Ray Fittipaldo: OK, folks, we all have 30 minutes to kill before the Mitchell Report comes out. So let's talk some Pitt basketball in the interim. Fire away with questions.

LetsGoPitt: What's it going to take for the team to get some notice in this city? It's a top 10 team and nobody is talking about it!

Ray Fittipaldo: I write about the team almost seven days a week, so you must be talking about other media outlets. I've been covering this team for five years now and I understand your frustration. It's going to be like it's always been. As soon as the Steelers season ends, peoiple will start paying attention to the Panthers.

Mr._Jones: Zavackas 6-9 and Jaron 6-5? You can't be serious :) More like 6-7 and 6-2 and a half, right? This team has just as much athleticism inside as that team and needs to play better inside defense. However, that team had Page and Brown, who were superior defenders, and Knight, who was an excellent defender, on the perimeter, and are much stronger defensively (and on the boards) as a group than Cook, Ramon and Fields. Perhaps Brown and maybe Wanamaker could help. Thoughts on the overall state of Pitt defense and rebounding?

Ray Fittipaldo: The defense has been solid except for a few stretches. The first half of the Washington game was probably the poorest defensive performance of the season. THis team will not approach the defensive superiority of those teams from a few years back, but it was not designed to be that way. This team was put together to be an up-tempo, offensive team that would also play good, solid defense. The rebounding has been very good consdiering the lack of height. I would expect once the Panthers begin to encounter some taller teams they will struggle more. But they're doing just fine in that realm now.

TheGhostofCharlesSmith: Is Pitt too small to compete with the big boys this year?

Ray Fittipaldo: I don't think so. A few years ago, Villanova got to the Elite Eight with a four-guard rotation. West Virginia got to the Elite Eight without a dominant post presence. Remember, Pittsnogle played more like a guard than a center. Having height is nice, but more and more teams are making the transition to being more athletic. Pitt is in that transition and I would not rule the Panthers out because their tallest starter is 6 feet 7.

TheGhostofCharlesSmith: What are the chances that Jonathan Baldwin plays for Coach Dixon? Can he help?

Ray Fittipaldo: I have not asked coach Dixon about Baldwin, but I'm pretty sure he would not deny a player the opportunity to try out for the team. Especially an athlete like Baldwin. But it's very difficult for a football player to make an impact on a basketball team when they walk in three months after practice has started. He will be a football player first and Pitt football fans should look forward to his contributions at Heinz Field more than the Pete.

Ray Fittipaldo: Sorry about the delay, folks. But I had been waiting for Sean Sutton to call for two days and he finally called a few minutes ago. So now, back to your questions.

Mr._Jones: What is your overview of the match-ups for the Duke game and do you have a prediction?

Ray Fittipaldo: First off, I think Oklahoma State will provide a stiff challenge on Saturday. Of course, Duke will be Pitt's toughest matchup of the season thus far. Coach K has recruited a bunch of McDonald's All-Americans as he always does and they'll have the home crowd. I think Pitt will be OK with the matchup at point guard with Paulus and FIelds. I might even give FIelds a slight edge. The matchup with Blair and Sigler should be interesting as well. It's the other spots where Duke might have the advantage. But I expect a close game. It will be a great barometer for Pitt.

Terrelle: I thought the win over Washington was a big win. Thats a game Pitt would have lost in the past. What do you think?

Ray Fittipaldo: I don't know if that's a game they lose int he past. They've won a lot of games like that over the years. The thing I'd like to see out of Pitt is finishing better. The Panthers did not put away Duquesne until the final minute and they almost blew a nine-point lead with six minutes left against Washington. But yes, it was a huge win because it sets them up to go into the Big East schedule with one, maybe two losses. Who knows? Maybe they'll go in undefeated.

TheGhostofCharlesSmith: What are your thoughts on Gilbert Brown? I think he can be a scorer for Pitt.

Ray Fittipaldo: Brown has played very well. But he's having a hard time getting minutes. He only played 12 against Washington. For a player to make a big impact he needs to play more than that. For right now, Brown is doing well in the role coach Dixon has specified. But yes, I agree with you that he could do more with an increased role.

Swervin__Curvin_Richards: how big would a W against Duke in NYC be for recruiting? Pitt's had a lot of good conference wins, but a non-conference power like Duke, in my opinion, would be huge

Ray Fittipaldo: It would be a nice boost, for sure. But don't get the idea that it would be bad if Pitt lost. As long as the Panthers play well, this game is great exposure for the team and the school. Pitt recruits New York City hard, so this is just another opportunity for Dixon and his staff to make an impression.

LetsGoPitt: Why do you think Pitt has such a hard time getting big-time recruits? Is it related to the fact that their team success doesn't translate into NBA offers for the players?

Ray Fittipaldo: I'm sure the NBA thing has a lot to do with it. The elite high school players want to see a track record with a coach in terms of his ability to get players to the NBA. As of today, Pitt has only one player in the league -- Aaron Gray. And he isn't playing much for the Chicago Bulls. Once Pitt places an elite player or two in the NBA things will turn in the other direction. Also, getting past the Sweet 16 would help, too. Right now, Pitt is viewed as a program that is very good. It might be viewed as great with a Final Four appearance or two.

Lave_Dittlefield: Who does OK St have on their squad this year that could pose a threat to the Panthers?

Ray Fittipaldo: They have a freshman by the name of James Anderson, who is scoring 21 points per game. He is one of the top freshmen in the country. The Cowboys are talented but very young. If Pitt can keep Anderson in check the Panthers should be OK.

Ray Fittipaldo: Thanks for all the questions this week. We'll do it again next week from New York City a few hours before the big game with Duke.