March 17, 2007

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POST-GAME NOTES

*With its overtime victory over VCU, Pitt advances to NCAA Sweet Sixteen play for the fourth time in school history (since the tournament expanded to 64 teams) and for the fourth time in six years. Pitt advanced to NCAA Sweet Sixteen play in 2002, 2003, 2004 and now 2007. The Sweet Sixteen appearance is Pitt's second in four years under Head Coach Jamie Dixon.

*Pitt will play in NCAA West Regional action on Thursday in San Jose, Calif. The contest will be televised on CBS. Game times will be announced at a later date.

*The contest was Pitt's third overtime game of the year. Pitt improved to 1-2 in overtime games. Pitt lost contests vs. Oklahoma State (double overtime) and Marquette earlier in the year. The game was Pitt's third overtime contest in its NCAA Tournament history.

*With his 15 points, Sam Young reached double figures for the seventh time in nine games. He reached double figure scoring for the 27^th time in his career and 16^th time on the year.

*Ronald Ramon scored 12 points, his 16^th double figure scoring game of the year.

*Mike Cook finished with 12 points and a season-high tying eight rebounds.

*Aaron Gray registered a career-high five assists while playing with food poisioning. He also finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. His 14 points marked the 54^th double figure scoring game of his career and 25^th of the season.

*Pitt entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed for the fourth time in school history. Pitt was a No. 2 seed in 1988 and 2003. It was a No. 3 seed in 1987, 2002, 2004 and now 2007.

*Pitt is one of 12 teams nationally to advance to NCAA Tournament play in each of the last six seasons. The other schools include Arizona, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Pitt, Southern Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin.

*Pitt is appearing in its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament and 19^th in school history. Pitt has the longest NCAA Tournament appearance streak in the Big East with six. Villanova is second with three consecutive NCAA tourney appearances.

*Jamie Dixon became the first coach at Pitt to guide four consecutive teams to the NCAA Tournament. He accomplished the feat in each of his first four seasons as head coach at Pitt.

*Jamie Dixon won his 105^th career game. He needs two more wins to set the NCAA Division I record for most wins after the first four seasons of a coaching career. Dixon now has 105 victories and is now tied for second place with Gonzaga's Mark Few, who amassed a 105-29 record from 2000-03. He has already passed WV Wesleyan/Mid. Tennessee's Bruce Stewart (104 wins from 1983-86), Kansas' Roy Williams (103 wins), Butler & Xavier's Thad Matta (102 wins), Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (100 wins) and Louisville's Denny Crum (98 wins). North Carolina State's Everett Case owns the top spot with a 107-22 record from 1947-50.

*Pitt held a 15-point halftime lead (41-26). When leading at halftime, Pitt is 22-0 on the season.

*Pitt improves to 29-7 overall.

*Pitt improves to 17-19 overall in 19 NCAA Tournament appearances. It also ties its school record for most victories in an NCAA Tournament with two. Pitt also won two games in four other seasons: 1974, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

*Dixon improves to 5-3 all-time in NCAA Tournament games in appearances in each of his first four seasons at Pitt. It is his second appearance in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen as he guided Pitt to the 2004 Sweet Sixteen.

*VCU scored 79 points in the game and became the sixth opponent to score over 70 points versus Pitt this year. For the season, Pitt has limited 14 of its 16 total Big East opponents, 20 of its last 25 opponents and 30 of its 36 total opponents under 70 points. Under Jamie Dixon, Pitt has held opponents to 70 points or less in 111 of his 134 games.

*Pitt improves to 2-3 all-time vs. Virginia Commonwealth. The Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with the win.