OAKLAND (KDKA) – College basketball fans are getting ready for the start of the big dance.

The hometown Pitt Panthers were selected as one of four No. 1 seeds in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

The reactions on campus Monday morning ranged from confident to cautiously optimistic.

“It is important, but at the same time it’s not because in years past, guys that weren’t one-seeds won the national championship,” senior guard Brad Wanamaker said.

Fans of the Panthers are happy their team is one of the top seeds in the tournament, but they’re trying to keep their emotions in check.

“We are the best team to root for that never really goes anywhere,” Adam Scott Camson said.

“They’re a different team every game they play it seems like. Some they get it right, some they don’t,” Ella Robinson said.

Their early exit in the Big East Tournament after winning the regular season title is still a sore topic for some.

“Yeah, it makes me a little nervous, but I think we’ll do alright,” Ben Rodack said.

“We have the potential. We’re in an easy bracket to make it to the Final Four, if not further. I think we can make it this year with this crew of seniors,” Camson said.

This is the tenth straight year the Panthers have qualified for the NCAA Tournament. They’re hoping that this is the year they bring home a national championship.

“We’re ready to play. We’re just going to practice hard this week and carry everything over to the game,” Ashton Gibbs said.

This is the second time in three years that Pitt has earned a No. 1 seed.

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