Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Notebook: Page expected to be on court Friday
The Panthers are leaving for Wisconsin later today after working out in Pittsburgh.
"He's not 100 percent, but we'll see how it goes," Dixon said of Page, the team's top defender and third-leading scorer (11.2 points per game). "We have three days till the game, and we'll see how it feels. I know he'll be playing Friday."
Page winced in pain Saturday night in the Big East final after throwing down a dunk, a clear indication that the ankle is troubling him.
"It does hurt sometimes, I just have to fight through it," he said.
Dixon said Page's situation is day-to-day, but expected him to practice this afternoon.
"He should be all right," Dixon said.
Senior forward Jaron Brown, who twisted his ankle against Boston College in the Big East tourney semifinals, practiced yesterday and Dixon reported he had no discomfort.
Golden Grahams
Although UCF is a longshot to make it past Pitt in the first round, it certainly would be interesting if the Golden Knights advanced to the Sweet 16 to potentially face Oklahoma State.
That's because OSU features the Graham twins, both of whom transferred from UCF after the 2001-02 season. Joey Graham averages 12.2 points and 5.5 rebounds and has produced some monster games this season for the second-seeded Cowboys. He had 36 against Nebraska, 25 vs. Iowa State and 21 vs. Texas. Brother Stephen averages 2.9 points in a backup role.
Had the Grahams stuck around, who knows what might have been? UCF could very well be a top-25 team.
A little help
Bench play is vital in the NCAA Tournament, and Pitt will need to get production out of center Toree Morris, forward Mark McCarroll and guards Yuri Demetris and Antonio Graves.
Morris came to life in the Big East tournament, scoring six points apiece in the semifinal against Boston College and the final vs. Connecticut. He played 11 minutes against UConn and was 3 of 4 from the field. He played three minutes vs. BC and was 3 for 3. McCarroll averaged 6.7 points in the tourney and had 11 points and six boards in the final. Graves hit a 3-pointer against UConn and Demetris went scoreless for the tournament.
"We're here because of those guys," Dixon said. "It starts at practice, as well, because they bring the competitiveness out of our guys and they get after it every day."
Quotable
Pitt point guard Carl Krauser, when asked what it would be like to potentially face Wisconsin in Milwaukee in the second round of the East Rutherford subregional.
"That's funny, because who said Wisconsin is going to win? Richmond might win."
More Do not use headlines
- Pitt women's hoops G Winn gets 6th year of eligibility
- NCAA looks to even field in recruiting
- Pitt loses basketball recruit
- Transfer opens up scholarship for Panthers
- Pitt lands recruit from other side of state
- Former Pitt coach, Robert Timmons, dead at 91
- Pitt women land recruit
- Rohrssen reverses field, stays with Pitt
