We're back. Time to get busy, Panthers.
Here's your visual rooting guide for Monday and Tuesday (February 19 and 20).
Virginia (NET: 40) at Virginia Tech (NET: 63) - ESPN, 7pm Monday
- Barring an epic collapse, Virginia is in the tournament. We want our win there to remain highly valuable, and we want VT to tumble. Go Hoos!
Kansas State (NET: 80) at Texas (NET: 33) - ESPN, 9pm Monday
- Either team losing helps Pitt - but we have a chance to move ahead of Texas if things go right for Pitt over the next few weeks. So, Go Wildcats!
Butler (NET: 56) at Villanova (NET: 34) - FS1, 6:30pm Tuesday
- Another game where the result both helps and hurts Pitt. At this stage with 3+ weeks to go, I'm rooting for the better NET team to lose in these kinds of games because I'm bullish on Pitt. Go Bulldogs!
Syracuse (NET: 90) at NC State (NET: 76) - ESPN2, 7:00pm Tuesday
- Both teams need to practically win out to have a chance at an at-large bid. We would like our NCSU win to potentially move into Quad 1. So go Wolfpack!
Iowa (NET: 56) at Michigan State (NET: 20) - No TV, 7:00pm Tuesday
- Michigan State is approaching lock territory. We don't want the Hawkeyes to get a Quad 1 road win. Go Spartans!
Arkansas at Texas A&M (NET: 46) - ESPN, 7:00pm Tuesday
- The Aggies are right above Pitt in the NET rankings, and a home loss to a poor Arkansas team would be a damaging blow. Go Razorbacks!
TCU (NET: 36) at Texas Tech (NET: 26) - ESPN2, 9:00pm Tuesday
- Sorry, gang. You need to root against the Fightin' Jamie Dixons in this one. Go Red Raiders!
San Diego State (NET: 18) at Utah State (NET: 30) - CBSSN, 9pm Tuesday
- The MWC teams have gamed the NET again.... and they'll end up having all but one of their teams lose in the first round in the tourney again. Hopefully the committee has caught on to the inflation of NET metrics by MWC teams that are way above the actual eye test and how the teams actually compare to P6 teams. In any case, SDSU is going to make the tournament - let's hope they knock back some of their conference brethren along the way. Go Aztecs!
San Jose State at Boise State (NET: 43) - FS1, 10:30pm Tuesday
- Another MWC team that is nowhere near as good as their NET ranking. A loss to last-place SJSU at home would be a killer. Go Spartans!
Wyoming at Nevada (NET: 44) - CBSSN, 11pm Tuesday
- Another MWC team that would suffer a devastating loss if they lose at home. Go Cowboys!
Here's your visual rooting guide for Monday and Tuesday (February 19 and 20).
Virginia (NET: 40) at Virginia Tech (NET: 63) - ESPN, 7pm Monday
- Barring an epic collapse, Virginia is in the tournament. We want our win there to remain highly valuable, and we want VT to tumble. Go Hoos!
Kansas State (NET: 80) at Texas (NET: 33) - ESPN, 9pm Monday
- Either team losing helps Pitt - but we have a chance to move ahead of Texas if things go right for Pitt over the next few weeks. So, Go Wildcats!

Butler (NET: 56) at Villanova (NET: 34) - FS1, 6:30pm Tuesday
- Another game where the result both helps and hurts Pitt. At this stage with 3+ weeks to go, I'm rooting for the better NET team to lose in these kinds of games because I'm bullish on Pitt. Go Bulldogs!
Syracuse (NET: 90) at NC State (NET: 76) - ESPN2, 7:00pm Tuesday
- Both teams need to practically win out to have a chance at an at-large bid. We would like our NCSU win to potentially move into Quad 1. So go Wolfpack!

Iowa (NET: 56) at Michigan State (NET: 20) - No TV, 7:00pm Tuesday
- Michigan State is approaching lock territory. We don't want the Hawkeyes to get a Quad 1 road win. Go Spartans!
Arkansas at Texas A&M (NET: 46) - ESPN, 7:00pm Tuesday
- The Aggies are right above Pitt in the NET rankings, and a home loss to a poor Arkansas team would be a damaging blow. Go Razorbacks!
TCU (NET: 36) at Texas Tech (NET: 26) - ESPN2, 9:00pm Tuesday
- Sorry, gang. You need to root against the Fightin' Jamie Dixons in this one. Go Red Raiders!

San Diego State (NET: 18) at Utah State (NET: 30) - CBSSN, 9pm Tuesday
- The MWC teams have gamed the NET again.... and they'll end up having all but one of their teams lose in the first round in the tourney again. Hopefully the committee has caught on to the inflation of NET metrics by MWC teams that are way above the actual eye test and how the teams actually compare to P6 teams. In any case, SDSU is going to make the tournament - let's hope they knock back some of their conference brethren along the way. Go Aztecs!

San Jose State at Boise State (NET: 43) - FS1, 10:30pm Tuesday
- Another MWC team that is nowhere near as good as their NET ranking. A loss to last-place SJSU at home would be a killer. Go Spartans!

Wyoming at Nevada (NET: 44) - CBSSN, 11pm Tuesday
- Another MWC team that would suffer a devastating loss if they lose at home. Go Cowboys!
