2006-2007 Big East Preview: #2

#2- Pittsburgh Panthers

Last season: 25-8 (10-6), lost to Bradley in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Coach: Jamie Dixon (4th year). 79-22 at Pittsburgh.

After, to say the least, a tumultuous off season, Jamie Dixon returns for his 4th year at the helm of the Panthers. He had to deal with the loss of his sister Maggie, in addition to losing two assistant coaches and his top player from last year. Dixon has dedicated this season to Maggie, and his team figures not to disappoint.

Pittsburgh returns eight of its top ten players, including center Aaron Gray. Rated amongst the best centers in the nation, Gray will lead Pitt in his final year in the steel city. The Panthers are perhaps the most balanced team in the nation this year. In their backcourt, Keith Benjamin, Ronald Ramon, Antonio Graves, Levance Fields, and junior transfer Mike Cook all figure to see plenty of playing time under Dixon. With such a deep backcourt, Pitt will be able to rest players while not losing much talent on the floor. Up front, Pitt is even more talented. With Gray, Sam Young, Levon Kendall, and sophomore Tyrell Biggs all competing for time, the Panthers have a very formidable frontcourt.

The balance on this team is amazing, and that will enable Pittsburgh to go deep into the bench, keeping players fresh for late in games. They will be very difficult to beat with all this talent, but it can be done. If Gray is shut down, teams will be able to pressure the wings against Pitt and force them to make shots, and that's how I feel they will lose games. Dixon has compiled a difficult schedule this year, something that has been missing in his tenure at Pittsburgh. They draw Georgetown, Marquette, and West Virginia twice in the conference. All six of those games should be wars, even if WVU is down as they are expected to be. The backyard brawl will rear its ugly head once again. The games versus Georgetown could turn into classics.

Schedule and predictions:

11/12 vs./@ Western Michigan- W
11/14 vs. Delaware State- W
11/17 vs. Northeastern- W
11/18 vs. UMass- W
11/19 vs. Oakland- W
11/24 vs. Florida State- W
11/29 vs. Robert Morris- W
12/3 @ Auburn- W
12/6 vs. Duquesne- W
12/9 @ Buffalo- W
12/16 @ Wisconsin- L
12/21 @ Oklahoma State- W
12/23 vs. Dayton- W
12/30 vs. Florida A&M- W
1/4 @ Syracuse- L
1/7 vs. South Florida- W
1/10 @ DePaul- W
1/13 vs. Georgetown- W
1/16 vs. Connecticut- W
1/21 vs. Marquette- W
1/24 @ Cincinnati- W
1/27 vs. St. John's- W
1/29 @ Villanova- W
2/7 @ West Virginia- W
2/10 vs. Providence- W
2/12 vs. Louisville- W
2/17 vs. Washington- W
2/19 @ Seton Hall- W
2/24 @ Georgetown- L
2/27 vs. West Virginia- W
3/3 @ Marquette- L

Projected record: 27-4 (13-3).
Postseason: NCAA Elite Eight.