#1 Cochran - PSR Showdown
Is this the year Pitt finally gets past the Sweet 16?

Another Early Exit
By Tim Benz
105.9 The X and Fox Sports Radio 970

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on Dwayne Wade. Fool me a sixth time, shame on me, you, the polls and March Madness.

I don't think Pitt will move beyond the Sweet 16 this year. Why? Because much like waiting to see the Cubs win the World Series, peace in the Middle East, and a new arena in Pittsburgh…I'll need to see it before I believe it.

I don't feel such a prediction about Pitt hoops is being overly critical. I simply think its being fair.

After all, the Panthers have found every way possible to lose before reaching the Elite 8 during the Howland / Dixon era. They hung with, but lost to, a superior all around team in Oklahoma State (2004). They were beaten by a superior individual player (Dwayne Wade, Marquette 2003). And they were beaten by teams from inferior conferences that simply played superior games on given days (Kent State 2002, Pacific 2005, Bradley 2006).

Since the Howland/Dixon regime has taken over in Oakland, the Sweet 16 game has been the bug-a-boo for one specific, recurring reason. Regardless of the third round vanquishing foe in that game over the years (and the first round Pacific loss in '05), one common thread sews the losses together: The normally stifling Pitt defense cracks just a little bit somewhere during the contest, and the constantly teetering offense falls off a cliff.

We all want to believe that will change this year, but too much historical evidence to the contrary exists, suggesting it will not.

One good thing about Pitt this year, we'll have a better gauge of who they are as a team before March because the Panthers play a better schedule than they normally do. The likes of Washington, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin will provide a good litmus test outside the conference. But as is normally the case with Pitt, their success or failure will be based on how far they get in the NCAA tournament. And my guess is the team's run will end precisely where it has in each of last five years… before the second weekend of March Madness is Complete.

Tim Benz hosts the morning show on 105.9 The X FM weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. He's also the co-host of Bendel and Benz on Fox Sports Radio 970-AM, airing afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m.

Over The Hump
By Joe Starkey
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I can think of a lot of reasons why Pitt will finally advance past the Sweet 16, but the biggest is their biggest player.

How many other teams in the country have a 7-footer who can score and rebound like Aaron Gray?

Oh, I know: Your quick reply is that Gray was outplayed by somebody named Patrick O'Bryant in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year.

My quick reply is that O'Bryant went ninth overall in the NBA Draft.

Besides, Gray learned a lot from that game and from the Big East tournament, when he wore down and missed too many easy shots. He learned that in order to be a truly dominant player, he'd need to improve his conditioning.

Based on his history, I'm betting he took care of the problem during the off-season.

Gray came to Pitt as a lightly recruited, overweight 7-footer. But he dedicated himself to conditioning, dropped tons of weight, gained strength and averaged a double-double in the Big East last season. This is a kid who follows through on his goals - and his goal this year is to lead Pitt to the latter stages of the NCAA tournament.

He's going to make most of those bunnies this year. He's going to improve his passing out of double teams, too.

I also love the fact that Gray's supporting cast has a year of big-game experience under its belt. A lot of these guys -Levance Fields, Ronald Ramon, Sam Young, Keith Benjamin-will have more of a chance to shine without Carl Krauser dominating the ball. They showed in the Big East tournament that they're up to it. Fields and Young are going to be stars.

Transfer Mike Cook is eligible to play this season too, and he's an athletic scorer. Power forward Tyrell Biggs has dropped weight and will be much more of a factor inside. And I haven't even mentioned Levon Kendall.

Finally, don't discount this factor: Pitt is finally playing a representative non-league schedule. Heck, a rugged one. Road games at Auburn, Wisconsin and Oklahoma State will pay off big-time in the long run.

The Panthers will be much better prepared for the rigors of NCAA tournament play. Much better prepared for a run to the Elite 8 and, perhaps, beyond.

Joe Starkey is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribine Review.