The Pittsburgh Panthers have been one of the best teams in college basketball this year, and I'm not just saying that because I am a fan.  Sam Young has been having a monster year, Dejuan Blair continues to improve and certainnly hasn't had a sophomore slump, and Levance Fields is one of the best PG in the league, and has the best assist/turnover ratio of any point guard in the country this year.  Earlier this year, Pitt rose to #1 in the polls for the first time in school history.  They also beat UConn twice when the Huskies were the #1 team in the country, first time they've ever toppled a #1 seed in school history as well.

When the Big East Tournament got underway, WVU got the last laugh after beating Pitt in their first game on night #3.  However, Pitt was already a near lock for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament by that time, and they got it.  The seeding process in the tournament began in 1979, and this is Pitt's first time as a #1 seed in the big dance.  They are currently on their longest running streak of consecutive appearances.  Pitt made it to the Final Four back in 1941, however, back then the tournament only had 8 teams.  The tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, and since then the Panthers have made the tournament 14 times including this current 8-year streak.  However, in these 14 tournament appearances, Pitt has been unable to advance past the Sweet 16.

Could this finally be the year the Panthers get over the hump and make it to the Final Four?  Many people have the idea, and I agree 110%, that it's now or never.  This is the best Panthers team I've ever seen.  Pitt owes their success to a man who is now on the opposite side of the country, UCLA's head coach Ben Howland.  He took over this team in 1999, and in his 2nd season the Panthers made it to the Big East Championship game and went to the NIT.  When Howland left after the 2003 season, assistant Jamie Dixon was promoted to head coach.  Dixon's record is mind-boggling compared to his predecessors, with Pitt's lowest win total for a season under his tenure being 24 in 2005-2006.

Tonight is the night the Panthers should finally get over that hump.  They have 3 of the nation's best players, and as I said before, if they don't advance this year, they may never have the chance again.  They're losing Young, Fields, and Tyrell Biggs.  It's time for the Panthers to put up or shut up, and tonight, after all the failures of the past, the 14th time is the charm.

BK over and out