ACC Basketball: 3 bold predictions for the 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf | Oct 24, 2019

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 20: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts with teammates Jack White #41 and Javin DeLaurier #12 during the final seconds of the second half of the game against Texas Tech Red Raiders during the Ameritas Insurance Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 20, 2018 in New York City. Duke Blue Devils defeated Texas Tech Red Raiders 69-58. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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LOUISVILLE, KY – JANUARY 26: Xavier Johnson #1 of the Pittsburgh Panthers dribbles the ball after a steal against Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1) Pitt challenges for an NCAA Tournament bid, but settles for the NIT

At least one team is going to benefit from so many teams having down years, and I think Pitt will emerge as that surprise team that will finish in the middle of the conference.

Yes, that’s a big jump to expect from a team that went 14-19 and won just three conference games, but the Panthers showed a ton of promise in their first season under head coach Jeff Capel.

Guards Xavier Johnson and Trey McGowans were two of the conference’s better freshmen and both are expected to play even bigger roles as sophomores. How good was Johnson in particular? He was named to the All-Freshman Team with Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, Coby White, and Tre Jones, and I think he’ll be one of the country’s biggest breakout stars.

Pitt will still be led by their backcourt but Capel went out and added some significant upgrades that were needed after the disaster that was the Kevin Stallings era. UNCG transfer Eric Hamilton will give Pitt a reliable big man, freshman Gerald Drumgoole gives them a versatile wing player, and JUCO transfer Ryan Murphy will give them a knockdown shooter.

With those additions and the continued development of what was a young roster, eight or nine wins in a 20-game conference schedule are certainly attainable – and that should be enough to put them in the middle of the conference.

If they can upset Duke, Louisville, or UNC along the way, we could be looking at Pitt entering the bubble conversation in February and March. I still think there’s more growing this group has to do before they’ll make the Big Dance, but they’ll be relevant for the first time in a few years.