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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 29-6;
13-3 in Big East (1st/East)
Postseason: Lost to Kent State 78-73 in NCAA South Region semifinals.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Knight 15.6
Rebs: Brown 6.0
Assists: Knight 7.2
FG: Lett 57.0%
3pt: Knight 35.6%
FT: Zavackas 81.4%
01-02 Stats:
Pittsburgh | Big East
KEY LOSSES
Chad Johnson | 4.2 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Brandin Knight | Senior
G | Julius Page | Junior
F | Don. Zavackas | Senior
F | Che. Troutman | Soph
C | Ontario Lett | Senior
Player to Watch
Brandin Knight
Senior Guard
Only weakness is at the line, where he'll be late in games.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Pittsburgh will get just one regular-season crack at Connecticut, potentially its top competition for the league title. That game will be in the Panthers' new, 12,500-capacity Petersen Events Center. Need tickets!
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PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
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All five starters are back. Three of the top four reserves are back. The team will move into a $100-million facility this season. And coach Ben Howland recently signed a long-term extension. Yup, things are looking good for Pittsburgh -- better, potentially, than last season, when the Panthers won 29 games and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers are so good, a starter last season might have to come off the bench this year. Don't be surprised if that happens in the middle, where 6-6 but humongous Ontario Lett (8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) could slide from power forward to center to make room in the starting lineup for skilled sophomore Chevon Troutman. To the bench could go 6-10 Toree Morris (4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), who would give the team an intimidating post presence in reserve. How have we made it this far into the story without mentioning the Panthers' best player since Jerome Lane? Brandin Knight (15.6 ppg, 7.2 apg, 4.8 rpg) returns for his senior season after sharing Big East Player of the Year honors last season with Connecticut's Caron Butler. Knight and Julius Page (12.2 ppg) give Pittsburgh a national-caliber backcourt to go with a frontcourt of Lett, Troutman, Morris and 6-8 Donatas Zavackas (11.1 ppg).
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
The Panthers have absolutely everything a team needs to dig deep into the NCAA Tournament: size, experience, great guards, intimidating size, depth, coaching and fan support. What's not to like?
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
Here's what's not to like. Pittsburgh shot a woeful 60 percent last season from the foul line, including a hard-to-believe 44.2 percent by Knight, who went to the line a team-high 147 times. Pittsburgh has the ability to dominate a lot of teams -- but there will be some close games, too. Better hit those free throws.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
The Panthers could win the Big East and even the national championship this season, as long as the key pieces stay healthy and Troutman and Lett continue to emerge as dependable low-post scorers and defenders.
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