Pitt's strength is in its deep and experienced backcourt where an abundance of talented and experienced players reside.

The frontcourt is the big question mark as the Panthers get set to begin the 2007-08 season. At least it was supposed to be.

It's only two exhibition games, against Division II competition no less, but Pitt's young front line is looking like it's ready to flourish.

Pitt beat IUP, 83-31, last night behind the strong play of first-year starters Sam Young and DeJuan Blair. Young, a junior, and Blair, a freshman from Schenley High School, were offensive forces and paced the Panthers again.

Young had a game-high 16 points and Blair had 12 points and 12 rebounds. The other Pitt player in double figures was reserve power forward Tyrell Biggs with 10 points. The question mark about the front line will remain until Pitt plays more serious competition, but their performances in the two exhibition games is a positive sign for coach Jamie Dixon as the Panthers get ready for the season opener Friday against Houston Baptist.

Young and Blair led the Panthers in scoring in the two exhibition games with 16.5 and 11 points a game, respectively.

"I feel like we're ready to go," Young said. "We have a lot of young but experienced players. I feel like we're ready to take off and do a lot of big things, a lot of unexpected things."

Pitt's front line is constructed much different than last season when 7-foot center Aaron Gray and 6-9 power forward Levon Kendall manned the starting spots. Young is a small power forward at 6-6 and Blair a small center a 6-7.

That can be an advantage and a disadvantage. They will have offensive mismatches many times because of their athleticism, but they'll also have to deal with bigger and stronger players defensively.

IUP coach Joe Lombardi, a former Pitt assistant, does not believe their lack of height will be a big issue when the Panthers get to the meat of their Big East Conference schedule.

"They are small in size but not in stature," Lombardi said. "I think they'll be fine with the people they have inside"

Pitt took it to IUP from the opening tip and never let up. Young scored eight of his 16 points in the first five minutes of the game. He was 7 for 8 from the field and only played four minutes in the second half when Dixon took some time to evaluate some of his younger players.

Blair was 4 for 8 from the field and made 4 of 5 free throws. Eight of his 12 rebounds were of the offensive variety.

And Biggs, Gray's backup last season, appears to have found a comfort zone at power forward, his natural position. He was 5 for 5 from the field, mostly on jumpers from the outside. Surprisingly, he averaged 9.5 points per game in the two exhibition games, behind only Young and Blair.

Dixon said he likes the combination he has with Young and Biggs at power forward, although he left the door open for Biggs to receive more playing time at center as well.

The only negative for Pitt was a late ankle injury to freshman guard Bradley Wanamaker, who got tangled up with an IUP player with three minutes remaining. He has a sprained ankle and will be evaluated further today.

Wanamaker is developing into a valued member of Pitt's backcourt rotation. He had 10 assists and no turnovers in the two exhibition games and also averaged 5.5 points per game.