SMU tries to avoid slip-up against cellar-dwelling Pitt

SMU needs to avoid jeopardizing its NCAA Tournament hopes as it visits Pitt for an Atlantic Coast Conference clash on Saturday afternoon.

The Mustangs (15-7, 4-5 ACC) have dropped two in a row with a loss at Louisville and a tough 84-83 setback at home to North Carolina State on Tuesday night.

The Mustangs sit 34th in the NCAA's NET rankings, but know they need to get back on track and avoid what could be a damaging loss to Pitt (9-14, 2-8 ACC), which has also lost two in a row and has a NET ranking of 114.