Eight days ago, Pitt got behind by 27 points and eventually lost to host Marquette, 72-54. On Thursday night, the Panthers blew an 11-point second-half lead against host Notre Dame and lost, 82-70.

By no means do two double-digit losses mean the Panthers are not going to make the NCAA tournament, but the margins of defeat and the manner in which they lost are troublesome for senior guard Keith Benjamin, who takes the blame for the team's substandard performances in recent games.

Benjamin said he and fellow senior Ronald Ramon have failed to adequately lead this team.

"It comes down to the seniors," Benjamin said. "It's up to me and Ronald. We have the responsibility to show these guys how to win. Right now we're just not doing a great job. This is a challenge for us."

In a matter of six days, Pitt suffered its two worst road losses under coach Jamie Dixon, who had not lost by more than eight points in any of his previous 45 road games.

Pitt will be looking to avoid a rare three-game losing streak when first-place Louisville visits Petersen Events Center for a crucial Big East Conference contest at noon tomorrow. The Panthers have lost three in row only once under Dixon.

"We talk so much about how we don't want to go out like the rest of the senior classes [in previous years]," Benjamin said. "Right now, the other senior classes are up on us. They led Pitt better. Me and Ron have to get something done. We have to get through to these guys. And we're going to. We have to save the season. We're not going to let it go down."

The Panthers are not in imminent danger of falling out of contention for an NCAA tournament berth. They are still in relatively good shape for the tournament with a 19-7 overall record and a 7-6 record in Big East play. They have a solid RPI rating of 21.

If Pitt wins three of its final five regular-season games or two of the final five and one game at the Big East tournament the Panthers should make the NCAA 65-team field.

But it was obvious after the Notre Dame game that Benjamin was bothered by the frequency of Pitt's losses and their nature.

One more loss will give the Panthers their most losses in conference play since the 2000-01 season.

Benjamin took personal responsibility for allowing Notre Dame guard Tory Jackson to get 13 rebounds. He said scoring has not helped Pitt win many games recently, so he is going to search for other ways to help the team win. He urges his teammates to do the same.

"It's vocal leadership, it's doing the right things," Benjamin said. "I have to make the right plays on the court, so everyone else sees that. I'm disappointed in myself. It beats me up that I've been here for four years and haven't take a charge. Those are the things we need to do better. We have to take charges, we need to get rebounds, box out, make the smart pass. When we do that we win. I'm looking forward doing everything that will help us win. Scoring those points hasn't helped us, so I'm going to have to do other things. I have to get rebounds, take charges. That's what I'm going to do."

For Benjamin and the rest of his teammates, the noon tip-off tomorrow can't come soon enough.

"I want at it right now," he said. "Trust me, I want this so bad. It's going to happen. We're playing a very hot team, a very tough team in Louisville. We're in the Pete. We want everyone in Pittsburgh not to give up and to show up on Sunday ready to rock the building. That's what we need right now."

•

NOTE -- Dr. Lee Walden, 64, a Pittsburgh native who travels around the country entertaining fans with his 3-point shooting exhibitions, will be performing at three local colleges this weekend. Walden, a 1961 Langley High School graduate, will be doing halftime shows at IUP today and at Pitt and Duquesne tomorrow. Walden, a chiropractor who resides in Evansville, Ind., once made 47 of 50 3-point attempts and has an average of 85 percent on his 3-point shots. He has performed at more than 60 games this season free of charge.