Submit your Pitt basketball question

Q: I know being No. 7 or No. 4 in the polls at this point in the season means nothing come tournament time next month, but does it serve as a motivator for the team to go out and blast West Virginia on its home court Wednesday when three teams above Pitt lose in the polls but the Panthers don't move up? Did coach (Jamie) Dixon or the players have anything to say about what I would consider a major snub?

Steven Cable, Bangkok, Thailand

FITTIPALDO: Pitt's place in the polls has not been a major topic since the beginning of the season when the Panthers had a chance to be No. 1. The players talked about that possibility and were genuinely excited about where they stood in the polls. But being No. 4 or No. 7 makes no difference to them. The only snub they have to worry about in the future is the NCAA tournament seeding. That's the only thing that matters. And the NCAA tournament selection committee uses the RPI rankings more than they do the media and coaches' polls to make its determination on seeds.

Q: I have been to or seen almost every Pitt game this season. What I can't understand is why does it seem Aaron Gray is open a lot under the basket and doesn't get the ball? Is it because he doesn't call for the ball or is it because Jamie would prefer to see the guards shoot the ball from the outside? With a weapon like a 7-footer, why do we continue to be a jump shot team?

Bill Artosky, Trooper, Pa.

FITTIPALDO: From what I see, Gray is getting plenty of touches. He just is not taking a lot of shots. That's a huge difference. Pitt is looking for the best shot it can get on every possession. If Gray gets the ball in the post and gets double-teamed, he is going to pass out to an open guard for a better shot. That's the way this offense is set up. As long as the guards are shooting it well there are no problems.

It is interesting to compare Gray with North Carolina's Tyler Hansborough. I was watching the North Carolina-North Carolina State game over the weekend, and Hansborough was fighting through double teams and scoring. I guess it's a matter of having confidence in your teammates and the offense. Pitt clearly has confidence in its outside shooters and I don't see Dixon's strategy changing in the final month of the season.

Q: I try to watch Pitt every chance I get here in Atlanta. I like that anyone on the team can be a go-to guy every night. You can't focus on any one player because they have great balance. That said I saw every game they lost this year and except for the Wisconsin game, if they had made their fouls shots there would have been no need for overtime. This has plagued Pitt the past few years. When will they put some attention to this? It could mean the difference between a first-round exit and going to the Final Four.

Joe, Atlanta

FITTIPALDO: They put plenty of attention to it, Joe, but there's a big difference between doing it in practice and in games with the outcome of the contest on your shoulders. One can't help thinking about how an NCAA tournament game will be impacted if Aaron Gray goes to the line with less than a minute left and Pitt up or down by one. He is shooting 61 percent from the line. There is great reason for concern. I suppose Dixon could keep Gray on the bench in those end-of-game situations like he did against Marquette, but Dixon had to put him back in the game in overtime and it ended up costing the Panthers because he missed so many free throws. It's a tough situation, and I agree, it could come back to haunt them in the postseason.

Q: Why won't Pitt and UCLA play? Have Ben and Jamie been snacking at the Dapper Dan dinner table with JoePa? Give the people what they want.

Steve Sabol, Wilkins

FITTIPALDO: This in no way resembles Pitt and Penn State not playing in football. That was a long-standing rivalry that was stopped because Joe Paterno did not want to play the game anymore. This is about friends not wanting to compete against one another. There is no rivalry between Pitt and UCLA. I think Howland said as soon as Jamie got the Pitt job that he was never going to schedule Pitt as long as Jamie was there. He had absolutely no interest in playing his friend. I have since asked him on two or three other occasions and his answer is always a steadfast no. Maybe when Ben retires, Pitt can play UCLA. Not until then.

Q: You answered a question about Dixon by noting that he is signed through the 2012-13 season. However, as we all know, the contract of a college coach is about as binding as Anthony Morelli's verbal commitment was to Pitt, right? So what good would that be if Dixon's dream job comes calling?

Bob Locicero of Frederick, Md.

FITTIPALDO: You're absolutely correct, Bob. Coach's contracts are not worth the paper they are printed on. If it's any peace of mind, Dixon said all the right things after signing the contract, like how he felt at home and how he wanted to raise his family here. I suppose it's up to each individual out there to make up their own mind about believing what he said.

Q: What is the status of freshman Gilbert Brown? Since he has not been playing, has he been redshirted?

Robert Hickey, New Castle

FITTIPALDO: Brown is expected to take a redshirt this season. The only way that could change is if there is a serious injury to one of the guards that would require Brown to play. Otherwise, he will have four years of eligibility remaining after this season.