Pitt coach Jamie Dixon can live with some turnovers. He can stomach when a player tries to make an extra pass, for example. And he can tolerate an aggressive play that causes an offensive foul once in a while.

The turnovers Dixon cannot live with -- the ones he is trying to eliminate -- are the unforced errors. Pitt players have been called for an inordinate number of traveling calls in recent games, and it has caused the Panthers' turnovers to climb.

"Turnovers are a big thing to me," Dixon said yesterday after practice. "We're pretty good. Our goal is always less than 12. That's a tough number to shoot for, but it's a hard number to achieve."

Turnovers have been a persistent problem for the Panthers in Big East Conference play, especially in the past five games. Pitt is averaging 14 turnovers per game in Big East play, 16 in the past six games.

The Panthers had 16 turnovers in the loss to Connecticut, 15 in the loss to Georgetown and 14 in the loss at Marquette. All those losses were by four points or fewer, meaning any possession during the course of game could have been the difference.

Even in their recent victories, the Panthers have not been taking care of the ball. They had 19 turnovers against West Virginia, 18 against Cincinnati and 13 against Providence.

Pitt is 10th in the Big East in turnover margin (-1.23). In mid-December, the Panthers were plus-five in turnover margin in non-conference games.

"It's very important," freshman point guard Levance Fields said. "Every possession counts. We try to keep the turnovers to around 12 per game. Lately, we've been around 18 or 19. We've been getting away from it. We definitely have to keep every possession. We have to take care of the ball. We're working at that."

Fields said many of the turnovers can be eliminated by making smarter decisions.

"Sometimes it's trying to make the difficult pass, trying to be fancy instead of doing the basic pass," he said. "And sometimes it's not being focused. Sometimes guys aren't concentrating. It can be a good pass and the guy doesn't catch it. We have to do a better job at it."

Fields splits the point-guard duties with sophomore Ronald Ramon. Ramon is of the belief that the turnovers are because of free-lancing outside the confines of the offense.

"When we get away from our offense and things don't go our way, we give away some turnovers," he said.

Pitt's offense has been clicking in recent games. The Panthers have scored 82 or more points the past three games. Ramon said the Panthers have to get back to playing better defense and taking better care of the ball.

"Defense is our game. That's how we win. We just have to make sure we're stopping people."

Pitt plays host to Providence at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers are tied with West Virginia for third place in the conference standings and need to win to stay alive for a bye at the Big East tournament in two weeks.

The Panthers have not played a game since losing Saturday to Marquette. Providence has won three of its past five games and pushed Pitt to the brink two weeks ago before falling, 85-77.

"I know the guys are anxious to play," Dixon said. "I don't know how much longer we can wait. The guys want to play. I'm ready to play. It's been awhile."

NOTES -- Pitt is celebrating its 100th season of men's basketball this weekend with a number of events. Eighty former players will be honored at halftime of the game Saturday. School officials will unveil Pitt's 15-member All-Centennial Team. The Panthers will wear blue throwback uniforms from the 1960s in the game. The previous time blue uniforms were worn for a home game was in an exhibition game in 1980, Roy Chipman's first game as head coach. ... Men's basketball trainer Tony Salesi has been promoted to assistant director of the Pitt Performance Team. Salesi will assist Team Performance director Rob Blanc. Salesi will continue in his role as trainer for men's basketball and as coordinator of clinical services for Pitt Olympic sports.