For Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, dipping into his bench this season has been a lot like sampling from a box of chocolates -- he never knows what he is going to get.

In the first five games of the Big East schedule, the reserves averaged 5.6 points a game. Over the next five-game stretch, they averaged 11.6 per game, only to be followed by a 5.4 average over the final five games of the conference's regular-season schedule.

The inconsistency and unpredictability of the bench was one of the perceived weaknesses of the team, along with their suspect outside shooting and free-throw shooting. But in the Big East tournament, having to play three games in three days, Dixon went to his bench early and often, and they responded with some dynamic play.

Led by junior forward Mark McCarroll and senior center Toree Morris, the reserves scored 35 points in three Big East tournament games, including 20 in the championship game against Connecticut. That was the most points scored by the bench in eight games.

Morris, who had one point in the six games before the conference tournament, scored 12 points in the three games at Madison Square Garden.

McCarroll scored 20 points in the tournament, including 11 in the title game against Connecticut. He hadn't scored in the previous two games.

Even Antonio Graves, who had all but disappeared from the lineup late in the season, had a big 3-pointer, a basket that gave the Panthers an 11-point lead with 8:25 remaining against the Huskies.

"That's the biggest thing we have going for us right now, is how those guys played," Dixon said.

The Panthers (29-4) play Central Florida (25-5) at approximately 9:55 p.m. tomorrow in an NCAA first-round game in Milwaukee.

Morris' play has been the biggest positive for the Panthers. McCarroll and Graves had shown up in big games at various time this season. But Morris, the 6-foot-10, 282-pound former starter, struggled to find his role on the team after being replaced by Chris Taft in the starting lineup.

He has tripled his season scoring average the past two games, scoring six points in the Big East semifinal victory against Boston College and six more in the championship game loss against Connecticut.

"I feel like I'm coming on at the right time," Morris said. "My team needs me to step up and come in and do those things. If it's catching the ball and making a move, setting screens, getting an offensive rebound, playing good defense. They're going to need me to do something even if I'm not putting the ball in the hole. That'll be very key."

McCarroll has played his best in some of Pitt's biggest games. He scored his season-high 26 points in Pitt's 76-55 victory against Georgia. He had 13 against Murray State, 14 against Florida State, 15 at Syracuse and 15 at home against Connecticut, all victories for the Panthers.

Against Connecticut in the conference title game, McCarroll put the Panthers ahead, 58-57, with 95 seconds to go after banking in a jumper from the wing. He also took the shot in Pitt's final possession.

"You almost don't want to say he's a reserve," Morris said. "He could be starting and doing the same things. It's tough to call him a reserve because he's in there in a lot of crunch-time situations."

In Pitt's past two NCAA tournament appearances, the Panthers received large scoring contributions from the bench. Led by Chevon Troutman last season, the reserves scored 66 points in the three NCAA games. Two years ago, the bench contributed 50 points in the three NCAA games.

Given the way Pitt's offense has struggled, the play of McCarroll, Morris and Graves and Yuri Demetris could determine whether the Panthers get past the third round this time.

"They're the reason we are where we are," Dixon said of the bench. "We feel very comfortable with them. They've played well the last three games. They bring competitiveness to our practices as well. It's a big part of why we've improved all year long."