Panther's get their tails kicked by 'Eers, 74-60

Pitt stunk up the joint last night at Da Gahden versus hated rival West Virginia, going down in the first round of the Big East Tournament for the first time since the 2004-2005 season, a season in which they also lost their first round NCAA Tournament game to Pacific. That team, though, was the worst team of the Dixon head coaching era, and this team is the best of the Dixon coaching era. What this team does in the next tournament will be decided soon.

West Virginia is a good team and they have a great coach, but there is absolutely no excuse for being dominated by them at MSG. It's your team's home away from home in the tourney that you have dominated for so many years. You're coming off two of your best games all season. Where their heads were is anybody's guess, but it's tough to say that they were focused on this game.

WVU led at halftime, 36-34, and came out in the second half in a 1-3-1 zone, reminicent of John Belein's recent WVU teams, and Pitt was rather clueless from that point on. (Post-Gazette story here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09072/955341-175.stm )

After the game, Levance Fields and Sam Young refused to speak with reporters, which was a very poor showing of sportsmanship. DeJuan Blair did speak to the media, but he said the referees were out to get him. He fouled out with 14 points and only 5 boards, and he sat the final 16 minutes of the first half after picking up two quick fouls. Brad Wannamaker also fouled out. We can only hope that their level of "upsettedness" carries over into the NCAA tournament and they make a deep run. After such a bad loss... the worst loss and the worst showing of the season, in fact... nothing less than an appearance in the NCAA Tournament final will help bring me solace.

Jamie Dixon said they got what they deserved. He's a master of halftime adjustments, but he couldn't get the team to counter the 1-3-1 that WVU came out with in the second half.

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Time to Play Ball!

Pitt plays WVU tonight at 7:00 at the World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, known by Levance Fields as "The Mecca."

I've been there for 5 Big East Tournaments, and it's a wonderful occasion. Go there if you ever get a chance. Go to every single game and just have fun. Go to great restaurants in between, walk around the city, window shop, shop shop, and have a ball.

Regarding Levance's injury: He did not practice at all in order to let his injured groin rest. Coach Dixon will leave the decision up to Levance as to whether he plays or not, stating that he would never not let a player play.

Pitt won both meetings with WVU this season, 79-67 at the WVU Coliseum and 70-59 at the Petersen Events Center. WVU coach Bob Huggins has called Pitt the toughest team to matchup with all season and the best team that he's faced all season.

The Panthers are very superstitious while in NYC, staying at the same hotel(Hilton NY on 53rd), practicing at the same college (Baruch College), and eating at the hotel's restaurant. They even use the same bus driver to get around.

They do one other thing the same just about every time they play at Dah Gahden: Win.

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