Kemba Walker puts down Panthers, 76-74

Kemba Walker's last-second jump shot kicked Pitt out of the Big East Tournament.

Lofty expectations, year-long hype and dominant regular seasons are synonymous with Pitt basketball in the last decade.

Then, March arrives, tournaments start and madness ensues in the hearts of Pittsburgh.

Pitt fans can take another sigh of despair and a few swigs of whiskey after another big game loss, this time to UConn at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of basketball.

The loss likely will drop Pitt out of contention for a number one seed in the NCAA tournament.

But the team won’t point fingers at each other.

UConn’s star point guard Kemba Walker bears responsibility for sending Pitt home early in the Big East Tournament.

A New York City native, Walker dreamt of hitting a buzzer-beating shot at the Garden.

His dream was realized, and Pitt’s were dashed with a crossover, shoulder roll, jump and flick of the wrist.

The two-point game-winner fell through the net with 0.5 seconds left, snapping the Huskies’ four-game losing streak to the Panthers.

By now this has become all too redundant for Pitt fans.

The Panthers walking through gymnasium exits in March to not return until next fall is as symbolic as the PITT logo.

The time for the Panthers to take that long walk is still another week away, so the team will have plenty of rest and practice to prepare for the NCAA Tournament.

Rest assured, Panthers players and fans will take another untimely exit into the offseason.

Destiny seems to not want it any other way.