Bill Kostroun/Associated Press photos Jamie Dixon, Pitt coach -- "I don't know what other teams are 6-0 in conference games on the road. It's a great sign. It's something that's a reflection of our decision-making and shows we have an understanding of what we have to do." Click photo for larger image. Related story Women's basketball: A 'missed' chance for Panthers

The road was one place Pitt wanted to forget last season. Five losses, all by five points or fewer, cost the Panthers a shot at a Big East regular-season championship and a higher seed in the NCAA tournament.

There was that blown 15-point lead at Georgetown, an ugly loss at St. John's, blown opportunities at Connecticut and West Virginia in the final minute and a heartbreaking loss at Marquette. For one reason or another, the Panthers did not make plays down the stretch at the end of close games to pick up those important wins on the road.

Steeled by those experiences from last season, the Panthers have been road warriors through the first seven weeks of the Big East schedule. Pitt is the only team in the Big East without a road loss, and much of it is due to remembering those excruciating losses

"We've been better on the road because that's something we talked about all offseason," sophomore point guard Levance Fields said. "Last season, that was one of our struggles. We're not turning the ball over as much and we're executing down the stretch. In close games, we're not losing our heads. We're staying poised. We showed it again [Monday night]."

Pitt is 6-0 on the road in conference play after beating Seton Hall, 71-68, Monday night. The Panthers are attempting to become only the seventh team in Big East history to go through an undefeated road season. The last time it happened was 1998-99, when Connecticut was 9-0 on the road. St. John's was 8-0 in 1984-85 and Georgetown was 8-0 in 1983-84. Georgetown, St. John's and Syracuse were undefeated on the road in 1979-80, the first year of the Big East, but each team had to play only three road games.

Pitt has a chance to join those special teams in Big East lore, but its final two road games are at No. 12 Georgetown and No. 16 Marquette. The game Saturday afternoon game at Georgetown likely will decide the Big East regular-season championship.

The availability of injured center Aaron Gray will be a key factor in whether or not Pitt can reach 7-0. Click photo for larger image.

"We obviously have a tough one coming up against Georgetown," senior forward Levon Kendall said. "They're rolling right now with their streak. If we win that game, we win the Big East championship. That's the main focus. We just have to keep doing what we've been doing all year."

Pitt's best conference road record is 6-2, achieved on four occasions, most recently in 2003-04, but going undefeated will be a tall task considering the caliber of competition. There is no question that Pitt has the resolve, however, to make a run at the record. The Panthers know what it takes to win games as evidenced by their made poise down the stretch Monday against Seton Hall.

It was the latest in a long line of impressive road wins decided in the final few minutes. Pitt had to stave off a hard-charging West Virginia team earlier this month and made some clutch shots to win at Villanova before that. All but one road victory has been decided by 10 points or fewer, a sign that the Panthers have learned from their mistakes last season.

Road warriors
If Pitt wins at Georgetown Saturday, it will join an elite group. Here's a look at zero and one-loss road records in Big East play since 1979-80:
Rec.	School	Year
9-0	Connecticut	1998-99
8-0	Georgetown	1983-84
8-0	St. John's	1984-85
3-0	Georgetown	1979-80
3-0	St. John's	1979-80
3-0	Syracuse	1979-80
8-1	Connecticut	1995-96
8-1	Connecticut	1994-95
8-1	Miami	1998-99
7-1	Connecticut	2004-05
7-1	Georgetown	1984-85
7-1	Miami	1999-00
7-1	Villanova	2005-06
2-1	Boston College	1979-80

"I don't know what other teams are 6-0 in conference games on the road," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "It's a great sign. It's something that's a reflection of our decision-making and shows we have an understanding of what we have to do. There has been recognition of what other teams are trying to do to us in every road game we've had. We've played pressing teams and trapping teams and we've really recognized what they're trying to do. We've played to our strengths."

Pitt came back from a 10-point first-half deficit against Seton Hall and trailed Villanova by nine early in the second half. When things have gone awry, this team has refused to push the panic button.

"We're just consistent," Kendall said. "We've had some slow starts, but we stick to our principles. We don't get riled up. We have some older guys who have been through it, especially last year when we had some tough games that we lost. We're coming out on top in these ones. We have the two most important road games coming up. We just have to keep doing it."

Fields said he is noticing a big difference on the road this season. In those close losses a year ago the Panthers did not have confidence that things were going to turn out well. This year, he said, everyone wants the ball in their hands to take the big shot. That confidence has been contagious.

"A lot of guys have been in those situations last year or the season before, so we're used to it now," he said. "Guys are waiting to make plays when we're in those situations."