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Tuesday, November 12, 2002
 No. 4: Pittsburgh
By By Anne Marie Cruz

Last Season: 296, Sweet 16

Brandin Knight
As Knight goes, so go the Panthers.
New respect. New arena. New Orleans? Yes, if old habits die hard. Ben Howland still expects his Dance-crashing charges to heed his gospel of D and unselfishness -- you know, playing like underdogs. Of course they are anything but. Pitt returns all five starters, including über-point Brandin Knight (15.6 ppg, 7.2 apg as a junior) and electrifying wing Julius Page (12.2 ppg as a soph). BK feels 100% after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July. For added relief, cocky understudy Carl Krauser -- ineligible last season -- is around to spell him while adding another slasher to a ridiculously balanced attack. If the Panthers get more production from their three-headed center (Ontario Lett, Toree Morris, Chevy Troutman), count on new blood at the Final Four.

One Step Ahead: Pitt now owns two sharp recruiting edges: its shiny new trophies and the even shinier Petersen Events Center. Howland's already collecting on the buzz. Frosh F's Ed Turner and Levon Kendall look like quality role players. Better still are big-time verbals from 6'9" C Chris Taft and 6'9", 265-pound banger Walter Waters.

One Step Behind: Maybe Howland's been too busy teaching the broader points of the game, but the Panthers hurl like drunken sailors at the charity stripe (a combined 61.8% for their careers). The fourth-year coach, whose Northern Arizona squads averaged 72.6%, plans to reverse the trend by punishing practice clanks with wind sprints.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats 9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks 10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners 11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers 12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators 13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns 14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils 15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies 16. Indiana Hoosiers


This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.



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