PITTSBURGH (AP) -This is one of those weeks where No. 3 Pitt dares not look ahead.
The Panthers (26-3, 13-3 Big East) can still achieve their season-long goal of being a top seed in the NCAA tournament. They have the chance to beat a No. 1 team for only the second time in school history – and the second time this season. There’s also a possibility they could reclaim the No. 1 ranking.
It won’t be easy.
The Panthers could wrap up a remarkable regular season if they beat No. 1 Connecticut for the second time this season, on Saturday in Pittsburgh – the perfect way for Pitt to head into next week’s Big East tournament.
First, though, the Panthers face No. 13 Marquette (23-6, 12-4) on Wednesday night in the kind of game that can cause any highly ranked team to slip.
2) in their last two games.
If the Panthers want to be tested going into the Big East tournament, this is the way to do it.
“The rankings really don’t mean much now that we’re in March,” Pitt guard Jermaine Dixon said. “We only have a couple of games left and then we’ll get into the Big East tournament. And it’ll be one and done. So we just have to win these next couple of games and then get ready for the tournament.”
This is the only meeting between Pitt and Marquette this season. Last season, the Golden Eagles won easily at home, 72-54, but Pitt came back to win 68-61 in the Big East semifinals in New York.
This season, the Panthers get the benefit of closing the regular season at home, where they are 17-0. Every other Big East team has lost at least once at home.
“We’ve beaten good teams,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “But the past doesn’t do anything for us Wednesday and Saturday. We have to play as well as we can play, so that’s what we’ll try to do.”
Pitt center DeJuan Blair has a bruised left knee that kept him out for part of Monday’s practice, but he is expected to play. No Pitt starter has missed a Big East game due to injury this season.
Marquette is 0-2 since losing James, its fourth-leading scorer, although Pitt didn’t see much of a drop-off with Maurice Acker replacing him.
‘ Jamie Dixon said. “So I don’t believe they’ll have a problem dealing with it. I think they’re doing the same things as when James was in there. They try to run and get the ball out to their wings.”
Jerel McNeal, Marquette’s top scorer with a 19.8 average (22.1 in Big East play), had a combined 34 points – 17 in each game – against Pitt last season. He is currently third in the Big East in scoring. Wesley Matthews averages 18.8 points and Lazar Hayward averages 15.9.
Sam Young leads Pitt with an 18.4 average and is coming off a 29-point game in an 89-78 win at Seton Hall.
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