Here’s something I wasn’t sure I’d type the rest of the season: Pitt’s won two straight.
The Panthers (13-9) had hit bottom this season. They opened 11-1 then dropped eight in a row, including their first seven Big East games. But now they’ve held court against Providence and Georgetown and seem to have a little confidence heading into a showdown that’s always unpredictable.
Beat West Virginia in Morgantown for three in a row? Now that would be something completely unpredictable.
(All times ET; TV info from HDSportsGuide.com)
Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
If the Panthers’ defense plays as well as it did against Georgetown, they’ll be in great shape. The Hoyas shot poorly, couldn’t rebound and were outhustled. The last two really aren’t possible against the Mountaineers (15-7), though. West Virginia’s lost two straight, but had Syracuse on the ropes before a questionable call helped thwart its chances. Pitt doesn’t have anyone who can check Kevin Jones. He could be the difference here.
Missouri at Texas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
The Longhorns (13-8) seem destined to be a step behind the Big 12’s elite teams this season, but they do have two things working in their favor tonight: They’ve only lost one home game all season (a thriller to Kansas) and Missouri star Marcus Denmon is in a shooting slump. That might be enough to hand the Tigers (19-2) their second loss in three games. (Though, to be on the safe side, try to limit Ricardo Ratlife’s easy buckets inside.)
EAST
Princeton at Penn, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 7 p.m.
SOUTH
Prairie View at Alabama A&M, 6 p.m.
SC-Upstate at Jacksonville St., 6:15 p.m.
James Madison at ETSU, 7 p.m.
Morgan St. at Hampton, 7 p.m.
Md.-Eastern Shore at NC Central, 7 p.m.
Kennesaw St. at Stetson, 7 p.m.
Palm Beach Atlantic at UCF, 7 p.m.
W. Carolina at Wofford, 7 p.m.
Mercer at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:05 p.m.
Jacksonville at Lipscomb, 7:30 p.m.
Howard at SC State, 7:30 p.m.
North Florida at Belmont, 8 p.m.
Delaware St. at NC A&T, 8 p.m.
Coppin St. at Norfolk St., 8 p.m.
Coll. of Charleston at Samford, 8 p.m.
Austin Peay at Tennessee St., 8 p.m.
SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee Tech, 8 p.m.
Texas Southern at Alabama St., 8:30 p.m.
Grambling St. at MVSU, 8:30 p.m.
MIDWEST
SE Missouri at E. Illinois, 8 p.m.
SOUTHWEST
Jackson St. at Ark.-Pine Bluff, 8:30 p.m.
Missouri at Texas, 9 p.m.
FAR WEST
N. Colorado at N. Arizona, 8:35 p.m.
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