North Carolina arrived in cold, snow-covered Pittsburgh on Monday perhaps not in the midst of a season on the brink, but without question in the middle of one with an ever-shrinking margin of error. The rising pressure surrounding the Tar Heels had to be freeing,

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis chose to downplay the significance of his team's Saturday showdown at No. 2 Duke following the Tar Heels' dispiriting 73-65 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The defeat was UNC's third in its last four games and raises the stakes of the upcoming rivalry game for a team that is scrambling to assemble an NCAA Tournament resume.

UNC let a chance for a Quad 1 win slip out of their hands on the road at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night in a 73-65 loss to the Panthers. The Tar Heels absolutely fell apart down the stretch, allowing a 14-2 run by Pitt to secure the win.