DENVER -- Through its first 35 games, Pitt had become as familiar with the Big East Conference officials as it had the opposition. Now, in addition to preparing for an unknown team from a minor conference, the Panthers face the likelihood of having a new set of officials in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA assigns officials from other parts of the country to do tournament games, so the Panthers might get officials who work in the Midwest, South or West and are unfamiliar with the rugged Big East style of play.

In the past, this has presented problems for teams from the Big East, a league known for its physical style of play.

It happened to Pitt two years ago in a second-round game against Bradley. Center Aaron Gray picked up two early fouls and had to sit for 12 minutes in the first half. He picked up his third foul early in the second half and had to play cautiously the rest of the game. Gray's counterpart, Patrick O'Bradley, scored 28 points, and Bradley won, 72-66.

"My coaches just told me to be careful, keep playing physical, but be careful," freshman center DeJuan Blair said. "Just keep being me. Hopefully, I won't get any little reach-in or ticky-tack fouls. Hopefully, they'll just let me play."

Blair has been susceptible to fouls throughout the season. In the Big East tournament, he played only nine minutes against Marquette in the semifinals and 22 against Cincinnati in a first-round game because of foul trouble. He scored only two points in each of those games.

The Panthers have to be especially cognizant of the foul situation because coach Jamie Dixon has been playing with basically a seven-man rotation since the end of the regular season.

"That's not something we can worry about," junior point guard Levance Fields said. "In previous years, there's been a lot of talk about that. For the most part, we're just going to try to play our game. If we have to adjust to the refs, we have to adjust to the refs. We can't worry about that. We just have to play the way we play."

A mile high

Pitt spent yesterday adjusting to the altitude in Denver. Players said they noticed they were getting winded easier than they usually do but don't expect it to be an issue during the game.

"In practice I did kind of see what they were talking about," junior forward Sam Young said. "You are a little more winded. But at the same time I ran extra hard, harder than I would in a game situation. I felt it, but at the same time, I feel good because I did extra."

Team trainer Tony Salesi did not do anything special for the trip other than making sure his players were well-rested and well-hydrated.

"You just give them the Gatorade and water to the point that they quit asking for it," Salesi said. "They're sick of seeing me come around with the Gatorade."

Off the mark

The return of Fields has meant a lot to Pitt's late-season improvement. Fields, who sat out nearly seven weeks with a fractured left foot, could be even more important to the Panthers if he is able to find his shooting touch in the NCAA tournament.

Since returning, Fields has made only 32 of 115 shots (27.8 percent) from the field. Before his injury, Fields was shooting 44.8 percent. For his career, Fields is a 41.4 percent shooter.

"It could only add to what's going on," Fields said. "That's been the real special thing about this, me not shooting well the way I know I could or should. It shows how good of a team we are. If I shoot better, it will only enhance our team and make us better."

Short jumpers

Big East teams are 10-0 all time in the NCAA tournament in Denver. ... Oral Roberts guard Robert Jarvis has an appreciation for the Big East: "The Big East, that's my favorite conference. I watch it all the time. I know their style of play." ... Pitt and Oral Roberts have never played.