Pick Pitt at Your Peril?

For years, I advised friends and colleagues to stay away from the University of Pittsburgh during the NCAA tournament. No matter how good they look during the regular season or in the Big East tournament, I told anyone who would listen,  the Panthers always fold against the larger field of 64. 

This afternoon's dismantling of Georgetown, however, might make me reevaluate my long-standing maxim. I know it's still early, but the No. 3 Panthers, led by sophomore DeJuan Blair, absolutely beat up the 11th ranked Hoyas, in D.C., where Georgetown previously defeated 29 straight opponents, including 15 against Big East rivals. The final score, 70-54, wasn't even that close. Pitt outrebounded G'Town 46 to 21 and outscored the Hoyas in the paint by 26 points. Total domination. Especially by Blair. 

Sports Illustrated scribe Nina Mandell sums up Pitt's--and Blair's-- big day nicely. 

After months of playing second-fiddle to Big East powers UConn and Louisville, the Panthers weren't ready to let the Hoyas become the new talk of the town after their surprising defeat of the Huskies on Monday. Instead, [DeJuan] Blair and his frontcourt partner and roommate Tyrell Biggs dominated the game inside, leaving the Hoyas struggling for any chance at the boards. The two combined for 34 points in the paint while Blair pulled down a Hoya-heartbreaking 18 boards.

With Louisville tripping over its own feet, and Connecticut still trying to find its way, the Big East, I think, is Pitt's to lose. Not only do they have an imposing front line of Blair, Biggs, and Sam Young but the Panthers, under the direction of senior point guard Levance Fields, don't turn the ball over and simply don't take bad shots. That's a winning formula for regular season and post-season play, even against a larger field, regardless of past prejudices.