Pitt senior Tyrell Biggs came to Pitt three years ago as part of a heralded recruiting class that included Sam Young and Levance Fields. It was ranked as one of the top 25 in the country and all three were considered top-100 players coming from their high school and prep school programs.

Fields and Young have started 106 games between them and have developed into two of the finest players in the country at their respective positions. Biggs had similarly high expectations for himself, but they never materialized much to his chagrin.

Biggs spent his first three seasons as a reserve, a disheartening role for a player who had so many accolades coming out of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey.

"When I first got here I was the No. 73 player in the country, one of the top power forwards coming to college," Biggs said. "I felt like I would come in here and start right away. When that didn't happen it kind of knocked me back down to earth a little bit. It was a humbling experience. I don't want to say it messed with my mind, but it was tough. It was disappointing."

Many players in his position might have transferred to another school where opportunities to play were more plentiful. After all, Biggs was stuck behind Young on the depth chart and was forced to play out of position as a backup center.

But, despite the obstacles in front of him, Biggs decided to stick it out and remain with Pitt.

"It was talked about with loved ones," Biggs said. "It crossed my mind a couple of times. But I never wanted to be known as a quitter. I remember talking to my brother about it. He said, 'You weren't raised to be a quitter.'"

Biggs did not quit and now, after three years of team highs and personal lows, Biggs finally has earned a starting position as a senior.

He was in the starting lineup Friday night when the Panthers played host to Fairleigh Dickinson in the season opener at the Petersen Events Center. He scored eight points on 4 of 6 from the field to go with four rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes.

"I just want to prove that I deserve the spot," said Biggs, a 6-foot-8, 250-pounder. "I just want to prove to myself that I can do this."

He came into this season with modest career statistics. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. His role might have been personally disappointing, but coach Jamie Dixon utilized him in an important spot as a sixth man. He was the top reserve at center and power forward last season.

"He's been a great contributor," Dixon said. "He's been consistent for us. We've always wanted to get a little bit more out of him, like every other player, but I know he'll have the best year of his career this year in his senior year."

Biggs should benefit from playing power forward, his natural position, for the majority of his minutes this season. He also should benefit from playing with so many gifted offensive players.

But with Blair, at 6 feet 7, being a smallish center, Biggs has to step forward and demonstrate that he can be an effective rebounder, something that he has not done consistently.

"He knows what his responsibilities are," Dixon said. "He knows what he has to do. His scoring has always been a strength. We need good defensive rebounding out of him and I think he's prepared to give us that."

Biggs said he won't let the fact that he is now a starter affect his approach to the game. The only thing that changes, he said, is a sense of urgency.

Used to being a spark off the bench in the past, Biggs has his sights set on making his contributions earlier in games. .....

"It's not going to be anything out of ordinary for me," he said. "It will just be a regular thing. When I get out there I want to make something happen right away. I want to set the tone early."