At 8-5, Pittsburgh is currently in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big East with Villanova (8-5) and Georgetown (8-5). Boston College is in first place with an 11-2 record while Connecticut (10-3) is currently second and Syracuse (10-4) is third. Notre Dame ranks seventh at 8-6 and West Virginia eighth at 7-7.

Pittsburgh and Connecticut are meeting for the second time this season. Fueled by Chevon Troutman’s career-high 29 points (including 25 in the second half), Pitt claimed a 76-66 contest at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 22. Pitt erased an early 17-point deficit in notching the win. The win snapped Pitt’s four-game losing streak at UConn. Pitt and Connecticut are the only two programs that have appeared in the Big East Championship Game over the last three seasons with UConn claiming the title in 2002 and 2004 and Pitt winning in 2003. Over the past three seasons, Pitt holds a 4-3 advantage.

Pitt meets its fifth nationally ranked opponent this season. The Panthers are 3-1 this year against nationally ranked opponents. Pitt will play back-to-back games against nationally ranked opponents (UConn and Boston College) for the second time this season. Pitt defeated both UConn and Syracuse back-to-back earlier this season.

Pittsburgh has dropped each of its last two games but has won six of its last nine contests and eight of its last 12. It enters the contest following Wednesday’s 70-66 loss to West Virginia. The two losses to WVU marked the first time an opponent has swept Pitt during the Big East regular season since Notre Dame accomplished the feat in 2002.

Five of Pitt’s eight league wins were completed in comeback fashion as Pittsburgh registered back-to-back come-from-behind victories over each of the last two national champions: No. 4 Syracuse and No. 16 Connecticut. In both contests, Pittsburgh rallied back from 17-point first half deficits. Also, the two back-to-back victories over ranked teams marks the first time that has occured since the 2002 season. No. 4 Syracuse was the highest ranked opponent to ever appear in the Petersen Events Center. Pitt also defeated Seton Hall after trailing by seven points with 5:12 left.

Pittsburgh’s six losses this season have come by a combined 26 total points (4.3 points per loss). In addition, eight of Pittsburgh’s 13 Big East decisions have been decided by five points or less. Ten of Pittsburgh’s last 15 games have been decided by five or fewer points.

Pittsburgh enters the contest after winning 27 of its last 36 contests and 13 of its last 19 Big East regular season games. In addition, the Panthers have won 25 of their last 28 Big East home games and are 20-3 against Big East opponents at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt is also 48-4 all-time at the Petersen Events Center.

GAME NOTES

• Pittsburgh and Connecticut renew their Big East rivalry. The contest is a rematch of each of the last three Big East Championship finals and features two of the Big East’s top-three winningest programs over the last four seasons. Over the last three seasons, Pitt holds a 4-3 advantage.

• Today’s contest is the final home contest for Pittsburgh’s 2004-05 senior class of Chevon Troutman and Mark McCarroll. The duo needs just one victory to tie the school record for winningest senior class. It currently is 106-20 overall.

• Pittsburgh has won 14 of its last 17 home games and is a combined 64-5 at home over the last four seasons. Pitt also owns a 48-4 record in the Petersen Events Center and 20-3 all-time against Big East opponents at the PEC. Pitt enters the game with a 13-3 home record this season.

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