Huskies invade Steel City seeking upset of Pitt

The seventh-ranked Panthers enter this contest on a rare down note, as they had a five-game win streak halted against Louisville this past Monday, 66-53. The loss was just the fourth on the season overall and the second in league play, where Pittsburgh sits atop the Big East standings at 10-2.

The Huskies are no stranger to setbacks, as they have struggled big time in the Pac-10 this year at just 6-8. The team also enters this contest following a loss, as the Huskies dropped a 65-61 decision to in-state rival Washington State on Wednesday.

This is just the third all-time meeting between these two teams on the hardwood, but the first since those two games in 1950. Washington won the previous two matchups that year.

The Huskies have had their problems in 2006-07, but the numbers suggest a team with a great deal of offensive talent. Washington still represents one of the nation’s better offensive squads, with the team shooting .470 from the floor and averaging nearly 80 points per game (78.8). Four of the team’s five starters are averaging double figures, starting with freshman center Spencer Hawes. The seven-foot youngster is converting just over 55 percent of his shots this season, while averaging 15.1 points per game. He is also tops in terms of blocks (40) and ranks second in rebounding (5.8 rpg). Jon Brockman is another banger down low, adding 14,1 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds per outing. Quincy Pondexter completes a potent frontcourt with 11.0 ppg. Justin Dentmon (10.9 ppg) and Ryan Appleby (9.6 ppg) provide perimeter balance. Dentmon is the team’s primary distributor (97 assists), while Appleby is the resident sniper (.427 from three-point range, 61-of-143). Hawes and Brockman were outstanding against Washington State this week, but the two big guys got little support in the loss to the Cougars. Hawes finished with 22 points and five rebounds, while Brockman recorded a huge double-double of 15 points and 14 boards.

The Panthers have offensive firepower as well, but rely more on defensive tenacity to win games. The team is holding opponents to a mere .401 shooting this year, resulting in just 61.1 ppg. At the other end of the court, the Panthers are shooting an efficient .489 from the floor and are netting 72.4 ppg. All-American candidate Aaron Gray leads the way with his strong play in the middle. The near seven-footer is converting almost 60 percent of the time (.588) and is averaging a double-double with team-highs of 14.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Mike Cook gives the team another frontcourt option with 10.2 ppg, thanks to .503 shooting, while Antonio Graves leads the way from the perimeter (10.0 ppg). He is joined out there by Levance Fields (9.5 ppg) and Ronald Ramon (8.7 ppg). The Panthers fell behind early and then got buried late in the second half, trailing by as much as 20 points, before getting handed a 13-point loss, the largest in Petersen Events Center history. Still, Gray was solid in the setback, recording his 30th career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Louisville. Fields chipped in with 11 points, but Pittsburgh turned the ball over 19 times and shot just .354 from the floor, including a miserable .143 from behind the arc (3-of-21).