Panthers blow big lead against DePaul, lose 4th in row
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Pitt coach Jamie Dixon can only watch as DePaul's Brandon Young and Charles McKinney celebrate Thursday night at Allstate Arena.
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ROSEMONT, Ill. -- How low can they go?
If Pitt's season is being measured by a limbo stick, the university would have to change its nickname from the Panthers to the Jellyfish. The Panthers are slinking back to Pittsburgh today after a humiliating, 84-81 loss Thursday night against DePaul at Allstate Arena.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Panthers, the first time they have lost four games in a row under coach Jamie Dixon. This one was an epic setback for a program that won the Big East Conference regular-season championship a year ago and has made 10 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament.
DePaul has been the laughingstock of the Big East. The Blue Demons had lost 53 of their previous 55 Big East games. They were 1-17 in conference play last season and entered the game last in the league in several statistical categories.
The end result was so improbable that long-suffering DePaul fans stormed the court after the game. The students might not have received the memo that Pitt is unranked and no longer can be considered among the elite teams in the Big East.
Heck, the folks at Allstate Arena could not get the name of the university correct. The public-address announcer introduced the visitors as Pittsburgh University. It probably was an honest mistake, but P.U. is a good way to describe the Panthers' play of late. They previously won a game five days before Christmas.
This latest loss came in inexplicable fashion.
Pitt held a four-point lead with 17.2 seconds remaining after John Johnson made two free throws.
DePaul sophomore Brandon Young drove the lane and scored on a layup with nine seconds remaining. Isaiah Epps, a seldom-used reserve guard who was in the game for his ability to make free throws, caught the inbounds pass and was fouled.
Epps, who had attempted one free throw this season, stepped to the line and missed both attempts.
First Published January 6, 2012 12:00 am
