[5] He remained in the starting lineup for the rest of the season, and quickly came to the forefront during the 2005 NCAA Tournament, when on March 24, 2005, he scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 65–60 victory against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 round,[6] and then scored a team-high 25 points (on 9-for-15 shooting) and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 93–85 overtime loss to Louisville on March 26.
Expected to be taken in the 2006 NBA draft, neither Pittsnogle nor his teammate, shooting guard Mike Gansey, were chosen by any teams.
Although Pittsnogle was predicted in most mock drafts as being chosen in the early-to-mid second round, he went undrafted and thus became a free agent.
On July 23, 2007, Pittsnogle signed with French Pro A league team Cholet Basket,[16] but was cut one week before the start of the season.
[20] Pittsnogle's weight increased to over 300 lbs, causing most scouts to tell him he was in inappropriate shape to return to even semi-professional basketball leagues.
[20] In the fall of 2008, Pittsnogle learned he had a thyroid condition that slowed his metabolism, which might be partially responsible for his weight gain.
[20] Pittsnogle attempted a comeback in the fall of 2009 when he joined the D-League's Albuquerque Thunderbirds, but after some success on the court, retired again on February 16, 2010, for personal reasons.