The players always know best, and Boston College’s Troy Bell knew the Big East coaches had made a major blunder back in the fall.
“I was shocked when they picked Pittsburgh sixth [in the West],” Bell told The Post. “It was as if they forgot what Pittsburgh did last year in the Big East tournament. You could see they were coming together.”
The Panthers (26-4) came together in last year’s Big East Conference Tournament when they charged to the championship game before getting blown away by Bell’s Eagles.
The loss did two things for Pittsburgh. First of all, the players realized that second-year coach Ben Howland’s style of tenacious man-to-man defense, selfless offense and fierce rebounding was a formula for success.
Secondly, the Panthers realized they had to become a physically tougher team. BC bullied the Panthers so badly in winning the championship game by 22 points that Howland called BC coach Al Skinner to inquire about the Eagle’s strength and conditioning program.
All the Panthers stayed in Pittsburgh this summer where they camped out in the weight room. Point guard Brevin Knight said he used to bench 225 pounds three or four times. Now he benches 135 pounds 30 to 35 times.
“We learned to lift more for endurance than power,” said Knight. “We feel like we can play 40 minutes a night and not be tired.”
The Panthers figured to be fresh for last night’s Big East Conference Tournament first semifinal game against Miami (24-6). Pittsburgh wore down BC 76-62 in its quarterfinal round game on Thursday.
No Panther played more than 37 minutes and seven played 11 or more minutes. Miami needed overtime to shake Georgetown. All five Miami starters played 29 to 43 minutes.
Notre Dame (21-9) which scorched St. John’s, 83-63, takes on Connecticut (22-6) a 72-70 survivor against Villanova. The Irish and Huskies were the second and third highest scoring teams in the Big East.
Pittsburgh has done it with defense. The Panthers held opposing teams to a measly 60.1 points per game, five points less than any other Big East team.
“I think there are a lot more talented teams in the country,” said Knight. “There are a lot more talented teams in the Big East. But everyone on this team takes pride in defense and the chemistry is great.”
How far that chemistry can take the Panthers remains to be seen. A couple of weeks ago the Panthers went to see the movie John Q., just one of many off-the-court activities this pack of Panthers have enjoyed.
They’ve enjoyed their success this season, even if they’re still overlooked. Despite the fact that 18 players were voted to the Big East first, second and honorable mention teams, Pittsburgh was represented by just one player, Knight, the co-Player of the Year along with UConn’s Caron Butler.
Apparently, it’s hard for the coaches to admit their wrong.
“I’ll say this again publicly,” said Howland. “It was absolutely a slap in our face that we’re 13-3 [in the West Division] and we have one player out of 18 on the all-league team. You would think that a winning team is going to get a little more recognition.”
