Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76

(Three of the best players in Pitt history, and the scapegoat)

I've officially had enough time to digest the premature end to Pitt's season. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But I have to move forward. The comments sections are getting nasty...and demanding my thoughts and opinions on the Panther's heart-breaking loss to Villanova last Saturday. To appease the masses, and to help the healing process, here are a few of my thoughts about the demise of the best Pitt basketball team I've ever witnessed.

• There were two moments when I thought Pitt "had" the game won: 1) When they were up by 4 and had the ball with 3:05 to play, and 2) When Villanova turned the ball over on the home-run inbound pass, Levance Fields got fouled, and with ice in his veins...sunk the two clutch free throws that tied the game. As I told Phil during our halftime phone call, I was never 100% confident in Pitt winning the game. But during those two moments, my mind wandered on the hope that Pitt was about to reach the Final Four for the first time in their history. As we know, it wasn't meant to be. This is the epitome of why Panther fans dream of the best, but constantly prepare (emotionally) for the worst.
• I discovered that...when one is emotionally invested in a particular team...it is nearly impossible to realize THAT team is in the midst of a "classic" game. I have the awareness to realize I'm watching a "great" or "classic" game when my team isn't involved. (Such as the Memphis/Kansas title game last year, or the UNC/Michigan title game in 1993) But I do NOT have the awareness (or composure) to notice this when Pitt is playing. At no point during the Villanova game did I think to myself, "Wow...this is a great game! It's probably the best game of the tournament to date! The deciding bucket will be shown during One Shining Moment and haunt me for years!" To me...it was just a game where Pitt was battling their hearts out to achieve something the program had never achieved before. I believe that emotional investments prohibit one to exist outside themselves and realize the magnitude of what's going on in the present...and it's lasting imprint on the future.
  
• Jermain Dixon had a really good year for the Panthers. He was Pitt's best on-the-ball defender and will be a crucial part of their success next season. With that being said, I need to throw him under the bus for a moment. If Dixon hadn't made 2 mistakes (one mistake actually having four parts), I wonder if we'd be talking about Pitt's first trip to the Final Four this week. First...when Pitt was up 4 with three minutes left, Dixon and Fields were playing catch in the back court to advance on the Villanova press. For reasons that defy logic, Dixon: 1) took the ball across the timeline (center court), 2) picked up his dribble, 3) turned the ball over, and 4) fouled Dwayne Anderson as he was in the midst of making a layup. Ug. A basketball player is taught IN SEVENTH GRADE to NOT take the ball over the timeline and pick up their dribble! The errors after that were the wonderful snowball effect of frustration. His second mistake occurred on the last play of the game. Dixon's responsibility on the play we've all seen 1,000 times by now was to 1) Deny Scottie Reynolds the ball, and if he couldn't do that, 2) Deny Scottie Reynolds from running north/south up the court. Unfortunately, Dixon allowed Reynolds to receive the ball cleanly (and with full momentum) on a classic triangle-based soccer play. Reynolds streaked up the court and the rest was Pitt and Villanova history. I like you Jermain. I just need to get this out. It's therapeutic.
• What makes college basketball great is the same thing that makes it suck. If you're lucky, you get to watch your team's players for 4 years. You get to watch these kids come in as flawed freshmen and develop into players with specific skills and endearing personalities. Sometimes...we have to be happy watching a player for just a season or two. College basketball is permanent and temporary...endearing and disappointing...familiar and brand new all at the same time. This is what makes it so great. This is what makes it suck. I'm going to miss the hell out of Sam Young and Levance Fields. It seems like those two have been starting on Pitt's squad forever. I can't envision watching a Pitt game next season where I don't have Young's ridiculous pump-fake to look forward to. You're telling me I can no longer watching Fields move around the court like a bowling ball dishing out sweet passes and taking ballsey 3-pointers at the end of a close game? Sigh. And let's PLEASE not bring up the fact that Dejuan Blair might jump ship and declare for the NBA draft. I can't deal with that right now. I've started to love his passion, his intensity, his Hines Ward'esque smiling, his rebounding dominance, and Bill Raftery's references to his derriere. This was the best Pitt team I've ever had the privilege of watching. College basketball is a cruel mistress. It giveth...and it taketh away.
  
• I have to give credit to the Villanova Wildcats and I have to give credit to Matt. They won. His team won. That team is both skilled and scrappy. They were physical and demonstrated finesse at the same time. They made a TON of difficult/clutch shots. Pitt tried to punch them in the mouth over and over again and they never wavered. If these teams played a 10-game series, I believe each would win 5 times. This was a classic Great Eight game. Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright's squads provided an outstanding match-up. Someone had to win, someone had to lose. These kinds of cliches could only come from someone on the losing end. Props to you Matt. It's right here in writing...for the world (or at least 10 people you don't really know) to see.
• Hey...at least Gary McGhee didn't enter the game.
• I took no notice of what the coaches were wearing during this game. Perhaps their attire had something to do with the outcome. (Annie...I'm opening a window for you here!)
  
• After a sloppy performance in the Pitt/Xavier game, I thought that Verne Lundquist acquitted himself nicely in this one. Bill Raftery, of course, remains the consummate professional.
• Just to say it before they're gone: Dejuan Blair - 20 points (9-9 from the field!) and 10 rebounds, Sam Young - 28 points and 7 rebounds, Levance Fields - 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Like I said, I'm gonna miss these guys.
• I think that about does it. This is my Pitt/Villanova recap. Please feel free to contribue comments concerning this "classic" Great Eight game. Pitt had an oustanding season. Villanova prevailed on this night and reached the Final Four. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But this is what being a fan is all about.

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PITT REACHES THE ELITE EIGHT

(Levance "I shoot 90% with under 2 minutes to play" Fields)

Before whatever happens today actually happens...I needed to post something that would stand the test of time. The Pitt Panthers reached the Elite Eight for the first time in my lifetime by defeating Xavier on Thursday. My scream is still echoing from when Levance Fields hit that 3-pointer with under a minute remaining. I needed to post something simple, yet very important, that noted the accomplishment of this outstanding squad. What a season...31 victories, their first ever #1 ranking in the polls, defeating the #1 team in the country twice, and earning their first #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Pitt has finally reached the Elite Eight. Let's see what happens next.

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Pitt vs. ETSU Running Diary w/ Tangents

(Number 1 seed? It's about damn time!)

Last season, I kept a running diary of Pitt's opening round game against Oral Roberts (Oh Oral! How I miss thee!). The problem was...the game was not that captivating, as Pitt won in a blowout. I figure I'll slightly alter the gimmick this year. I'll keep a running diary of the game...but I'll hardly be focused on the game...allowing for my thoughts on the tournament's first day and a half, commentaries about coaches and commercials, along with updates about who I'm talking to on the phone and how my brackets are doing. Sound like a plan? Sounds like something at least.

(Comments for the Pitt game will be preceded by the time...all other comments will be marked by bullet points. That way...you can easily read either/or, both, or neither if you so choose)

Here we go. #1 Pitt vs. #16 ETSU to open Pitt's run in the East region. Let's make it happen this year! (I'm not sure what I mean by "it")

3:05 pm - Dejuan Blair wins the opening tip back to Levance Fields. Bill Raftery says, "Verne Lundquist...Eastern Tennessee State goes...MANTAMAN"! Everything is right in the world.

3:08 pm - Raftery makes his first "derriere" reference of the day. I think I'll be keeping a running count of this. Tyrell Biggs makes a 3-pointer for Pitt. He's surprisingly good for one of those a game. Pitt 6, ESTU 5.

• Has anyone else noticed how these NCAA Tournament games have been grossly under attended? It's really absurd. The Portland region has been the worst. There were so many empty blue seats during that Gonzaga/Akron game last night. There is NO ONE at the Temple/Arizona St. game right now. This has to have something to do with the weak-ass economy, right? This Pitt game in Dayton is no different. Plenty of good seats available.

3:16 pm - Apparently country music star Kenny Chesney attended ETSU. Don't know how that applies to Pitt's chances. The Panthers have committed 4 turnovers and look lazy. Pitt 11, ETSU 11.

• Pitt is doing what they do all-to-well, playing down to their competition in the first half. I need to divert my attention. As CJS has mentioned, check out Club Trillion, a blog by Ohio State bench player Mark Titus. It's titled Club Trillion because when he gets into a game, his line in the box score is 1 (for minutes played), followed by a BUNCH of zeros.

3:37 pm - After two missed free-throws by Blair, Pitt only leads by two. The fact Bill Raftery is calling this game can't even make me feel better right now. The UConn/Chattanooga game yesterday was close for the first 15 minutes, right? UConn ended up winning by 50 of course. 10 turnovers for Pitt and were not even at the half! Pitt 22, ETSU 20.

3:39 pm - Blair gets called for a technical for "hanging on the rim" after a dunk! Maybe he did a little bit of a chin-up on the play but COME ON! Both Raftery and Lundquist don't agree with the call. Coach Jamie Dixon is furious...either at the officials or at Blair. Dixon's hair, however, remains slicked back and in position. Pitt 24, ETSU 22.

3:41 pm - Bob sends me a text that simply reads, "BULLSHIT!!!" He immediately sends me another text saying, "Let's have a sporting event text chat like (Bill) Simmons and his buddies! I wanna make the blog!" Well Bob...you just did.

3:48 pm - Raftery, "Pitt has not put their imprint on this game." Couldn't have put it better myself sir. Pitt 24, ETSU 22.

• The best games so far have been #11 VCU's one-point loss to #6 UCLA, #11 Utah State's one-point loss to #6 Marquette, and #12 Western Kentucky's smack-down of #5 Illinois. I think the NCAA Tournament selection committee isn't going to make the mistake of giving WKU a #12 seed anymore.

3:55 pm - Pitt makes ANOTHER turnover...giving them 13 in the first half. I'm not panicking yet, but I'm definitely sick in my stomach. ETSU makes a last second layup to end the half that is then taken away after review. This is disgusting. Embarrassing. I need a cigarette Pitt 26, ETSU 23.

4:07 pm - Just talked to Phil during halftime. He's not nearly as confident as I am right now. Pitt's going to win...it's just a matter of if they win by 5-10 points or more than 20. They need to dominate and pull away, not for the fans, but for themselves. This is excruciating.

• Tournament Tattoo Update - The one guy from American U. had some ridiculous ink on his bicep, the explanation of which couldn't be determined. The tattoos of the tournament have to go to the boys from Northern Iowa. Lots of white guys with lots of ink. This prompted my dad to comment, "Tattoos on white guys just don't look good". I don't know if this means he thinks they look good on black guys, or he doesn't think they look good on anyone. Love ya pops!

4:18 pm - The second half gets underway. I really hope Jamie Dixon tore the boys a new one in the locker room during halftime. I'm wondering where my level of frustration will be in 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.

4:20 pm - Jermaine Dixon takes a long bomb outlet pass...misses the layup...gets his own rebound, and misses the put-back. ETSU rebounds. At no point during that entire sequence did any Pitt player enter the screen to come down and help Dixon out. What the hell is going on?!?

4:23 pm - Bob sends me another text, "For cryin' out loud...they (Pitt) look like Bobby Mo (Robert Morris) in the (NEC) title game! Hey-oh!" Bob just got all of his labels taken away.

4:26 pm - I love how they have to break out the whole "no #16 seed has ever defeated a No. 1 seed" thing. The attempt to jinx the Panthers is officially on!

4:29 pm - CJS just texted me - "What the fuck?!?!" Why do I feel this growing momentum against Pitt? The crowd in Dayton is certainly pulling for the upset. Pitt 35, ETSU 33.

4:34 pm - Shot of Coach Dixon sitting down on the Pitt bench with his face buried in his hands. This sums up today's events perfectly. Pitt 39, ETSU 38.

4:37 pm - Lundquist keeps calling Sam Young "Wanamaker"...in reference to Panther guard Brad Wanamaker. Anything is going to piss me off at this point. Pitt 40, ETSU 40.

4:46 pm - When I did the running diary of Pitt's victory over Oral Roberts last year...it was a party...every player was contributing, smiles were all around. This is the complete opposite of that experience. ETSU just threw down a dunk. Blah. Pitt 46, ETSU 44.

4:52 pm - Sam Young misses his billionth layup of the game...Blair gets two offensive rebounds and finally makes the basket, giving Pitt it's first 5 point lead in an eternity. They just need to score 15 more unanswered points to PUSH the spread of 20. Pitt 50, ETSU 45.

4:55 pm - Young makes his second 3-pointer in the last couple of minutes. Things are a little more encouraging than they were before. Also, Fields looks like he's playing at about 60%, maybe I'm looking for excuses.....but he doesn't look like the Levance Fields we Pitt fans know and love. Pitt 58, ETSU 52.

5:01 pm - A bunch of bullshit just happened underneath Pitt's basket. I can't talk or type rationally right now. Pitt 59, ETSU 57.

5:06 pm - CBS holds a gun to Lundquist's head and makes him read the "no #16 seed has ever beaten a No. 1" fact again. I hate CBS right now. Pitt 62, ETSU 57.

5:09 pm - Pitt's going to win, as I said at halftime, but this win isn't going to feel good at all. Ashton Gibbs just hit a 3-pointer...followed by an ETSU layup. It's all but over...but I'm still feeling sick. Pitt 67, ETSU 61.

5:12 pm - College hoops are SO about confidence and momentum. Pitt came out lazy and entitled, once ETSU felt they could hang with the Panthers...the complexion of the game changed completely. Give a team confidence and they'll believe they can do anything. Pitt 70, ETSU 62.

5:16 pm - The "game" is finally over. I'm going to need to drink a lot tonight. This was horrible. I can't wait to hear from everyone busting my balls over this disaster. Hopefully this is what Pitt needs to wake up and realize that a No. 1 seed is earned and not given. They have to go out and PLAY like a No. 1 seed. I pray this scared them shitless. I have nothing more to say right now. Final Score: Pitt 72, ETSU 62.

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Big East & ACC Awards - "We Represent"

In order to inform and provoke, I've decided to list all of the notable awards for both the Big East and ACC. Interestingly enough, Dejuan Blair and Hasheem Thabeet SHARE the award for Big East Player of the Year. Ty Lawson beats out teammate Tyler Hansbrough for Player of the Year in the ACC, adding merit to my point that Lawson is more important to UNC's success than Hansbrough. Many of the readership's favorite teams are represented in these awards. Pitt and UNC do quite nicely for themselves (although Levance Fields dropping to the third team is a crime). Villanova and Notre Dame also show up, earning various kudos. (Could Jay Wright have won coach of the year without being photographed next to Lydia Cate? Probably not.) Please enjoy and argue. It's been a great season so far, but it's just getting started.

(Dejuan Blair flings a hapless Hasheem Thabeet)

Big East

All-Big East First Team

• Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr.
• Dejuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So.
• Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr.
• Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr.
• Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr.
• Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr.

All-Big East Second Team

• A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr.
• Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr.
• Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So.
• Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr.
• De'Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr.

All-Big East Third Team

• Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr.
• Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G. Jr.
• Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr.
• Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr.
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So.

Honorable Mention

• Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr.
• Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr.
• Dominique Jones, USF, G, Jr.
• Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr.
  

Players of the year:

• Dejuan Blair (Pittsburgh) & Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)

Rookie of the Year - Greg Monroe (Georgetown)

Coach of the Year - Jay Wright (Villanova)

Defensive Player of the Year - Hasheem Thabeet (Connecticut)

Most Improved Player - Dante Cunningham (Villanova)

Sixth Man Award - Corey Fisher (Villanova)

Sportsmanship Award - Alex Ruoff (West Virginia)

Scholar Athlete of the Year - Alex Ruoff (West Virginia)

(Ty Lawson in flight.....Afternoon Delight)

ACC

All-ACC First Team

• Ty Lawson, North Carolina, G, Jr.
• Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina, F, Sr.
• Toney Douglas, Florida State, G, Sr.
• Jack McClinton, Miami, G, Sr.
• Gerald Henderson, Duke, G/F, Jr.

All-ACC Second Team

• Jeff Teague, Wake Forest, G, So.
• Trevor Booker, Clemson, F/C, Jr.
• Tyrese Rice, Boston College, G, Sr.
• Kyle Singler, Duke, F, So.
• Greivis Vasquez, Maryland, G, Jr.

All-ACC Third Team

• James Johnson, Wake Forest, F, So.
• Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech, G, So.
• A.D. Vassalo, Virginia Tech, G/F, Sr.
• Danny Green, North Carolina, G/F, Sr.
• Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech, F, So.

Honorable Mention

• Wayne Ellington, North Carolina, G, Jr.
• K.C. Rivers, Clemson, G/F, Sr.
• Sylven Landesberg, Virginia, G, Fr.

Player of the Year -

• Ty Lawson (North Carolina)

Rookie of the Year - Sylven Landesberg (Virginia)

Coach of the Year - Leonard Hamilton (Florida State)

Defensive Player of the Year - Toney Douglas (Florida State)

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Saturday Notes - Pitt Beats UConn (Again)

Only one question remains for the Panthers after their 70-60 victory over UConn on Saturday: Great Pitt team? or Greatest Pitt team? In his final game at the Peterson Events Center, Sam Young scored a season high 31 points in a dominating performance to help Pitt defeat a #1 ranked UConn squad for the second time this year. Levance Fields embraced Senior Day as well, commanding the floor as usual to the tune of 12 assists. Pitt (28-3, 15-3) finished the season undefeated at home, going 19-0. This game was a party. Young's ridiculous throw-down dunk with 6:29 to play deflated the Huskies and electrified the record crowd to the point of frenzy. It felt like a celebration. It felt like relief. It felt like maybe, just maybe, this Pitt team is different (and better) than all of the Pitt teams that have disappointed us before. The next few weeks should be a lot of fun.

Some random Saturday notes, for your enjoyment:

• My conference tournament predictions are a disaster! I've already lost three of my prediction champions...all of those losses coming WAY before the Championship games. Vermont (somehow) lost to Albany today 56-52 in overtime. I've also had Belmont and Murray State lose VERY early on. I'm not giving up. I have a lot of work to do if I want to nail 15 of 30 Conference Tournament Champions correctly. But I'm definitely going to be playing from behind from here on out.
• Cornell is the first team to officially earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Penn and winning the Ivy League title last night. This is the second year in a row Cornell will be in the Big Dance.
  
• It's crazy that Louisville could beat West Virginia tonight and win the Big East. Their 5 overall losses probably hurt their chances of earning a #1 seed. However...Pitt is practically a lock for a #1...and if Louisville wins the Big East Tournament, how are they not a #1 seed? The reality of having three Big East teams as one seeds is becoming more and more possible by the moment.
• Creighton won a THRILLER last night when Booker Woodfox hit a 16-foot jumper at the buzzer to hold off Wichita State 63-62. The Missouri Valley Tournament always provides drama and excitement. I was so thankful for this win because I was on the verge of losing another one of my Conference Tournament Champions. Remember how I informed you of Creighton and Booker Woodfox the other day? That's called foreshadowing. You're welcome.
• Two HUGE games in the Horizon League tonight as the semi-finals put Wright State against Butler and Cleveland State against UW Green-Bay. Cleveland State came back from down ten with under 4 minutes left last night against Illinois-Chicago. Lucky bastards! I'm not losing my first official March Madness bet. Butler will move on.
• Iowa battled their hearts out and just forced overtime against Penn State after squandering 9 point lead with under three minutes left. I'm not reporting on the final result (whatever it is) to avoid ridicule or anger from the Nittany Lion faithful.
• I'm especially interested in the Louisville/West Virginia and Wright State/Butler games later today. Also, the first three Conference Tournament Champions will be crowned in the Ohio Valley, Big South, and Atlantic Sun. Tomorrow there's the HUGE Duke vs. North Carolina game, along with Robert Morris' NEC semi-final contest against Quinnipiac. It's a great time of year. Enjoy your Saturday.

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#4 Pitt vs. #1 UConn - Running Diary

Welcome back loyal readers. This blog needed to start sometime...and it seems very appropriate to kick things off with my favorite writing gimmick: a running diary of Pitt's biggest game of the season to date against #1 ranked UConn. This is the first of two, hopefully three, and possibly four meetings this year between the two Big East powerhouses. It's going to take a little while to find my "blog voice" again, so let's see what happens with this diary...along with the all important game.

7:01 pm - ESPN kicks off it's coverage with the announcing crew of Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, and Bill Raftery. I'm not really a fan of the three-man team, but this threesome gets it done on a regular basis. And, of course, I'm a huge fan of Bill Raftery. So that must be a sign of good things to come for the Panthers.

7:04 pm - Not a white guy on either side's starting lineup. This is going to be a good game.

7:04 pm - Raftery: "Sean McDonough...Jay Bilas...Pittsburgh goes...MANTAMAN!" It's good to be back. Starting to feel like March.

7:08 pm - Sam Young makes a deep two and then a three pointer on back-to-back possessions. If he's making those...it could be a VERY good night for Pitt. (knocking on wood)

7:10 pm - Hasheem Thabeet just went over the top of DeJuan Blair after a rebound, falling to the floor awkwardly and hard. The fans in Hartford haven't been this silent since the Whalers left town.

7:12 pm - The Hartford Whalers were a professional hockey franchise that played in the NHL from 1979 - 1997. They are of note because they: once threw the team a parade after losing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, had awesome uniforms, and sported the best theme song in all of sports: Brass Bonanza. Thank you Wikipedia for filling in the gaps.

7:15 pm - OK...back to college hoops, I swear. Young just hit a sweet turn-around baseline jumper. He's the most NBA ready Pitt player I've ever seen. DeJuan Blair already has 6 rebounds. Pitt 12 - UConn 6.

7:22 pm - Pitt's worst player, back-up back-up center Gary McGhee, just fouled Thabeet three times in less than a minute. It's kind of like the hack-a-Shaq defense, except that Thabeet didn't possess the ball during any of the three fouls. Curious. McGhee is the Panthers only player that gives me anxiety every time he enters the game.

7:28 pm - Gilbert Brown steals the ball away from Thabeet in the low post, gets the ball to Levance Fields, who throws up a 45 foot alley-oop to Young. THAT was pretty! Pitt 21 - UConn 13.

7:44 pm - UConn has staged a mild rally thanks to missed alley-oops, turnovers, and wasted possessions on Pitt's part. Fields is having a difficult time bringing up the ball with Craig Austrie of UConn all over him. Blair is ABUSING Thabeet to this point, already having a double-double (10 pts and 11 rebounds). Young is on the bench with 2 fouls for Pitt.

7:48 pm - Apparently rivalry week on ESPN is brought to us by CISCO. Good to know. Couldn't have college rivalries without corporate sponsorship.

7:52 pm - A.J. Price hits a bullshit step-back three-pointer at the end of the half. But HOLY CRAP...DeJuan Blair just had the half of his LIFE!!! 15 points, 13 rebounds - attacking Thabeet on every single possession. Thabeet has 4 points and 2 rebounds. Blair is winning the fight on all score cards to this point. Not a bad 20 minutes by the Panthers. Still too close, I'm tense, need a smoke break. Pitt 36 - UConn 33 at halftime.

8:09 pm - Never addressed this at the beginning of the game - Jaime Dixon out-dresses Jim Calhoun any day of the week. It's not even close. Not to mention, nobody (and I mean NOBODY), messes with Jamie Dixon's slicked-back hair.

8:10 pm - Jay Bilas praises Sam Young's exaggerated shot fake. I'm not going to argue with him. More importantly, Young's shot fake and drive leads to Thabeet's third foul.

8:19 pm - Choppy four minutes before the first media time out. Pitt still wasting possessions with turnovers, questionable shot selections, and Fields palming the ball. The refs started to take over the game, calling 5 fouls so far. Blair has 17 rebounds. Yikes! Pitt 44 - UConn 39.

8:30 pm - This is too intense for me to be typing. Young and Price trade three point jumpers. Then Thabeet and Blair get in a scrum away from the ball and the ref calls a foul on Thabeet, his fourth, when a foul could have been called either way, or not at all. Jim Calhoun is furious! This is too much. Pitt 49 - UConn 48.

8:34 pm - Blair has 20 rebounds. Thabeet has 4.

8:39 pm - I don't know where to begin. Blair got elbowed in the eye then acted like he was dying. Bodies have been flying all over the place without any fouls called. UConn started shooting 100% from the field including a bank shot. Pitt has only 1 timeout left and Dixon has no intention of using it anytime soon. There was a huge melee for the ball in UConn's half of the court that included 3 consecutive turnovers. Pitt can't make a three point shot, yet is settling for that exact shot way too often. UConn has the momentum, and their largest lead of the game. UConn 56 - Pitt 51.

8:46 pm - Blair with a layup and one! 22 points & 22 rebounds. Tie game! Pitt 56 - UConn 56.

8:48 pm - Jermaine Dixon finally hits a 3 pointer! Pitt takes the lead again! UConn timeout! Pitt 59 - UConn 58.

8:49 pm - McDonough points out that Pitt is 0-13 when facing the number one ranked team in the country. I can't decide if that's a jinx or a counter-jinx.

9:11 pm - PITT WINS! PITT WINS! I spent the last twenty minutes pacing around, occasionally swearing and screaming. DeJuan Blair is the player of the game. 22 points, 23 rebounds, and a black eye as he talks to Jay Bilas after the victory. The last minute of the game dragged on forever. But Pitt made their foul shots and came away with the upset at UConn. The defining moment(s) were Fields' back to back three pointers after not making a single basket all game. The contest went from tied to Pitt being up 6 in the blink of an eye and the Panthers never looked back. I could critique this game, but what's the point? Pitt just defeated the number one ranked team in college basketball and is close to locking up a #1 seed for the Tournament. Good times!

9:15 pm - Final Score: Pittsburgh 76 - Connecticut 68

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