page_title: Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
section_title: Buzz Ridl era (1968–1975)
hierarchical_section_title: Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball / History / Buzz Ridl era (1968–1975)
caption_attribution_description: The University of Pittsburgh Panthers basketball All-American Billy Knight (#34) goes for a rebound against NC State in the 1974 Elite Eight.
context_page_description: The Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays their home games in the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers were retroactively recognized as the pre-NCAA Tournament national champion twice by the Helms Athletic Foundation and once by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Pitt has reached one Final Four, received 15 First Team All-American selections, appeared in 26 NCAA and nine National Invitation Tournaments and through the 2019–20 season, and has recorded 1,631 victories against 1,189 losses since their inaugural season of 1905–06.
context_section_description: Timmons was succeeded by head coach Charles "Buzz" Ridl who became famous for his 'amoebe' defense, an ever changing man to zone match-up defense. With All-American Billy Knight, Ridl led Pitt to the Elite Eight in 1974, with early round victories over St. Joseph's and Furman. Pitt lost to eventual national champion North Carolina State in the Eastern Regional Final (Elite 8) played in Raleigh, North Carolina amid a hostile local crowd. This Pitt team was filled with local players such as Mickey Martin, Jim Bolla, Tom Richards, Keith Starr, Kirk Bruce and Billy Knight, who went on to star in the ABA for the Indiana Pacers and with several teams in the NBA. Following the graduation of Knight and Martin, Pitt made an NIT appearance the following year, Ridl's last before retiring.
caption: All-American Billy Knight (#34) goes for a rebound against NC State in the 1974 Elite Eight
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