Well Panther fans, it’s finally time for another Pitt game. It feels like it’s been forever since the last game, and the way Pitt was playing, that’s a bad thing. You can say what you want about momentum carrying over, but Pitt definitely had momentum on their side after beating Syracuse and Cincinnati on the road. Tonight, Pitt (13-2, 3-0) looks to finish the road trip sweep against #15 UConn (11-4, 2-2) at 7:00 PM on ESPN2.

Pitt has looked more and more like a Big East contender these past couple of games and it can be seen in the polls and Bracketology. Pitt went from being unranked two weeks ago to being ranked 15 in the AP Poll and 16 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. In Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology on ESPN.com, Pitt went from being out of the tournament two weeks ago to being a 4 seed in the latest Bracketology.

This is a game between the two winningest Big East teams of the decade and they renew their rivalry tonight. Once again, Pitt looks to end an opponent’s undefeated record at home as UConn is 11-0 at home, while Pitt is 3-0 on the road. It will be a hostile environment for the relatively young Panthers.

UConn coming off of a loss where they blew a 19 point half time lead is not good for the Panthers. Look for Jim Calhoun to have his Huskies back in line when they play the Panthers tonight. Pitt is going to need a little luck and be hot from the outside to win tonight. It’s going to be a game of UConn’s height versus Pitt’s perimeter game and speed. The only height Pitt has is in Gary McGhee at 6’10” and unless he has become or channels the spirit of DeJuan Blair tonight, there isn’t much McGhee will do. Jamie Dixon should look towards a faster lineup tonight against UConn’s tremendous transition game. Ashton Gibbs needs to stay hot tonight. The 5 men who need to get the majority of the minutes tonight have to be Gibbs, Jermaine Dixon, Gilbert Brown, Brad Wanamaker, and Travon Woodall. Tonight would be a perfect place for a breakout game from Dante Taylor.

Pitt needs to follow these keys to victory for any chance to win tonight:

1. Gibbs stays hot
2. Slow down UConn’s transition game
3. Contain Jermaine Dyson
4. Hit the makeable shots (Free Throws, the bunnies, high percentage)
5. Be aggressive

This will be another brutal test for the Panthers, a win makes them a perfect 4-0 in the conference and would make UConn 2-3 and really set them back in the conference.

Maybe I’m being a homer, but I sense another upset for the Panthers, so fans get your Colhoun Crying Towel out.

Prediction: 74-69 Pitt