Pitt Enjoyed a Successful 2006-07 Season As It Set School Records for Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances (Sixth) and Consecutive 20-Victory Seasons (Sixth)
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Pitt enjoyed a successful 2006-07 season as it set school records for consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (sixth) and consecutive 20-victory seasons (sixth). Pitt also advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the last six years and became the only Big East program to win at least 20 overall games (29) and 10 league games (12) in each of the last six seasons. Clockwise from top: Pitt hosted the popular ESPN GameDay broadcast at the Petersen Events Center prior to its game on Jan. 13 against Georgetown. Pitt honored its four seniors—Aaron Gray, Levon Kendall, Antonio Graves and Doyle Hudson—prior to the group’s final home game at the Petersen Events Center on Feb. 27, 2007. Posing with his parents Michael and Sandy Gray, Head Coach Jamie Dixon and Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Aaron Gray received the Big East/ Aeropostale Student-Athlete of the Year Award. Aaron Gray became the 10th player in school history to earn All-America honors. 2006-07 REVIEW SEASON IN REVIEW Pitt advances to sixth straight NCAA Tournament, appears in fourth Sweet Sixteen in the last six years and finishes 29-8 in 2006-07 It was a year of great expecta- Big East regular season games in tions for the Pitt basketball four consecutive seasons. program. Pitt returned a veteran Each senior left his mark on the squad including eight of its top 10 program. After returning to Pitt for letterwinners. Preseason magazines his senior season, Gray became the ranked the Panthers anywhere 10th player in school history to earn between the No. 3 and No. 8 spots All-America honors and third player nationally. Big East coaches picked at Pitt to earn All-Big East First Team Pitt to win the league title. accolades in two consecutive The Panthers responded to those seasons. Kendall provided a steady expectations by finishing 29-8 presence at power forward and overall and tied for second in the Graves developed into a top notch Big East with a 12-4 record, defender and reliable scorer. advancing to the NCAA Sweet Pitt also received key contribu- Sixteen for a fourth time in the last tions from a cast of others. Levance six seasons, appearing in the NCAA Fields emerged as Pitt’s starting Tournament for a school record point guard, earned consideration sixth consecutive season and for the Bob Cousy Award (nation’s achieving a sixth straight 20-win top point guard) and was named to season. Even more importantly, the the All-Big East Second Team. squad displayed the type of Ronald Ramon moved over to the teamwork that any Pitt fan could off-guard slot and flourished as a 3- take pride in. The team functioned point threat off the bench. In his as a close-knit unit, by far the first season at Pitt, Mike Cook closest of any Panther squad. And it developed into a consistent offensive represented the university in fine threat at small forward. Sam Young 112 fashion. continued to amaze fans with his Leading Pitt was its four-member athleticism while contributing senior class consisting of Aaron scoring and rebounding off the Gray, Levon Kendall, Antonio Graves bench. Keith Benjamin contributed and Doyle Hudson. The foursome defense and points off the bench compiled a 105-30 four-year record and Tyrell Biggs continued his and 45-19 Big East regular season improvement at power forward. record, advanced to four NCAA The journey began with the non- Tournaments and became the only conference slate as the Panthers senior class in school history to win claimed each of their first 10 games over 20 overall games and 10-plus en route to a No. 2 national ranking. ABOVE: Aaron Gray earned consensus All- America honors after leading Pitt in both scoring (13.9 ppg.) and rebounding (9.5 rpg.) in 2006-07. 2006-07 HONORS AND AWARDS He also earned the Big East/Aeropostale Scholar- Athlete Award. ALL-AMERICA Big East All-Tournament Team RIGHT: Senior Levon Kendall emerged as a Associated Press Third Team All- Antonio Graves steady performer at small forward. He earned his America: Aaron Gray degree in anthropology. NABC Third Team All-America: Preseason All-Big East Aaron Gray Most Valuable Player: Aaron Gray FAR RIGHT: 2007 seniors Aaron Gray, Levon John Wooden Award finalist: First Team: Aaron Gray Kendall, Antonio Graves and Doyle Hudson Aaron Gray receive framed jerseys on Senior Day vs. West Naismith Award candidate: TEAM AWARDS Virginia. Pitt won an 80-66 decision over the Aaron Gray Most Valuable Player: Aaron Gray Mountaineers on February 27, 2007. Bob Cousy Award finalist: Most Improved Player: Sam Young Levance Fields Best Defensive Player: Antonio Pitt opened its season with a win Lowe’s Senior Class Award Graves over Western Michigan in the Finalist: Aaron Gray Captain’s Award: Aaron Gray, Maggie Dixon Classic. The contest Levon Kendall, Antonio Graves, was held in honor of the late Maggie ALL-REGION Doyle Hudson USBWA All-Region: Aaron Gray Team Rebound Leader: Aaron Gray Dixon, sister of Pitt head coach NABC All-District 3: Aaron Gray Free Throw Shooting Leader: Jamie Dixon. An emotional Ronald Ramon presentation honoring Maggie and ALL-CONFERENCE Most Inspirational Player: Tyrell the Dixon family was held between Big East/Aeropostale Student- Biggs the two games as championship Athlete of the Year: Aaron Gray Coaches Award: Mike Cook, banners were raised and Patriot Levance Fields League title rings presented. All-Big East Academic Excellence Award: Following a win over Delaware First Team: Aaron Gray Levon Kendall Second Team: Levance Fields Jaron Brown Academic Excellence State, Pitt captured the First Award: Austin Wallace Commonwealth Colonial Athletic Association Basketball Classic title 2007-08 PITT BASKETBALL 2006-07 REVIEW SCHOOL RECORDS SET/MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENTS 2006-07 PITT ACCOMPLISHMENTS MILESTONES Jamie Dixon- first coach in school Advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a school record sixth consecutive Aaron Gray- 17th player in history to win 20-plus overall season and 19th time in school history. Previously, Pitt appeared in three school history to score 1,000 games and 10-plus Big East straight NCAA Tournaments from 1987-89. The six consecutive points and grab 500 rebounds games in four consecutive appearances rank as the most in the Big East Conference. Villanova in a career. seasons. ranks second with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Aaron Gray- third player in Jamie Dixon- second head coach Advanced to NCAA Sweet Sixteen play for the fourth time in the last six school history to earn two All- in school history to guide Pitt to seasons. Only one program has advanced to more Sweet Sixteens in the Big East First Team honors. four straight NCAA Tournaments. last six years (Duke-5) and four programs nationally have matched that Aaron Gray, Antonio Graves and mark (Duke-5, Texas-4, Connecticut-4, Kansas-4). Levon Kendall- fourth, fifth and INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Became one of only 12 schools nationwide to advance to the NCAA sixth players in school history to Most games played-season, eight appear in four straight NCAA players with 37. Tournament in each of the past six seasons (2001-07). The 12 schools Tournaments. Most games started-season, include: Arizona, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Gray, Graves and Kendall- Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall, Michigan State, Pitt, Southern Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin. fourth, fifth and sixth players in Mike Cook, Levance Fields (37). Compiled a 162-41 record over the past six seasons (2001-07) and .798 school history to win 20-plus Best assist:turnover ratio-season, winning percentage, which ranks among the nation’s top-five best games in each of their four Levance Fields (2.41). winning percentages during that span. seasons. Achieved a school record sixth straight 20-win season (29-8). It was Gray, Graves and Kendall- TEAM RECORDS Pitt’s 14th all-time 20-win season. The 29 wins rank tied for second fourth senior class to win over Most consecutive 20-win seasons among Pitt’s all-time winningest seasons. 100 career games. (6). Surpassed 20 wins overall and 10 wins in Big East regular season play for Levance Fields- 12th player in Most consecutive 10-win Big East a school record sixth consecutive season. Pitt is the only Big East school history to score 300 regular seasons (6). program to have won over 20 overall games and 10 league games in points and dish out 150 assists Most assists-season (647). each of the past six seasons. in a season. Most 3-point field goals made- Achieved a school record and sixth straight 10-win Big East regular Jamie Dixon-reached 100 season (229). season (12-4). Over the last six years, Pitt owns a 71-25 record and .740 victories faster than any other Best assist:turnover ratio-season coach in school history. It took (1.47). winning percentage in Big East regular season games, which ranks first him only 126 games to reach Fewest turnovers committed per in the conference during that period. 100 wins. The achievement game-season (11.9). Advanced to its sixth Big East Championship Final over the past seven also ranked among NCAA Most games played-season (37). seasons. Pitt has now appeared in Big East Championship title games in Division I’s all-time fastest to Most consecutive winning seasons 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. 100 career wins. (7). Head Coach Jamie Dixon became the first coach in school history to guide Pitt to four straight NCAA Tournaments (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), four 20-win overall and 10-win league seasons.