4 East opener at Villanova, but rebounded nicely preferring to bang around on the inside rather than 4 ◆ with a 69-60 victory over the coaches’ preseason trying to step out to the perimeter and shoot jump- pick as league champion, Georgetown. It was The Panthers ers like many of his counterparts. LOCATION Pittsburgh, PA the Panthers’ fourth straight win over a top-five No Player Pos Ht Wt Yr Hometown Young and Blair finished the season as CONFERENCE Big East nationally ranked team at the Petersen Events 0 Wallace, Austin C 6-9 220 Fr. Bronx, NY Pittsburgh’s leading scorers and rebounders. And, . RECORD 26-9 (.743) 1 Benjamin, Keith G 6-2 190 Sr. Mount Vernon, NY in a statistical anomaly that belies his size, Blair From there, though, they embarked on a roller- also led the Panthers in steals, closing with roughly CONFERENCE RECORD 10-8 (7th) 2 Fields, Levance G 5-10 190 Jr. Brooklyn, NY NICKNAME Panthers coaster ride of the worst kind. Struggling without double what the next-closest Panthers player was 4 Ramon, Ronald G 6-1 185 Sr. Bronx, NY COLORS Blue & Gold their floor leader in Fields, they were unable to win able to rack up. ◆ 5 Biggs, Tyrell F 6-8 240 Jr. Nanuet, NY PREVIOUS NCAA TOURNAMENTS 19 more than a game at a time. Pittsburgh followed a Depth wasn’t a strong suit up front for 11 Brown, Gilbert G-F 6-6 200 Fr. Harrisburg, PA ALL-TIME NCAA RECORD 17-20 loss at Cincinnati by beating St. John’s, only to then Pittsburgh. Only 6-8 senior Tyrell Biggs saw regu- h g r u b s t t i P BEST FINISH Elite Eight, ’74 be beaten at home by 13 points by Rutgers in what 22 Wanamaker, Brad G 6-4 200 Fr. Philadelphia, PA lar minutes in the rotation, but by the end of the COACH (TCU ’87) had to be the most head-scratching and disap- 23 Young, Sam F 6-6 215 Jr. Clinton, MD season bulky freshman Gary McGhee (6-10, 255) COACH’S NCAA TOURNAMENTS 4 pointing loss in Dixon’s five seasons. 24 Frye, Tim G 6-4 190 Fr. Mars, PA had been earning himself more playing time. COACH’S NCAA RECORD 5-4 The pattern continued: win against Villanova 31 Cook, Mike G-F 6-4 215 Sr. Philadelphia, PA ASSISTANTS (Pittsburgh ’95) to sweep the season series, lose at Connecticut. The 40 Polen, Maurice F 6-5 245 Jr. Philadelphia, PA WHEN PITTSBURGH WINS (Merrimack ’89) Panthers caught their first big break in their next 45 Blair, DeJuan F 6-7 265 Fr. Pittsburgh, PA outing when a defensive breakdown in the closing The Panthers excel in grind-it-out, half-court Pat Sandle (San Francisco State ’87) 50 Diggs, Cassin C 6-10 270 Jr. Williamsport, PA seconds led to a wide-open three by Ronald Ramon affairs in which they can get all five of their starters BLUE RIBBON PRESEASON 8th, Big East 52 McGhee, Gary C 6-10 255 Fr. Anderson, IN at the buzzer and a thrilling 55-54 victory over involved. Defense and rebounding have always been West Virginia. Pittsburgh then beat Providence to staples at Pittsburgh, and this season has been no HOW THEY GOT HERE put together its first winning streak of any kind in different despite all the injury woes. Pittsburgh’s best chance at winning usually Few high-major teams were hit harder by inju- just about a month. BACKCOURT FRONTCOURT involves Young and Blair getting going early, with ries this season than the . Whatever lingering positive feelings remained Both Mike Cook and Levance Fields were on Dixon’s largest challenge heading into the Fields facilitating the action. Ramon is a tremen- In a nine-day span in late December, they lost from that small feat were blown out the door their way to productive seasons yet again when season was to rebuild a frontcourt that had been dous shooter in the clutch—see his game-winner two-thirds of their starting backcourt when Mike in the team’s next outing at Marquette, as the the injury bug bit. Cook, of course, wasn’t able anchored for years by hulking center against West Virginia this season and the three he Cook was felled by a torn ACL in a victory over Golden Eagles pummeled the Panthers, 72-54, in to return and Fields was after roughly six weeks and do-everything Levon Kendall, both of whom hit against Marquette the year before that sent that Duke, and then Levance Fields went down with a a game that featured the return of Fields from his on the sideline. He got the green light to get back graduated. game into overtime—which obviously helps com- broken bone in his left foot. Cook was immediately foot surgery. Another road loss, this time at Notre onto the court before the Marquette game and, He had a solid piece already in place in junior ing down the wire. ruled out for the season and Fields eventually Dame, and then a third at home against Louisville while he understandably struggled getting back , a 6-foot-6, 215-pound athlete Fields also has some experience in the clutch; it returned roughly six weeks later, a situation that left Pittsburgh with just its second three-game into a rhythm offensively, nonetheless provided a supreme who had tantalized Panthers fans for was his three in overtime that beat Duke. would have buried even the most strong-minded of losing streak under Dixon. steadying hand to a Panthers team lacking a true two years yet never really was put in a position as teams considering each started all 37 games a year Another victory over Cincinnati got Pittsburgh point guard. Pittsburgh’s go-to guy. With Cook and Fields out, ago and were the Panthers’ lone returning starters. back on track, but a tough close to the regular BEATING THE PANTHERS With both Cook and Fields down, Ronald he really got his chance and didn’t disappoint. Yet Pittsburgh persevered. It lost some games it season that had the Panthers traveling to both Ramon, a gunner off the bench for most of his Over the course of the season he did whatever was Pressuring shooters like Ramon and Fields is might have won had it had its full complement of Syracuse and West Virginia before closing with a first three years at Pittsburgh, and Keith Benjamin, asked, whether it be scoring (28 points against crucial, as is keeping Young and Blair off the glass players but still found a way to remain competi- home game against DePaul didn’t help them much as much as possible. Generally sure-handed with another senior role player, picked up the slack Seton Hall), rebounding (12 against Notre Dame), tive before finally getting a lift with Fields’ return as they tried to head into the postseason on an the basketball, Pittsburgh can nevertheless be as best they could. In the 12 games Fields was assists (five against Louisville) or blocked shots on Feb. 15. upswing. harassed into turnovers—especially by teams with sidelined, Ramon put up 67 assists against just (four against Villanova). With both Cook and Fields healthy, the Even still, Pittsburgh reached the 20-win mark guard depth that can keep throwing fresh defenders 22 turnovers for an -turnover ratio of 3.04. Young also flashed a heretofore unseen long- Panthers rattled off 11 consecutive victories to for the seventh consecutive season, a school record. at the Panthers. Ramon also continued to knock down three-point- range game, more than doubling his career high in open the season in rising as high as sixth in the At the same time, Dixon became the first coach in Pitt is also not a very good free-throw shoot- ers, his specialty. three-pointers while also knocking them down at a Associated Press’ media poll. Included in that Pittsburgh history to guide the Panthers to 20 or ing team, hitting right around 68 percent for the Benjamin, meanwhile, was setting career better than 40 percent clip. run was a victory at Washington, a home victory more victories in each of his first five seasons. season. In a close game, that can work to the oppo- highs in virtually every category while filling Dixon was well acquainted with the player against Oklahoma State and then a thrilling 65-64 That accomplishment more than likely earned nents’ advantage, especially when it fouls the right in as a starter. His length and athleticism who’d turn out to be his other stalwart in the overtime victory against Duke in Madison Square Pitt a ticket to the Big Dance, but just to make sure, players—starters Benjamin, Young and Blair were made him valuable on both ends of the court middle. Freshman DeJuan Blair, who grew up less Garden. the Panthers became just the second team in Big all under 70 percent, with Young finishing in the on the wing, and his ability knock down the than a mile from the Petersen Events Center, burst The joy was tempered somewhat with the loss East history to win four games in four days and low 60s and Blair in the high 50s. of Cook, who went down in overtime with the claim the league tournament title. Pitt knocked off long-range shot left him as the Panthers’ second- onto the scene in a big way, providing some much- knee injury, and after a nine-day layoff the Panthers top-seeded and then ninth-ranked Georgetown in best option behind Ramon when it came to the needed muscle. Despite being slightly undersized THE FINAL WORD followed up with their worst loss in coach Jamie the championship game. three-point shot. at 6-7, Blair used his hulking 265-pound frame Dixon’s tenure, an 80-65 trouncing at Dayton that “We are one of those teams that does whatever Gilbert Brown was plugged in for Cook on to perfection in his rookie campaign and quickly Pittsburgh has become something of a staple in included Fields’ injury early in the second half. it takes, we always have,” Pitt guard Levance Fields the wing and proved to be an intriguing prospect established himself as one of the Big East’s premier the NCAA Tournament, first under With his options limited, Dixon went with a start- said after the Hoyas had been beaten. “We take for the future. The 6-6 red-shirt freshman had rebounders. and now under Dixon. This is a bit of a transition ing backcourt of seniors Ronald Ramon and Keith pride in our defense and none of the teams we his moments doing a little bit of everything for In fact, he became just the fifth freshman in year for the Panthers, though, especially consider- Benjamin, and inserted freshman Gilbert Brown played here got 70 points and this was the only Pittsburgh, and actually played beyond his years Pittsburgh history to pull down more than 200 ing all the injuries. Taking the inexperience and lack into Cook’s vacated spot. team that shot over 40 percent. We out-rebounded given his relative inexperience. Classmate Brad boards while also putting up double-doubles on a of depth into consideration, it’s tough to see them Pittsburgh went on to win four of its next them by 12. But at the end of the day the biggest Wanamaker saw regular time as the fourth guard fairly routine basis. The great thing about Blair is making much noise this year. five games, with the lone loss coming in its Big thing is we got the win.” off the bench. he understands his strengths and embraces them, Todd Rosiak 11 South Regional ◆ Pittsburgh www.blueribbonyearbook.com www.blueribbonyearbook.com 4 ◆ Pittsburgh 2 Conference: BigEast Date Region: Midwest#2 2003 0.6 5 Date 0 1.8 Region: East#3 1.4 0 2004 16 28 1 0 Date 1 2 2 Region: West #9 2.3 3 2005 0 5 Conference:BigEast 5 66 1 1 3 6.5 12 10.4 Date 0.8 0 3 8.6 Region: Oakland#5 0 114 226 9.3 2006 7 15 28 22 301 6 17 324 11.1 42 2.0 10 4 32 3 1.5 31 0 2 256 33 3 11.7 18 20 3 29 56 Date 26 32 4 411 50 .333 29 18.3 Region: West #3 18 0 1 56 130 1-3 57 14 2007 1.2 0 639 11 73 0 37 39 71 .000 40 34 .400 .000 16 1 L 124 0-2 69 63 0-3 37 3.1 6-15 25 1 2.8 35 66 Opponents 2.5 83 9 110 .000 .000 .200 Total 31 2 35 44 0-0 0-0 2.8 2-10 72 89 .484 TEAM 22 3.9 38 1 102 98 15-31 74 .533 .500 1.6 9 9.1 .746 11-22 8-15 89 15 67 66 .167 14 47-63 3-18 .833 32 320 70 .710 6.4 5.0 9-0 6.8 30-36 .253 183 44-62 19 .643 .338 WALLACE, 100 19-75 61 137 225 .348 24-71 36-56 POLEN,Maurice .380 20-0 .684 8-23 .619 144 .465 00 9-0 65-171 FRYE, 65-95 .379 80-172 81 11.2 40 91-147 .397 50-132 McGHEE,Gary .432 325 .258 .000 96-242 24 .681 22.1 38-88 DIGGS,Cassin .444 23-89 29-0 0-0 52 773 109-160 119-268 WANAMAKER, Brad 31.6 .393 50 35-15 .364 24.9 1107 26.5 BIGGS, 42-107 .544 84-231 22 274 35-35 928 BROWN,Gilbert 160-294 .506 11-11 05 35-23 30.7 RAMON,Ronald 244-482 25.9 11 705 BENJAMIN,Keith 907 32.2 04 23-21 COOK,Mike 1128 35-34 01 GP-GS 35-35 FIELDS,Levance 31 BLAIR,DeJuan 02 YOUNG,Sam 45 Player 23 No. i 74-77 L, MN Minneapolis, W, 87-61 3 Boston, MA Tom Crean DereckWhittenburg 15 ConferenceUSA W, 53-44 L, 51-63 EastRutherford,NJ Big WI Milwaukee, Northeast Marquette 2 Indiana 14 Sweet16 Wagner EddieSutton Roundof32 03/27/2003 Kirk Speraw Roundof64 03/23/2003 03/21/2003 AtlanticSun Big12 Big OklahomaState Bob L,66-72 Wisconsin Sweet16 UCF Auburn Hills,MI Roundof32 03/25/2004 Roundof64 BigWest 03/21/2004 W, 79-64 L,55-64 03/19/2004 13 AuburnHills,MI W, 84-79 Jose,CA San Pacific 12 JimLes Roundof64 Buffalo, NY 2 MissouriValley JimChristian 03/17/2005 Ben Howland Mid-American 11 W, 79-58 Bradley Kent State Roundof32 Buffalo, NY Pac-10 Roundof64 03/19/2006 Colonial 03/17/2006 14 UCLA Brownell Brad HorizonLeague VCU Sweet16 Wright State Roundof32 03/22/2007 Roundof64 03/17/2007 03/15/2007 nd a stFi i v i d Round Round Round Round Round u ve Tim al yel 51 0 2. 7-5 .8 21 .0 4-6 66 3 0 4 41 9 1 3 1 1 16 5.6 196 10 15 32 17 1 79 4.1 143 70 73 .606 40-66 .200 2-10 .484 77-159 20.1 702 35-1 Tyrell NCAA utn - 1 30 - .5 00 00 - .0 3 3 . 2 0 0 2 0.5 2 1 0 1 0 0 2 0.8 3 0 3 .000 0-0 .000 0-0 .250 1-4 3.0 12 4-0 Austin st a

Opponent Opponent Conference: BigEast Opponent Conference: BigEast Opponent Opponent Conference: BigEast tisti

- 1 16 - .6 34 70 - .0 1 2 . 0 1 0 1 1.2 11 0 0 3 1 0 0 0.2 2 1 1 .000 0-0 .750 3-4 .667 4-6 1.6 14 9-0 To 5 08 3-95 41 2-8 .2 3651 64 1 75 19 34 4 1 43 9 12 7 28 65.2 74.1 2282 2595 171 112 238 115 494 443 427 557 14 7 647 569 33.4 37.8 1169 755 1323 414 815 .694 508 .658 396-571 .327 484-736 224-685 .421 .340 215-632 .459 831-1975 948-2064 7048 35 7050 35 ur Min c namen s FG-FGA Avg of Coach Opp Conf Coach Opp Conf Coach Opp Conf Coach Opp Conf Coach Opp Conf A W, 74-52 Boston,MA 7 W, 59-55 MikeDavis Milwaukee,WI Ten 6 BoRyan Ten -| |---3-PTS---| |---TOTAL---| t A t 3FG-FGA Pct 64 Coach: BenHowland Season Record:26-4 Coach:JamieDixon Season Record:29-4 Coach:JamieDixon Season Record:20-8 Coach:JamieDixon Season Record:25-8 Coach:JamieDixon Season Record:29-8 ppea D L, 71-79 Boise,ID 8 Thomason r ance FT Pct Seed Seed Seed Seed Seed s Location Location Location Location Location -FTA Pct Def Off Result Result Result Result Result 3 2 2 36 3 3.6 125 62 63 |--REBOUNDS--| T ot F FO PF Avg Neutralsite-Avg/Game Homegames-Avg/Game Assist/turnoverratio Reboundingmargin Reboundspergame 3 POINT Fieldgoalpct FIELD GOALS-ATT Scoringmargin Pointspergame Opponents Team BY PERIOD ATTENDANCE BLOCKS Stealspergame STEALS Turnover margin Turnovers pergame TURNOVERS Assistspergame ASSISTS REBOUNDS Freethrowpct FREE 3-ptFGmadepergame 3-pointFGpct SCORING TEAM STATISTICS Team Homewinstreak WINNING STREAK Blockspergame THROWS-ATT FG-ATT st a tisti A

26 3 2282 2595 - - 13 21 1226 1367 1043 1207 s 2nd 1st c Blk TO s 2 8199 12-11981 18-10969 831-1975 948-2064 8-3 396-571 484-736 224-685 215-632 947 241559 197447 l Pts Stl 33 1169 1323 2282 2595 PITT OT +4.4 +8.9 +1.9 78 33.4 37.8 .421 65.2 .459 74.1 22 14.1 12.7 12.2 15.9 .694 .327 .658 .340 3 171 238 494 443 427 557 1 112 115 . 0.9 1.3 . 4.9 6.8 6.4 6.1 . 3.2 3.3 2 5 5-19558 - T otal OPP Avg - - - - - NON-CONFERENCE CONFERENCE ALL RECORD vsGeorgetown vsMarquette vsLouisville *03/15/08 vsCincinnati 3/14/08 DEPAUL atWest Virginia 3/13/08 atSyracuse 03/12/08 *03/09/08 CINCINNATI *3/3/08 LOUISVILLE *3/1/08 atNotreDame atMarquette *02/27/08 *02/24/08 PROVIDENCE *2-21-08 WEST atConnecticut *2/15/08 *02/12/08 VILLANOVA *02/07/08 RUTGERS atSt.John’s *2/2/08 *01/30/08 atCincinnati *01/26/08 GEORGETOWN *1/23/08 SETON HALL atUSF *01/19/08 *01/14/08 atVillanova *01/12/08 LAFAYETTE *1/09/08 atDayton *01/06/08 vsDuke 01/02/08 OKLAHOMA 12/29/07 atWashington 12/20/07 atDuquesne 12/15/07 TOLEDO 12/08/07 BOSTON UNIVERSITY 12/05/07 BUFFALO 12/01/07 11/27/07 11/23/07 NORTH CAROLINA HOUSTON BAPTIST 11/10/07 11/09/07 Date Sea 11/7 MISSISSIPPIVALLEY SAINT 11/15/07 11/11/07

igna 17 61 00 46 41 .0 7. 63.0 74.9 68.6 .706 77.7 Rutgers USF .750 70.5 24-10 St. John’s 58.0 80.6 24-8 69.7 DePaul .774 64.6 Providence .844 70.0 24-7 69.8 Seton Hall 27-5 .611 Cincinnati 75.7 11-7 Syracuse 75.8 .722 Villanova 59.5 80.4 13-5 Pittsburgh 65.9 .778 West Virginia .833 14-4 Marquette 15-3 Connecticut Louisville Notre Dame Georgetown C onfe GAMES s on r

ence Opponet Re

su VIRGINIA LOUIS Pittsburgh -5 17 94 07 12 .5 6. 68.5 62.2 68.9 68.8 66.5 .355 62.1 75.8 .387 11-20 72.6 72.2 .367 12-19 72.7 .367 11-19 70.7 67.7 .484 11-19 70.1 64.5 59.4 15-16 66.9 63.6 .419 .167 74.9 65.2 59.0 .167 3-15 13-18 74.1 74.2 70.0 .278 3-15 .743 70.3 .333 5-13 67.6 .333 26-9 6-12 61.3 63.8 6-12 71.9 .444 67.5 .750 8-10 70.7 24-8 .556 10-8 61.4 71.2 .778 14-4 -1 39 19 63 71 .3 7. 77.2 76.6 .531 17-15 76.3 64.3 75.8 71.9 .727 .389 24-9 7-11 68.4 73.9 .611 11-7 W-L - .0 7. 7. 1-3 54 85 74.0 78.5 69.3 72.8 .594 .625 19-13 20-12 72.3 69.2 73.7 69.2 .500 .500 9-9 9-9 st l STATE F P PF Pct ts and CONFERENCE

A&T HOME OVERALL S 2-) 1-) 57 (5-0) (5-7) (16-2) (15-1) (26-9) (11-8) i n gs

◆

A O) 66 19562 76-69 W (OT) 19544 65-64 W (OT) W-L South 90 (-) (4-0) (1-0) (2-1) (3-6) (9-0) (7-2) W/L 8-8 12280 85-68 W 7-5 19562 19562 19562 74-65 12051 68-61 26632 70-64 11525 W 98-79 W 82-77 W 73-67 10217 W W 12508 W 82-63 5219 69-57 12508 W 12508 6027 81-57 W 69-60 10851 84-70 W 79-66 W 9229 96-75 W 5358 W 9660 9433 W 75-74 10596 73-68 78-52 80-53 W 92-45 9072 W W W W 103-62 W 5-4 12508 55-54 W 6-8 8231 9034 69-58 88-61 W W 7-5 9449 78-45 W 6-6 13960 12508 62-76 11418 19011 73-75 L 70-82 16294 54-72 12508 L L 53-60 10684 L 64-77 L 6500 59-62 L 13435 L 63-64 55-80 L L

P P PF Pct Score Regional A * denotes W AY NEUTRAL OVERALL conference game A ttend

12 A