2007-08 College Basketball Preview
Pitt Panthers
By Chris Dokish

The Pitt basketball program won 29 games and went to the Sweet 16's last year. Ho hum. Few programs in the country are as consistent as the Panthers who have won at least 25 games in five of the last six seasons. Even the season they did not win 25 games, they won 20 and went to the NCAA tournament. Head coach Jamie Dixon is responsible for three of those highly successful seasons, and while he may take a different route to get there this time, the results may be the same.

Gone are three year starters Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall, two talented, experienced, and smart players whose size helped Pitt overpower teams. With them gone, the lineup gets much smaller, but also more athletic, and both occurrences are bound to change, at least a little, the style that most expect from Panthers teams.

"We're a lot faster this year," says Panthers assistant Orlando Antigua. "We will run more but we will run smart and only when there are opportunities to run. But if it's not there, we will settle into our usual half-court offense where we will show disciple and get good shots and beat you off the dribble."

To excel at that offense, the low post players must rebound well, then execute excellent outlet passes. That's where freshman sensation DeJuan Blair comes in. The 6'7" 270 pound behemoth has the potential for greatness and is capable of getting double digits in points and rebounds every time he is on the floor. But while he has earned his rep as a killer in the paint, his passing is one of his best assets.

"One of the most surprising parts of his game is just how good of a passer he is," says Antigua. "He can grab it in and get it off in a flash".

Despite being only a 6'7" freshman, Blair will likely start at center. "He's looking great," says Antigua. "He's getting in great shape and he has a really high basketball IQ, which people haven't really realized yet. But he is more than just talented. He knows how to play the game."

Blair is blessed with long arms and a wide body, so offensively, at least, his size should not be a problem. He will be joined in the blocks by 6'6" Sam Young, a highly athletic junior who is poised to have a breakout year now that his knees are pain free and he is back to his normal position of power forward. The main reserve for both will be Tyrell Biggs, a 6'7" junior that Antigua says is finally living up to his potential.

"Tyrell has been practicing only at power forward but he will see a good amount of time at center, too," says Antigua. "He's been playing so good lately that he is hard to keep off the court right now."

At small forward, 6'4" senior Mike Cook returns as a starter and he will be backed up by 6'6" redshirt freshman Gilbert Brown, a jumping jack with quickly developing skills. "We expect Gilbert to make big strides this year," says Antigua. "His confidence level is extremely high now that he knows what to expect from us."

At guard, 5'11" junior Levance Fields is back to run the show, and is expected to have a big year, while senior 6'1" senior Ronald Ramon will start at shooting guard. When Fields needs a break, Ramon will move over to run the point. The guard reserves are 6'1" senior Keith Benjamin and 6'3" freshman Bradley Wanamaker, a tough, hard charging, defensive stopper that the Oakland Zoo will immediately champion.

Cassin Diggs, a 6'10" junior college center, will also see a few minutes at center, bringing the team to a ten man rotation. Freshmen centers Gary McGhee, who may redshirt, and Austin Wallace, who redshirted last season, are not expected to play many minutes, if any.