12 games of the season. With the national title, Pittsburgh became one of 10 schools to win two or more championships in men's basketball from 1901-1937
February 7, 1931:
Notre Dame led by four points with 15 seconds to go but Pitt players Willie Kowallis and Tim Lawry tossed in hook shots to send the game into overtime. Pitt ran away with the game in overtime and claimed a 35-32 victory
1931-1932:
The Panthers take their first-ever West Coast road trip in basketball
1932:
Pitt-Notre Dame game drew the first sellout crowd in school history (4,000 fans at Pitt Pavilion). Pitt defeats West Virginia 42-40 at the Pitt Pavilion, the second half of a Pitt-WVU boxing-basketball doubleheader. Pitt takes its first West Coast road trip
January 20, 1934:
Pitt defeats Notre Dame 39-34 at the Pavilion, snapping Notre Dame's 22-game winning streak. Moose Krause starred for that Irish team
1934:
Pitt helps inaugurate the present NCAA Championship. The Panthers play Illinois Wesleyan, Wheaton and South Carolina in exhibition games for the Coaches Convention in Atlanta, Ga
February 8, 1935:
Pitt upsets Duquesne 35-34 ending DU's 24-game win streak
February 16, 1935:
Notre Dame led Pittsburgh by 10 points in South Bend but the clock stopped in what had to be the longest fourth quarter on record. Pitt won in the last second and Notre Dame coach George Keegan was so upset he picked up the clock and threw it all the way across the floor
1935:
Pitt wins first-ever Sugar Bowl basketball tournament, defeating LSU, 52-47
February 18, 1936:
Pitt notches a 46-41 season highlight victory over Chick Davies' powerhouse Duquesne. Pitt trailed by nine points at halftime (25-16) but Doc Carlson's celebrated "ice cream intermission" does the trick as Pete Noon and Bob Johnson lead the way in the second half to overcome the deficit. The Panthers reeled off 16 straight points after the half to take control
February 28, 1940:
Pitt plays in the first-ever nationally televised basketball game at Madison Square Garden vs. Fordham. The Panthers defeat Fordham 57-37. The game was part of a doubleheader. Georgetown defeated New York University 50-27 in the second game. The 1940-41 Pittsburgh team photo is on display at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. for this achievement
March 22, 1941:
In its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Pitt advances to the NCAA Final Four but loses to Wisconsin in the semifinals after eliminating North Carolina in the previous round. The 1940-41 Panthers squad is the only team in school history to advance to the Final Four. Every member of the team graduated and each member represented the United States in World War II. The other three teams to compete at the Final Four in Kansas City were Wisconsin, Arkansas and runner-up Washington State. Wisconsin defeated Washington State 39-34 for the championship
February 4, 1945:
Oland "Do Do" Canterna scores a school-record 37 points against Westminster. Interestingly enough, Canterna achieves this feat despite missing eight straight free throws and scoring zero points in the first period.
1944-45:
The 1944-45 Pitt team was called the "Phantoms" and finished with an 8-4 record
1948-49:
Pitt was one of the inaugural teams in the Orange Bowl Basketball Tournament, defeating both Miami and Florida State twice
January 21, 1949:
Penn State defeats Pittsburgh 34-21 in one of the most bizarre basketball games. Since Pittsburgh ran Doc Carlson's figure-eight offense against Penn State's zone, the game was low-scoring. In fact, Penn State led only 5-0 at halftime, the only points scored off a jump ball at midcourt. The low scoring affair prompted fans to throw pennies on the floor
February 18, 1949:
Pitt defeats West Virginia 34-32, breaking its 58-game home winning streak
1949:
Pitt basketball coach H.C. Carlson is elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. by the Helms Athletic Foundation.
December 1950:
Pitt breaks ground for its new field house. Built at a cost of $1.3 million, the Field House is named after University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Rufus Fitzgerald
1951:
Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House is dedicated as the Panthers move from their previous home court located outside Pitt Stadium
December 15, 1951:
Pitt defeats highly regarded Columbia 65-64 in the first basketball game played at the new University Memorial Field House. Bernard Artman hits the game winning shot to upend the Lions, who were coming off a 22-1 campaign and NCAA District I Championship. The Pitt News heralded the opening of the Field House as "a new era in Panther sports...giving Pitt that much-needed big-time touch." The arena's price tag is reported at $1 million, including a New England maple floor coating which cost $16,128
February 26, 1951:
Pitt defeats West Virginia 72-71 in the last game played at Pitt Pavilion. Pitt won the game on a Scott Phillips bank shot in the closing seconds
March 3, 1951:
Mike Belich concludes the season with 415 points, a single-season school record at the time
March 1, 1952:
Pitt scores just nine points in a 24-9 loss to Penn State. The nine points still ranks in NCAA record books as the second fewest points scored in a game since 1938
1952-53:
Pittsburgh wins its 500th game in school history, a 67-61 home win vs. Dartmouth in 1952-53
February 12, 1953:
Pitt defeats West Virginia 67-65 on a last-second shot by Dutch Burch at Fitzgerald Field House
February 28, 1953:
In Doc Carlson's final game as a Pitt's basketball coach, Penn State defeated the Panthers 73-53 at State College
1953:
Bob Timmons replaces Doc Carlson as basketball coach. Carlson retires after 31 years
December 11, 1953:
The Panthers defeat national power Bradley 66-64 in the opening round of the Steel Bowl Basketball Tournament at the Field House. The victory sets up a championship game match up between Pittsburgh and Duquesne, the first meeting between the neighboring schools since the 1930s
1955:
Julius Pegues becomes the first African-American basketball player at Pitt. Pegues, who came to Pitt from Tulsa, Okla., became just the fourth player in school history to score over 1,000 career points (1,047 from 1955-58)
January 1, 1955:
Pitt registers its first-ever win over a nationally ranked team in defeating No. 17 Pennsylvania in overtime, 81-75
February 26, 1955:
Ed Pavlick becomes Pitt's all-time scoring leader during the final game of the season against Penn State
December 1, 1956:
In his collegiate debut, Don Hennon scores 32 points in Pitt's 97-85 loss at North Carolina State
1956-57:
Bob Lazor and John Riser became the first two Pitt basketball players to eclipse the 1,000-point career mark
December 21, 1957:
Don Hennon scores a school-record 45 points to lead the Panthers past Duke 87-84 in double overtime at Fitzgerald Field House. The 45 points remained the Fitzgerald Field House record through the final 44 years of basketball at the Field House
1957:
The Panthers finish 16-11 and for the second time, appear in the NCAA Tournament. Pitt loses to Adolph Rupp's Kentucky squad in the semifinals
February 14, 1958:
Pitt athletic director Tom Hamilton announces that Dick Woznicki (1957-58 letterman) was found to be ineligible and that Pitt was offering forfeits to any of the 11 teams the Panthers had beaten with Woznicki participating (he missed two wins over Syracuse and George Washington). Pitt finished the season 13-5 and wound up one of the 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament. An Alliquippa native, Woznicki first enrolled at Baldwin-Wallace, then transferred to Geneva, then to Trinidad (Colo.) Junior College, then sat out a year and then failed to make the roster in his second year at Pitt. Thus, 1957-58 was his sixth collegiate season
1958:
Pitt makes its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under coach Bob Timmons. The Panthers lose to Miami (Ohio) in the quarterfinals
January 15, 1959:
Panthers Men's Basketball team records 50th win at Fitzgerald Field House as it defeats Carnegie Tech, 82-75 in the fourth game of the season
1959:
The Don Hennon Era ends at Pitt. Hennon a 5-8 guard, concluded his Pitt career as a two-time All America and arguably Pitt's greatest player. In his first collegiate game, Hennon scored 34 points and in 1959 set a Pitt record that still stands with 45 points vs. Duke. Hennon holds 10 Panther scoring records. Commented legendary St. John's coach Joe Lapchick at the time, "There's no doubt he is one of the best small men I have ever seen in college ball." Hennon was also the first Pitt player to have his jersey retired
December 2, 1960:
The Panthers trailed by as many as 22 points but rallied for a stunning last second victory over Purdue at Fitzgerald Field House. Don Steinhart posted 17 points and 17 rebounds. John Fridley scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the 1960-61 season opener
1960s:
Pitt students begin a unique tradition at basketball games in the late 1960s: tossing fish onto the court to protest a bad call by the officials
February 2, 1963:
Dave Roman hits a last second shot that seemingly beat West Virginia. The shot was nullified because another Pittsburgh player signaled for a timeout just before Roman released his shot and West Virginia claimed a 68-67 victory at Fitzgerald Field House
1963:
Bob Timmons' Panthers team advances to the NCAA Tournament where they lose a first-round game to New York University. The Panthers win a then-school record 19 games
March 14, 1964:
Pitt makes its first-ever NIT appearance. It loses in the first round to Drake
January 12, 1966:
Pitt records its 100th win at Fitzgerald Field House, defeating Westminster 70-69
February 28, 1968:
Pitt defeats Carnegie Tech 85-74 in head coach Robert Timmons's last game. Timmons announced his retirement from coaching following the 1967-68 season. He was replaced by Charles "Buzz" Ridl
1969-70:
The first season of Pitt basketball radio broadcasts. Bill Hillgrove and former sports information director Dean Billick formed Pitt's first radio broadcast team. Dick Groat joined Hillgrove in the 1979-80 season
December 30, 1970:
A Civic Arena crowd of 13,535, at the time the largest crowd to witness a basketball game in Pitt history, watched John Wooden's UCLA Bruins defeat Pitt 74-64 in the Steel Bowl championship game
February 13, 1970:
In the highest scoring game in school history, Pitt defeats Syracuse 127-108 in Fitzgerald Field House as Kent Scott (29 points), Paul O'Gorek (27) and Cleveland Edwards (20) fuel the Panthers
March 3, 1970:
Kent Scott scores 32 points including 23 in the second half to lead Pitt to a 92-87 upset win against West Virginia in the final college basketball game ever played at the old West Virginia Field House in Morgantown
December 22, 1972:
Billy Knight scores 37 points in an 89-73 loss to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. At the time, the point total represented the most points scored by an opponent against the Bruins at Pauley
January 14, 1973:
Pitt is ranked nationally for the first time in school history, earning No. 17 AP and No. 13 UPI rankings. In the midst of a 22-game win streak, Pitt reaches as high as No. 7 midway through the season
December 4, 1973:
Pitt defeats Rutgers 36-21. The road game was forfeited to Pitt late in the first half when a group of Rutgers students staged a sit-in demonstration on the playing court. To this day, Rutgers does not acknowledge the loss in its official records
December 18, 1973:
The Panthers defeat sixth-ranked and previously undefeated Marquette 65-58 in Al McGuire's only coaching appearance at Fitzgerald Field House. Center Jim Bolla hit 7-of-8 crucial free throws down the stretch to seal the win
January 14, 1974:
Pitt enters the national rankings for the first time in school history as the Associated Press ranks the Panthers 17th and United Press International 13th. The Panthers won 12 straight games including a decisive 62-46 victory over Duke and entered the week with a 12-1 record
February 20, 1974:
The Pitt basketball team extends its win streak to a school-record 22 games in a 56-49 win vs. Temple at Fitzgerald Field House. The streak was broken on Feb. 23 when Penn State's Ron Brown's jumper at the buzzer gave PSU a 66-64 win
March 14, 1974:
Billy Knight scores 34 points to lead the Panthers to an 81-78 win vs. Furman at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C., setting up an East Region meeting with eventual national champion North Carolina State
March 16, 1974:
In its most successful season ever in the modern era (to date), Pitt wins 25 games and advanced to the Eastern Regional finals of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual NCAA Champion North Carolina State. After losing their first game of the season, the Panthers reel off a 22-game winning streak, the longest in school history. Pitt is led by All America forward Billy Knight who graduates to the NBA and goes on to become Pitt's first All-Pro. The top six players were all Pittsburgh area natives
June, 1974:
Billy Knight becomes Pittsburgh's first-ever professional basketball first round pick as he is selected by the ABA's Indiana Pacers with the sixth overall pick in the 1974 Draft
December 13, 1975:
Pitt stretches its Fitzgerald Field House win streak to 27 games when Tom Richards threw in a 45-foot shot at the buzzer to defeat Ohio 72-71. The 1973-74 and 1974-75 teams never lost a game at the Field House. The dramatic victory was the last win of the streak as Evansville defeated the Panthers 62-62 in their next home game
December 30, 1975:
In a 60-56 loss at Cleveland State, Pitt plays the last 2:15 of a game with only four players. Prior to the game, coach Tim Grgurich suspends several players due to taking beer samples while on a trip to Florida the previous season. Pitt began the game with just seven players as three foul out
1976-77:
The first season Pitt started five Afro-American players
February 14, 1976:
Bob Shrewsbury sets a school-record for most assists in a game (Pittsburgh vs. South Carolina)
February 2, 1977:
Coached by Gale Catlett, a last second corner jumper by Larry Harris gave Pitt a surprising 65-64 upset win vs. nationally ranked Cincinnati at Fitzgerald Field House. Harris scored 31 points in the win
February 22, 1978:
Only a freshman, Sam Clancy scores 20 points and grabs 20 rebounds in leading Pitt to a 72-65 victory over city-rival Duquesne. The win avenged an early 22-point loss to their city rival. Clancy concluded his career as the only player in school history to score 1,000 career points and pull down 1,000 career rebounds. After Pitt defeated Villanova three days prior, Clancy had a big night and was asked if it was his best game. "No," replied the freshman, "My best game is coming up Wednesday vs. Duquesne."
December 1, 1979:
A season opening 83-65 victory over Bucknell was Pitt's 200th victory at Fitzgerald Field House
February 10, 1979:
Pitt upsets No 3 ranked and 17-1 Duke 71-69 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With the score tied at 69 with 3:05 to go, Duke coach Bill Foster decided to have his team hold onto the ball. With 10 seconds to go, Sam Clancy intercepted a back-door pass intended for Jim Spanarkal from Bob Bender, dribbled the length of the floor, missed a 15-foot jumper, grabbed the rebound from Mike Gminski and dropped in an easy layup with two seconds left to give Pitt a 71-69 upset win
March 7, 1980:
One day after his team lost to Duquesne 65-63 in an NIT first-round game at Civic Arena, basketball coach Tim Grgurich announced his resignation
March 28, 1980:
Roy Chipman is named Pitt's new basketball coach at a press conference during the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic at Civic Arena. In his first year, guides the Panthers to their first-ever Eastern 8 Championship
Fall 1981:
Pitt announces that it will join the Big East Conference for the 1982-83 season. Pitt became the ninth member of the Big East. It will play its final season in the Eastern Eight in 1981-82, a season which saw the Panthers win their second straight Eastern Eight Tournament title
March 7, 1981:
Pitt defeats Duquesne 64-60 in the championship game of the Eastern 8 Tournament at the Civic Arena to earn an automatic NCAA bid
March 13, 1981:
Dwayne Wallace's game-winning shot in the final seconds gave the Panthers an exciting 70-69 win against Idaho in an NCAA Tournament first round game at El Paso, Texas
March 15, 1981:
Sam Clancy plays his last basketball game at Pitt, an NCAA loss to North Carolina. Clancy was a four-year starter and became the greatest rebounder in school history with 1,342 career boards. Clancy went onto a sterling NFL career and played defensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns
March 2, 1982:
Sparked by Clyde Vaughan and Dwayne Wallace, Pitt won its second straight Eastern 8 Tournament title, upsetting top-seeded West Virginia 79-72 at a soldout Civic Arena. Pitt advances to the NCAA Tournament once again. It is also Pitt's first 20-win season in eight years
December 27, 1982:
Pittsburgh plays its first Big East Conference game, an 87-66 road loss
January 22, 1983:
Pitt defeats Seton Hall 78-68 for its first Big East Conference win
February 1, 1983:
The Panthers fall behind early but rally to upset No. 5 St. John's and All America guard Chris Mullin, 72-71. Clyde Vaughan and Andre Williams scored 24 points apiece. Billy Culbertson sinks 6-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win. The victory over the Redmen was one of three major upsets Pitt would dish out in its inaugural Big East season
February 19, 1983:
The Panthers overcome a seven-point deficit with 4:25 left to upset Georgetown and Patrick Ewing, 65-63. Center Andre Williams scored the critical points down the stretch and Clyde Vaughan finished with a game-high 22 points in the win. It was Pitt's third straight upset of a Big East power at Fitzgerald Field House
March 5, 1983:
Pitt closes out its first regular season of Big East Conference play vs. St. John's. In the first year of Big East Conference play, the Panthers finish 13-15 but gain national attention when they upset three top-10 Big East teams- Syracuse, Georgetown and St. John's at Fitzgerald Field House
March 23, 1984:
In an NIT loss to Notre Dame at Fitzgerald Field House, Clyde Vaughan became the first Pitt player top 2,000 points in a career
November 26, 1984:
Pitt records its 250th win at Fitzgerald Field House, defeating St. Francis (Pa.), 104-88
January 1, 1985:
Charles Smith sets the school-record for most free throws made in a game. He hit 18 free throws against Boston College
March 14, 1985:
Pitt makes its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance as a member of the Big East against Louisiana Tech. Charles Smith is named the Big East Conference Rookie of the Year
March 26, 1986:
Fresh off a highly successful stint at Navy and 30-5 record, Paul Evans is named Pitt's 11th head basketball coach
November 1, 1987:
With high preseason expectactions, Pittsburgh enters the national rankings for the first time in 12 years when the Associated Press, USA Today and United Press International rank the Panthers among the nation's top-25 programs. It was the first of 33 consecutive weeks ranked among the nation's top-25
February 14, 1987:
Pitt extends its school-record Big East win streak to eight games with a 72-67 double overtime win vs. Boston College. Ranked 10th nationally, the Panthers went into overtime without center Charles Smith, who fouled out with 2:37 to go in regulation. The upset-minded Eagles led 61-58 with three seconds when Rod Brookin canned a three-pointer at the buzzer from the corner to force another overtime period. Four different Panthers scored in the OT period to give Pitt its 21st victory of the year
February 21, 1987:
Jerome Lane accomplishes a rare 20-20 performance in Pitt's 76-66 win over Connecticut. With the performance, the 6-6 forward breaks the Big East season rebounding record
March 6, 1987:
Pitt wins its first-ever Big East Tournament game, downing Seton Hall, 96-88 as walk-on guard Pat Cavanaugh sparks the win with 13 points off the bench
March 13, 1987:
Pitt wins its school-record 25th victory, claiming a 93-68 NCAA Tournament First Round victory over Marist. Two days later the Panthers' season ends at 25-8 with a loss to Oklahoma
April 1987:
Jerome Lane concludes the season as Pittsburgh's first NCAA statistical champion in rebounding. Lane concludes the year with a 13.5 rebounds per game average (444 in 33 GP)
November 1987:
Sean Miller, Bobby Martin, Brian Shorter and Darelle Porter signed national letters of intent to play basketball at the University of Pittsburgh for Paul Evans. The recruiting class went on to rank among FOX.sports.com's all-time top-25 recruiting classes
December 29, 1987:
The undefeated Panthers win their fifth straight holiday tournament by bouncing Alabama, 87-51 in the finals of the Red Lobster Classic. Charles Smith is named tournament MVP, while Jerome Lane and Demetrius Gore earn all tourney honors
January 4, 1988:
Pitt is ranked No. 2 by the Associated Press, its highest ranking ever in the national polls
January 25, 1988:
With 16:36 to go in the first half against Providence and before a nationally televised Monday night contest on ESPN, Jerome Lane smashes a Fitzgerald Field House backboard with a thunderous tomahawk slam dunk. Lane took a fast break pass from Sean Miller and shattered the backboard which caused a 30-minute game delay. Leading just 8-5 at the delay, the Panthers defeated Providence 90-56 and went on to capture the Big East title and earn an NCAA Tournament berth. The Television commentator Bill Raftery made his famous call, "Send it in Jerome" and the night was labeled, "The Night the House Came Down."
February 23, 1988:
Pittsburgh wins its 1,000th game in school history, an 88-71 victory win at St. John's. After the win, Pittsburgh's all-time record stood at 1,000-777 after 81 seasons of basketball
February 10, 1988:
The largest crowd ever to see a college basketball game in Pittsburgh (16,798) witnesses a Mellon Arena Pittsburgh-Syracuse clash. Syracuse claims the win with an 84-75 victory
March 6, 1988:
In its biggest win of the 1987-88 season, Pitt records one of its most significant wins in school history as the Panthers claim their first-ever undisputed Big East Championship with an 85-84 victory over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Jerome Lane scores a career-high 29 points along with 15 rebounds and Charles Smith sinks two free throws with 0:17 to go to secure the win. Smith scores 25 points in his final home game. Pitt ends the season at 12-4 in the Big East
March 13, 1988:
Pitt is seeded second in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region. The No. 2 seed is Pitt's best-ever in school history
March 20, 1988:
After defeating Eastern Michigan in the NCAA Tournament's first round, Pitt loses an 80-74 overtime heartbreaker to Vanderbilt. A Vanderbilt three-pointer ties the game at the buzzer in regulation. Charles Smith scores 21 points and grabs 10 rebounds in his final appearance in a Panthers uniform
June 1988:
Charles Smith and Jerome Lane are both selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Smith is the third pick overall by Philadelphia 76ers and was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Clippers while Lane is selected No. 23 by the Denver Nuggets. The two first round selections marks the first time in Pittsburgh history that two basketball players were taken in the first round
January 15, 1989:
A jam-packed Fitzgerald Field House stood the entire game as Brian Shorter's 37 points and 12 rebounds led Pitt to a 99-91 win against second ranked Oklahoma at Fitzgerald Field House. Rod Brookin scored 24 points in the win. The Panthers defeated five top-10 teams during the 1998-99 season en route to their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance
February 20, 1989:
Billy Knight has his number retired as Pitt registers its 300th win at Fitzgerald Field House in an 88-80 win vs. Villanova
February 11, 1990:
Brian Shorter sets the school's game field goal percentage record with a perfect 11-11 performance vs. Providence
November 22, 1991:
Darren Morningstar powers his way to 27 points to lead Pitt to an 85-67 win vs. Kentucky at Rupp Arena in a Preseason NIT game
January 16, 1993:
A three-point bomb by freshman Garrick Thomas broke a 73-73 tie with four seconds remaining, lifting the Panthers to an upset win over No. 7 Seton Hall 76-73. Thomas finished with 16 points while teammate Chris McNeal scored 19 points and 11 rebounds. The win helped Pittsburgh to its fifth NCAA bid under Paul Evans
1994:
Ralph Willard is introduced as Pittsburgh's new men's basketball coach
December 17, 1994:
Andre Alridge sets a new school record for most three-point field goal attempts with 15 in a game vs. Georgia
December 28, 1995:
Pitt records its 350th win at Fitzgerald Field House, a 95-47 win over Brown
February 12, 1997:
Behind one of the most brilliant individual offensive performances in Fitzgerald Field House, Pittsburgh knocked off nationally ranked Villanova 95-89. Senior sharpshooter Maile scored 40 points and nailed a school-record eight three-pointers. Maile was virtually unconscious in the second half hitting all eight of his shots, including six treys as the Panthers wiped out a seven-point deficit. Vonteego Cummings also scored 26 points in the win
January 21, 1998:
Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge announces at a news conference that $53 million in state funds have been committed to building a convocation center at Pittsburgh
March 4, 1998:
Vonteego Cummings scored 37 points but they were not enough for Pitt as Villanova defeated the Panthers 96-93 in double overtime at the Big East Tournament
February 1, 1999:
Ralph Willard announces his resignation, effective at the end of the 1998-99 season
March 8, 1999:
After building a strong program and directing one of the best single-season turnarounds in NCAA history at Northern Arizona, Ben Howland is named the 13th head basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh
March 18, 1999:
University of Pittsburgh trustees vote to raze Pitt Stadium after the 1999 football season to make way for the convocation center
June 22, 1999:
It is announced that John Petersen and his wife Gertrude have donated $10 million to the convocation center. It is the largest individual gift ever at the University of Pittsburgh
June 15, 2000:
The official groundbreaking for the John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center
January 20, 2001:
The Panthers hand Georgetown its first basketball loss of the season, a 70-66 defeat at the MCI Center. Julius Page throws down his famous windmill dunk in the process, a symbol of Pittsburgh's emergence as a basketball program
March 9, 2001:
Isaac Hawkins' free throw with three seconds to go gives Pitt a thrilling 55-54 win vs. Syracuse in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. The win puts the Panthers in the Big East Championship game for the first time in school history. It is the first of three consecutive Big East Tournament title game appearances
March 7-10, 2001:
Nobody gave the Panthers much of a chance at the 2001 Big East Tournament but senior Ricardo Greer led Pittsburgh to consecutive victories over Miami, Notre Dame and Syracuse on successive nights. The Panthers finally lost to Boston College in the championship game but used the late season push as its battle cry heading into the 2001-02 season, "Remember the Run."
October 24, 2001:
Big East Conference coaches select Pittsburgh to finish in sixth place in the Big East West division even after its thrilling run to the Big East title game
December 8, 2001:
Playing Penn State at Fitzgerald Field House for the first time in 20 years, Pittsburgh defeats Penn State 83-53, its largest margin of victory by the Panthers in the series
January 7, 2002:
Following a 77-74 victory at Boston College and armed with a 14-1 record, surprising Pittsburgh is ranked for the first time since the 1992-93 season. It was the start of 32 consecutive weeks ranked in both major polls
February 1, 2002:
Pittsburgh storms back from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Syracuse 75-63 at the Carrier Dome. The win was Pitt's third consecutive vs. the Orangemen
February 25, 2002:
Fresh off road victories at Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia, Pittsburgh is ranked among the Associated Press poll's top-10 for the first time in 14 years
February 26, 2002:
Pittsburgh clinches the Big East West Division title with a 73-66 overtime decision against Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena
March 2, 2002:
Playing in the final basketball game in the 50-year history of Fitzgerald Field House, Pittsburgh completes its finest regular season ever with a 92-65 demolition of West Virginia. The Panthers complete their finest regular season ever and set a Fitzgerald Field House single season record for victories with a 16-1 record. Eleven different Panthers score led by Julius Page's 23 points. The Field House closes with a 414-175 overall record (.703)
March 5, 2002:
Ben Howland is named the Big East Men's Coach of the Year and Brandin Knight is selected co-Player of the Year during a banquet on the eve of the Big East Tournament
March 7, 2002:
With a 76-62 victory over Boston College in the Big East Tournament semifinal, Pittsburgh sets a new school record for season victories surpassing the previous school-record of 25 wins set in 1986-87
March 9, 2002:
Pittsburgh drops a thrilling 74-65 double overtime decision to Connecticut in the Big East Tournament final at Madison Square Garden
March 10, 2002:
Pittsburgh receives its first NCAA Tournament bid in nine years and enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed vs. Central Connecticut State at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena
March 17, 2002:
Pitt defeats California 63-50 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Mellon Arena, sending the team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1974. Tremendous crowds were recorded at the Mellon Arena, fueling enthusiasm for Pittsburgh basketball
March 21, 2002:
Kent State defeats Pittsburgh 78-73 in overtime in NCAA Sweet Sixteen play. Pittsburgh closes out the 2001-02 season with a 29-6 record, NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, Big East West championship, its first league title of any kind since the 1987-88 campaign
April 2002:
Ben Howland becomes the University of Pittsburgh's first national coach of the year honoree since former football coach Johnny Majors earned honors in 1976. Howland earns five national coach of the year honors
June 5, 2002:
Ben Howland receives the City of Champions Achievement Award
August 31, 2002:
Pittsburgh announces that the entire 2002-03 men's basketball season has become a sellout for the 12,508-seat Petersen Events Center. A significant achievement since Pitt doubled its capacity after playing in the 6,978-seat Fitzgerald Field House
November 2002:
Pittsburgh is ranked preseason No. 4 in the USA Today coaches poll, its highest ranking since a No. 4 ranking to start the 1987-88 campaign
November 23, 2002:
The University of Pittsburgh opens the brand-new Petersen Events Center with an 82-67 defeat of Duquesne. The sellout crowd of 12,508 set a new Pittsburgh record for largest on-campus basketball crowd in school history
December 22, 2002:
Pittsburgh ascends to a school-record tying No. 2 national ranking by the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today. It is the highest Pitt has been ranked since the 1988 season and the first of eight national rankings on the year at the No. 2 spot
January 6, 2003:
Pittsburgh claims a 72-55 home victory over Notre Dame in a battle of two top-5 teams. Before a live ESPN national audience, the game becomes a showcase for Pittsburgh and its brand-new Petersen Events Center
March 5, 2003:
Pittsburgh closes out its regular season with a perfect 16-0 home record in the Petersen Events Center with a 86-54 win over Seton Hall. The school's winningest four-year class of Brandin Knight, Ontario Lett and Donatas Zavackas plays its final home game. The trio finished with a school-best 89-40 four-year record
March 9, 2003:
Pittsburgh clinches its second consecutive Big East West regular season title with a 56-54 victory at Villanova. Villanova played with just seven players after eight players were suspended for making unauthorized phone calls
March 15, 2003:
In its third consecutive Big East title game appearance, Pittsburgh claims its first-ever Big East Tournament Championship with a 74-56 victory over Connecticut. Julius Page is named tournament MVP while Brandin Knight earns all tourney honors. Knight, whose dive after a loose ball personifies the Panthers' work ethic, set Big East tourney career records for assists and steals
March 16, 2003:
Pittsburgh is named the Midwest Region's No. 2 seed and is sent to Boston against first-round opponent Wagner
March 23, 2003:
With a 74-52 victory over Indiana in the NCAA Second Round in Boston, Pittsburgh earns its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen
April 15, 2003:
Jamie Dixon is introduced as the University of Pittsburgh's 14th men's basketball coach replacing Ben Howland.
November 14, 2003:
Head Coach Jamie Dixon registers first career victory with a 71-62 win over Alabama at Madison Square Garden. Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and Athletic Director Jeff Long present Dixon a game ball in the lockerroom following the ESPN televised contest. It is the first of 18 consecutive wins to start Dixon's college coaching career. The 18 wins rank as the third best start for a rookie head coach in NCAA Division I history.
January 19, 2004:
Pitt carries an 18-0 record and 4-0 Big East record into a contest at Connecticut. Pitt loses the game 68-65 but gains the nation's respect with its performance.
February 15, 2004:
Pitt hosts Connecticut in what turns out to be the first meeting between two top-5 men's basketball teams in city history. Pitt claims a 75-68 win in a contest that garnered 150 media credential requests and tickets scalped on the street for over $300.
February 29, 2004:
Syracuse ends Pitt's 40-game home win streak, handing the Panthers a 49-46 loss. The loss also ended Pitt's 34-game win streak to open the Petersen Events Center. The streak ranked as the third longest to open an arena in NCAA Division I history.
March 6, 2004:
Pitt celebrates its third straight Big East regular season championship on the Petersen Events Center floor after a 59-45 home win over Villanova. On the following day, Syracuse defeats Connecticut, giving the Panthers their first outright Big East regular season title since 1987-88.
March 9, 2004:
Four Pitt players earn Big East postseason honors at the league's annual awards banquet prior to the start of the Big East Championship. Jamie Dixon was named Big East Coach of the Year, Chris Taft earned Big East Rookie of the Year, Carl Krauser was named Big East Most Improved Player and Jaron Brown earned the Sportsmanship Award.
March 13, 2004:
Following victories over Virginia Tech and Boston College, Pitt advances to the Big East Championship Final for a school record fourth straight season.
March 21, 2004:
Pitt advances to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for a school record third consecutive season with a 59-55 win over Wisconsin at Milwaukee's Bradley Center.
March 25, 2004:
Pitt's season concludes with at 31-5 after a Sweet Sixteen loss to Oklahoma State. The school record 31 victories mark the third-best win total for a rookie head coach in NCAA Division I history.
March 8, 2005:
Chevon Troutman becomes just the fifth player in Pitt basketball history to earn All-Big East First Team honors.
March 15, 2005:
With a 20-8 record, Pitt advances to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Panthers receive a No. 9 seed and are sent to Boise, Idaho for a first round game against Pacific.
November 19, 2005:
Pitt opens its Centennial Basketball season at home against Saint Peter's.
Curtis Aiken (1983-87) 6-0, Guard, Buffalo, N.Y.
Orlando Antigua (1991-95) 6-7, Forward, Bronx, N.Y.
Mel Bennett 6-7, Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Mark Blount (1995-97) 7-0, Center, New York, N.Y.
Jaron Brown (2000-04) 6-4, Guard/Forward, Lexington, KY
Kirk Bruce (1972-75) 6-4, Guard, Pittsburgh, PA
Clarence "Dutch" Burch (1951-54)
Oland "Do Do" Canterna (1944-49)
Sam Clancy (1977-81) 6-7, Forward, Pittsburgh, PA
Claire Cribbs (1932-34) 6-0, Guard, Jeannette, PA
Vonteego Cummings (1995-99) 6-4, Guard, Thomson, GA
Sammy David (1945-49)
Sammie Ellis (1978-80) 6-7, Forward, McRae, GA
John Fridley (1958-61)
Brian Generalovich (1961-64) 6-4, Forward, Farrell, PA
Demetreus Gore (1984-88) 6-5, Forward, Detroit, MI
Ricardo Greer (1997-2001) 6-5, Guard/Forward, New York, N.Y.
Larry Harris (1974-78) 6-6, Forward, Loraine, Ohio
Issac Hawkins (1996-2001) 6-8, Forward, Baton Rouge, LA
Don Hennon (1956-59) 5-8.5, Guard, Wampum, PA
Charley Hyatt (1927-30) 6-0, Forward, Uniontown, PA
Billy Knight (1971-74) 6-7, Forward, Braddock, PA
Brandin Knight (1999-2003) 6-0, Guard, East Orange, N.J.
Terry Knight (1974-79)
Carl Krauser (2002-06)
Jerome Lane (1985-88) 6-6, Forward, Akron, OH
Bob Lazor (1954-57)
Ontario Lett (2001-03) 6-6, Center, Pensacola, FL
Bob Lovett (1963-66) Forward 
Jason Maile (1992-97) 6-4, Guard, Forest City, PA
Bobby Martin (1987-91) 6-9, Forward, Atlantic City, N.J.
Mickey Martin (1971-74) 6'5, Forward, Baldwin, PA
Jason Matthews (1987-91) 6-3, Guard, Los Angeles, CA
Jerry McCullough (1991-96) 5-11, Guard, New York, N.Y.
Lennie McMillian (1979-81)
Chris McNeal (1990-93) 6-7, Forward, Richmond, VA
Sean Miller (1987-92) 6-1, Guard, Beaver Falls, PA
Eric Mobley (1991-94)
Darren Morningstar (1989-1992)
Carlton Neverson (1978-81) 6-5, Guard, New York, N.Y.
Julius Page (2000-04) 6-3, Guard, Buffalo, N.Y.
Julius Pegues (1955-58) 6-3, Guard/Forward, Tulsa, OK
Jaime Peterson (1993-95) 6'9, Center/Forward, Manhatten, N.Y.
Darelle Porter (1987-91) 6-4, Guard, Pittsburgh, PA
Sykes Reed (1926-28) 6-0, Guard, Braddock, PA
Tom Richards (1972-76)
John Riser (1954-57) 6-4, Forward, Washington, PA
Dave Roman (1962-64) Guard, Johnstown, PA
Kent Scott (1969-72) 6-3, Guard, Raytown, MO
Calvin Sheffield (1961-64) 6-0, Guard, New Brighton, PA
Brian Shorter (1988-91) 6-6, Forward, Philadelphia, PA
Charles Smith (1985-88) 6-10, Center, Bridgeport, CONN
Don Smith (1932-33) 6-0, Guard, Pittsburgh, PA
Keith Starr (1971-75)
Chris Taft (2003-05) 6-7, Forward, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Chevon Troutman (2001-05) 6-7, Forward, Williamsport, PA
Chad Varga (1994-97) 6-6, Forward, Detroit, MI
Clyde Vaughan (1980-84) 6-4, Forward, Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Dwayne Wallace (1978-82) 6-2, Guard, Baltimore, MD
Donatas Zavackas (1999-2003) 6-8, Forward, Klaipeda, Lithuania
