Pitt loses a late thriller, 71-70

Panthers' Coach Jamie Dixon still has not found a winning formula for March Madness basketball.

In a split-second, a black cloud swarmed over Pittsburgh darker than a steel mill’s soot-filled exhaust, which once suffocated the city.

Pittsburgh basketball just discovered another way to exit March early.

In fact, we may have witnessed the most shocking 0.6 second collapse in Pittsburgh basketball history.

Butler’s Shelvin Mack had just erroneously committed a foul with 1.4 seconds remaining to send the Panther’s Gilbert Brown, a sure-handed free throw shooter, to the charity stripe with a chance to win the game and sneak into the Sweet 16.

Brown hit the first shot to tie the game at 70, but missed his second attempt.

Then, the Panthers’ tournament hopes crumbled in a two-player battle for the rebound.

Butler’s Matt Howard boxed out Pittsburgh’s Nasir Robinson, recovered the ball and flung the ball into the air as Robinson reached for the ball.

Robinson missed the ball but caught Howard’s arm, drawing another unbelievable foul and sending Howard to the free throw line with two opportunities to win the game.

In short, Butler escaped Mack’s lone mistake in the entire game to win 71-70 and are headed to the Sweet 16.

The Panthers, well, they are going home, tails firmly tucked between their legs.

A number one seed for the second time in three years, Pittsburgh was highly touted entering the NCAA Tournament despite losing its only game in the Big East Tournament one week ago.

In each year, Pittsburgh defeated its sixteenth-seeded opponent, but unexpectedly lost in the second round.

The Panthers’ tournament afflictions are bewildering.

Consistently a dominant regular season team, Pittsburgh cannot avoid faltering in March basketball.

Even in this latest failure, Pittsburgh was the better team on the court until the last second.

This year’s scapegoat will be Robinson, but praise should be directed toward Mack, who also almost became the man responsible for ending his team’s season.

Mack’s last play near the ball will be remembered as the foul to nearly allow Pittsburgh to win.

But Mack led all players with 30 points, including seven three-pointers to propel Butler’s offensive onslaught.

Robinson was simply in the right place at the wrong time. His coach told him to be there for a tip-in, to fight for the ball, but it was not there.

Now, Pittsburgh is saying two things: not again, and maybe next year.

Maybe the sun will finally shine on the city’s beloved basketball team.

That or the clouds will roll in on cue, again.