Pitt returns to the court just 2 days after their shocking upset of the then #5 Syracuse Orange inside the Carrier Dome handing the Orange their first loss. Pitt (12-2, 2-0) is in the middle of their 3 game road trip as they pay a visit to the Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3, 2-0). The Bearcats are 7-0 at home, while the Panthers are 2-0 on the road, something has to give. The game is a part of ESPN’s Big Monday broadcast and tipoff is at 7:00 on ESPN.

The Panthers have looked much better since the return of Jermaine Dixon (foot) and Gilbert Brown (academic suspension). And thanks to Ashton Gibbs, averaging 23.5 points the past two games, Pitt is once again a force to be reckoned with it seems like. In ESPN.com’s Weekly Watch, Gibbs was named their player of the week due to his performances against DePaul and Syracuse. Gibbs has done a tremendous job in replacing Levance Fields this year and is a top contender for the Big East Most Improved Player Award. Speaking of the Weekly Watch, Pitt was amongst the top teams of the week and this was stated about the Panthers.

Pitt: The Panthers didn’t have Gilbert Brown (academics) or Jermaine Dixon (broken foot) in practice for months. Now that they’re healthy and whole, the Panthers have found their offense, beating DePaul as expected and then shocking Syracuse at the Carrier Dome to end the Orange’s undefeated season. Pitt is 2-0, and if the Panthers win eight more Big East games, assuming a few are against the upper echelon, Pitt is once again an NCAA tournament team. Never doubt coach Jamie Dixon and pick him ninth again, Big East coaches. Never.

In the newest Bracketology by Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com, Pitt is a 7 seed and looking at what is stated above, Pitt has a very good chance of making the Big Dance once again. They figure Pitt needs 8 wins and still have winnable games against St. Johns (twice), Seton Hall (twice), South Florida, Providence, and Rutgers. Pitt also has one more non-conference game against Robert Morris. And figure into that the games at The Pete and Pitt should hit that 8 wins number and make the Big Dance once again. The one thing scary about this time and that could kill them this year is that it seems like it is only one player taking care of business each game; what happens if that one player goes cold?

Taking a look at the Bearcats, Pitt has to keep F Lance Stephenson and G Deonta Vaughn in check. Stephenson is a freshman and leading the Bearcats with 13 points per game and 5 boards per game. Vaughn is a senior with 10.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 4.4 boards per game. It will be up to Gibbs and Dixon to keep Vaughn in check.

Overall, I expect Pitt to ride their momentum into Cincinnati and I see Pitt winning a closer then looks appear game. This will be huge, because I feel Pitt needs to at least split the remaining two games of this road trip to make it a success, weird I know after beating Syracuse.

Prediction: 73-65 Pitt