Submit your Pitt basketball question

Q: What a game against Syracuse -- no defense and the Panthers still won. Pitt needs to play better defense. But how about the play of Gilbert Brown? I have liked him since the beginning of the season, and boy, did he come up with some big defensive plays. Plus, he made not one, but two, 3-pointers. Are those the first since the first Villanova game? Do you think Brown could be a key for Pitt now? They have needed someone else to score, and he played excellent defense in my opinion, even though on the whole Pitt did not play great defense.

David Zamperini, Erie

FITTIPALDO: Maybe Brown is better in a reserve role. He came off the bench in the last two games against Cincinnati and Syracuse and played very well. Dixon believes that Brown is playing better because he is logging fewer minutes than he did as a starter. He is a solid defender and can make things happen with his athleticism. His shooting has been suspect, but everyone around Pitt swears he shoots well in practice. Perhaps all he needed was a game like the one he had against Syracuse to get his confidence going with his shot. I don't know if Dixon needs to go back to starting Brown, but I do think he needs to play him more down the stretch.

Q: When Pitt was searching for Ben Howland's replacement, I favored John Calipari because of his ability to recruit NBA-type players. In light of his accomplishments at Memphis - in a less-prestigious conference and smaller media market - and Pitt's continued inabilty to land All-American type players, I would like to hear your hindsight appraisal of Pitt's decision that seemed to be based in part on the players support of Dixon. The most vocal, Chris Taft, quickly left Pitt.

Rock Dillaman, Pittsburgh

FITTIPALDO: Dixon is on the verge of leading Pitt to a seventh consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the fifth in a row since he has become head coach. That is impressive even if he has failed to bring in blue-chip recruits. I suppose one could argue that Calipari would have taken Pitt deeper into the NCAA tournament because of his ability to recruit future NBA players, but there was no guarantee of that. Calipari would have left Memphis in a minute to come home to Pittsburgh, but Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg would not bring him in for an interview. It's worked out well for both parties. Pitt has maintained its standing as one of the top teams in the Big East under Dixon and Memphis could be in the hunt for a national championship next month.