The thing about a game that ends at 11 pm, there isn’t a lot of stories. Even less, when it is the 2nd biggest upset in the Big East (‘Nova over Kansas) and third biggest in the top-25 (VT over GT) that day.

Going into the game, the entire crew from Bristol was picking UConn (subs. req’d)

Jon (Coral Springs, Fl): With Charlie V finally looking like the player we hoped he would be and Josh Boone picking up where Emeka left off, how far do you see Uconn going this year?

Digger Phelps: (3:33 PM ET ) They’ll handle Pitt today, but Anderson has to find his shot. He is 27-for-100 shooting threes. The perimeter defense is suspect. Don’t forget that BC got 14 offensive rebounds against GAy, Villanueva and Boone, and they still have a long way to go, especially without any seniors.
…
Mike (Stratford): Hey Andy, Who do you think is going to come out a winner in the Uconn-Pitt game?

Andy Glockner: (6:50 PM ET ) uconn
…
Dennis (Tucson, AZ): Pitt has an RPI of 94, has lost to Bucknell and St. John’s, and their best win is an OT win over Rutgers… am I the only thinking these guys are way overrated?

Andy Glockner: (7:26 PM ET ) Nope. They are in real danger of not making the NCAAs.

Right now, Pitt is in, but they need more quality wins. They relied on the strength of the Big East to propel them, but that means they have to win the games, not just show up. This was a great step, though.

In an article that would have been interesting only for the ongoing slip in the headline:

I’m sure that will be corrected at some point. But more importantly, and something I’m sure that will be in the news locally — or at least once the collective hangover after the Steeler loss recedes– is this:

Pittsburgh’s roster got a little thinner as 6-foot-8 redshirt freshman forward Dante Milligan has elected to transfer. Milligan, from Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.) School, saw action in five of the Panthers’ first 15 games, amassing seven points and six rebounds.

Guess he realized that his DNPs weren’t going to decrease. Hard to have a real opinion on this, since he hasn’t played nearly enough to judge whether Pitt was making a mistake by not playing him. At the very least, it frees up another scholarship over the spring and summer (which was how Graves came to the Panthers). Actually, it was also in the endnotes of this story about Pitt’s win.

The only annoying thing about a game where Chevon Troutman leads the team to victory on a night where snow blankets the East, headlines like this:

Plowed By A Chevy

The story of the game, of course was Chevy Troutman. Troutman apparently responded to a halftime lecture:

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon gave one of his more fiery speeches at halftime, about as inspired as the oft-maligned Dixon can be in the locker room.

He tried to rally Pittsburgh. He talked about toughness and playing together. He mentioned some names. He singled out Chevon Troutman.

What did Troutman say?

When Pittsburgh fourth-year junior point guard Carl Krauser was asked that question after the Panthers’ stunning 76-66 victory over Connecticut on Saturday night, Krauser didn’t say a word.

Did we miss something?

“That’s what he said,” Krauser said laughing.

What? Troutman didn’t say anything?

“I know,” Krauser said. “I just told you what he said. Nothing. Chevy doesn’t say anything. He just sits there and just plays. He might clap and say, ‘let’s go.’ But he just plays.

“I’ve been playing with him for four years. I know that look on his face when he’s anxious. He wants the ball. He gets down low in position and gets the ball and usually the foul.”

Boy, did he Saturday night.

The only thing I question is the phrase “the oft-maligned Dixon.” Really, where has he been ripped in any way that can be taken seriously? My major complaint is that he is boring copy. This is only his second year, and his record is 44-8. So, exactly who is ripping him and at what high frequency? Just have to ask, because I kind of follow these sort of things.

Dick Vitale was his usual restrained and cautious self.

This game could be the defining moment if the Panthers come on strong. Remember, Pittsburgh suffered tough defeats to Bucknell and Georgetown at home, as well as a stunning defeat to St. John’s at Madison Square Garden during its spiral.

Several times this season, Pittsburgh failed to sustain late leads. Against Connecticut, it was the Troutman show in the second half as he scored 25 of his 29 points after halftime.

Jamie Dixon’s kids showed resiliency, guts, heart and pride. It all came against a Connecticut team that was ready to play and a crowd the was in a frenzy with more students on campus due to a snowstorm that left more than 2,000 season-ticket holders donating their seats back to the university. College Gameday was there, too, to get the crowd going. Gampel was rocking and rolling.

The Huskies came out and looked great as Rashad Anderson broke out of his slump with 16 first-half points. Josh Boone and Rudy Gay were held to a total of eight points. In the second half, Pittsburgh went back to its physically tough brand of ball, especially on the defensive side.

Chevy became an All-Rolls Royce player in that second half, and Krauser, who predicted a Pittsburgh W when I saw him at the shootaround, responded at the foul line by making 10-of-11 free throws. Krauser played the last nine minutes with four fouls, yet he handled the ball effectively and made good decisions.

Krauser came over late in the game and reminded Brad Nessler and Yours Truly about the correct prediction.

Pittsburgh beat the team that I believe has the best baseline beauties in America.

Of course if Pitt doesn’t, then this was merely some lingering excitement and you can’t hold him to it. I’d say Pitt is holding up its end of the “new rivalry” and clearly some aren’t disagreeing.

It’s always March when the University of Connecticut and Pittsburgh hook up in men’s basketball.

Saturday was no exception. Although the date indicated otherwise – as did the foot of snow outside of Gampel Pavilion – the Huskies and Panthers played another instant classic before 10,167.

UConn coach Jim Calhoun, however, may have thought differently as the Huskies blew a big first-half lead to suffer one of their worst losses at Gampel before a revved-up crowd and a national television audience.

Trey Whitaker at HuskyBlog has his own view of the game. He’s more than a little disappointed. I also think its safe to say that the re-match at the Pete on Saturday, February 26 has been re-highlighted.