Everyone’s familiar with the drill. Chatter away before, during and after.

HALFTIME UPDATE: Pitt leads 43-33.

Pitt has decided to push the ball as much as possible at times. Take advantage of Cinci’s lack of depth by trying to run them ragged. Mixed results. Still, way too many turnovers (9 ?), to give Cinci more chances, but Krauser got Muhammad on a dumb 3rd foul at the end of the half with some smart play and burying his head in Muhammad’s chest.

Can’t believe Cinci was that slow to put the double team on Gray.

Ramon is still shooting hot.

DeGroat must have been under orders: look to pass — or else. Still committed the dumb turnover early.

FINAL UPDATE: Pitt wins 89-69.

Pitt kept pushing the tempo and the action. Attacking the basket. Kicking out, and just making Cinci continue to expend energy. Cinci did their best to stay with Pitt for the first 5 minutes or so of the second half, but you could just see them wearing down and Pitt ready to pull away. When Benjamin buried another 3 with about 14 minutes left, to give Pitt a 54-42 lead, Cinci was never able to get the lead under 10 points.

Benjamin had a fantastic game shooting. Ramon looked so confident. Gray was aggressive. As was Young. Kendall was setting some beautiful screens to spring the open looks outside. Krauser got it going in the second half. Graves played very well. Fields was running the point. Even DeGroat looked a little looser in the second half.

And then to see Dixon empty the bench in the final couple minutes just made it complete. To see the team and crowd take such enjoyment in getting Bowman, Small and even Hudson out there makes you smile.

I think Pitt needed that. To feel like they were having fun again. Just for a little while.