Once upon a time, the Big East Conference tournament was circled on Pitt's calendar as the biggest event of the season.

That was only natural. Before Ben Howland arrived at Pitt in 1999, the Panthers had never won a Big East tournament championship. Before the Panthers could fancy themselves national contenders, they had to establish themselves as the top team in the conference.

Pitt won its first conference tournament championship four years later in 2003 and captured its second last season. The Panthers won four games in four days to claim the title last season, entered the NCAA tournament having won seven of eight and were the chic pick to get to the Final Four.

But dreams of making it to the Final Four for the first time since 1941 were shattered by Michigan State in an NCAA second-round game, marking a seventh consecutive season the Panthers did not make it past the Sweet 16. In the weeks and months after that devastating loss, the team's returning members developed a new attitude toward the postseason.

The Big East tournament was going to remain an important goal for the Panthers, but the NCAA tournament -- and advancing to the Final Four in Detroit -- became the focal point. Some might say an obsession.

"I have a picture of Detroit in my room," sophomore center DeJuan Blair said in October, before the Panthers had their first practice. "That's all I think about. We won the Big East last year. Now I want to win a national championship."

It was a unanimous feeling that was echoed by the senior leaders.

"I think this team is really focused on what we have to do in the NCAA tournament," senior point guard Levance Fields said, also on that same day in October. "We've won a Big East regular-season title. Last year we won a Big East tournament championship. We have everything in place we need. Now it's up to us to get it done."

Fast forward five months and 28 victories later. Pitt finished the regular season Saturday in second place in the Big East, one game behind regular-season champion Louisville and will open the conference tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday against West Virginia, Notre Dame or Rutgers.

And nothing has changed when it comes to Pitt's treatment of the postseason.

"We're looking at the Big East," senior forward Sam Young said Saturday afternoon after Pitt defeated Connecticut in the regular-season finale at the Petersen Events Center. "We know it's here, and we're focused on it. But at the same time we've got our eyes on the prize. Pitt has had trouble getting past the Sweet 16, and we feel like we're the team that can finally do it. The sky is the limit for us."

Pitt will be one of the favorites to win a second consecutive Big East tournament championship this week. But the Panthers, regardless of the outcome of the tournament, will be a No. 1 seed when the NCAA tournament field is announced Sunday. They will be on the short list of teams that will be favored to win the national championship.

Count Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun among those who believe this Pitt team has something more in it than another run to Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

"They're going to be a tough tournament team," Calhoun said. "Pitt has all the components of a national championship-caliber team. I think Jamie Dixon has developed Pitt into one of the best offensive teams. They're more fun to watch."