Ashton Gibbs News

On paper, Pitt appeared to be overmatched against No. 3 Texas. On wood, it was a different matter.

The third-ranked Texas Longhorns shoot for their second CBE Classic crown tonight as they challenge the Pittsburgh Panthers in the title game at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.

Redshirt freshman Travon Woodall had 19 points and Ashton Gibbs added 18, leading Pittsburgh to a gritty 68-55 win over Wichita State in the semifinals of the CBE Classic on Monday night at the Sprint Center.

Jamie Dixon of Pitt has been chosen as USA Basketball's national coach of the year for guiding the United States' first FIBA under-19 world championship team since 1991.

When ESPN decided to feature Pitt and Binghamton as part of its 24 consecutive hours of college basketball coverage, the network believed it had scheduled a marquee non-conference game pitting an upstart mid-major against a national power.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon: "You're never satisfied with rebounding or defense." Pitt led all NCAA Division I teams in rebounding margin last season.

Thankfully, the Pitt Panthers were able to shake off their early-season rust in front of a national audience on Tuesday, easily handling the Binghamton Bearcats by a 71-46 count on ESPN2.

Ashton Gibbs hit five 3-pointers in the first half as Pittsburgh quickly opened a 22-point lead and the Panthers emptied their bench Tuesday throughout a 71-46 victory over Binghamton, which lost its coach and much of its team during a troublesome offseason.

Binghamton University interim men's basketball coach Mark Macon understands the low expectations many might have when the Bearcats venture into the Peterson Events Center on Tuesday to take on perennial Big East Conference contender Pittsburgh.

Brad Wanamaker's 13 second-half points helped pull the Panthers back from a 13-point deficit as Pitt opened the regular season with a 63-60 victory over the Wofford Terriers tonight.

The Panthers begin their bid for a ninth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance with the youngest team in coach Jamie Dixon's seven seasons.

Redshirt freshman Travon Woodall scored 21 points, Pitt shot nearly 55 percent from the floor and the Panthers claimed an 83-40 exhibition win over Coker College on Sunday at the Petersen Events Center.

Dante Taylor understands the hype surrounding him. He knows that he is the first McDonald's All-American to play for Pitt in the past 22 years, knows DeJuan Blair's giant-size center shoes will be tough to fill, and knows there is pressure to succeed and to succeed immediately.

Less than two weeks away from the start of the college basketball season, expectations in Pittsburgh are high for freshman Dante Taylor.

Dante Taylor didn't start in Pitt's exhibition game against Slippery Rock on Sunday, but he practically finished it all by himself.

Like most players, UofL junior guard Preston Knowles would rather be starting. And truth be told, he could start for a lot of other schools.

The University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team held its annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage on Tuesday night , giving fans their first taste of this year's new-look Panthers squad.

Pitt''s Dante Taylor gets a shot up during the Blue-Gold game at the Petersen Events Center last night.

After missing the playoffs despite winning 21 games, SRU men's basketball coach Kevin Reynolds learned the importance of one game.

There's this photo I have taped to my news desk. It ran in the Pitt News the day after the Panthers defeated Xavier in the Sweet 16 and advanced to Elite Eight for the first time since 1974.