Pitt's Fields looks ready for tourney

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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt point guard Levance Fields practiced Wednesday for the first time in almost two weeks after being bothered by a sore groin and appeared ready to play in the Panthers' first-round NCAA game against East Tennessee State on Friday.

Fields was bothered by the injury during the Panthers' final regular season game, against Connecticut on March 7, and their Big East tournament loss to West Virginia on March 12, but did not sit out either game. He was held out of practice to prevent the injury from becoming worse.

"He was out there today, and he looked pretty good," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "It's a good sign because he appeared to be moving well and he didn't seem to be bothered much at all."

Fields, injured March 4 against Marquette, averages 10.7 points and 7.6 assists per game and is one of college basketball's most effective point guards. He has 244 assists and only 63 turnovers.

After practicing, the Panthers (28-4) left Pittsburgh for their first-round game in Dayton. If they win -- and no top-seeded team has lost to a 16th-seeded team -- they will play the Tennessee-Oklahoma State winner Sunday, also in Dayton.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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