Thursday, October 30, 2003

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

NEW YORK -- As hordes of reporters gathered around Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, the coach of the defending Big East Conference tournament champions was left alone for a moment and had time to gather his thoughts at Big East basketball media day.

"I guess we're not picked high enough," said new Pitt coach Jamie Dixon.

The Panthers, 28-5 last season, were picked to finish fourth in a poll by the conference's coaches. Connecticut was selected to finish first, defending national champion Syracuse second and Notre Dame third.

The Panthers lost point guard Brandin Knight and forwards Ontario Lett and Donatas Zavackas from last season.

"I think obviously when you lose three guys like that ... I don't think anyone out there lost three players who started 250 games, so you look at that and have to take that into account," Dixon said. "But it also shows that they have a lot of respect for the players we have returning. We have an opportunity to surprise some people and an opportunity to disappoint some people. I guess we'll look at it as a challenge. We'll see if we can surprise some people."

Pitt has seven experienced players and six freshmen, one or two of whom will be in the rotation.

Senior center Toree Morris said he expects the Panthers to pick up where they left off last season.

"I don't think there's a different set of expectations for us as a team," Morris said. "The coaches expect us to come out and continue to play. We're not looking for any kind of a letdown just because we have some youth."

Page second team

Pitt senior guard Julius Page was voted preseason second team by the conference coaches. He is the only Pitt player to get a preseason award.

Connecticut's Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, Miami's Darius Rice, Notre Dame's Chris Thomas, Providence's Ryan Gomes and Syracuse's Hakim Warrick were chosen to the first team.

Okafor is the preseason player of the year and Connecticut's Charlie Villanueva is the rookie of the year.

"They look so much at scoring averages," Dixon said of Page's omission. "With our balanced scoring, we've always gotten that. Our guys understand that. Our guys aren't into individual awards."

Coming attraction

On the marquee outside Madison Square Garden, Page is featured performing one of his signature dunks as advertisement for the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Pitt plays Alabama Nov. 14. It's one of four games that weekend to kick off the college basketball season.

Pitt senior Jaron Brown said the Panthers are ready to play now.

"We've been banging on each other in practice, so we're ready to bang on someone else now," he said.

Page was supposed to be in attendance yesterday but stayed home to attend to some personal business.

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