I noted last week that Pitt was very much in favor of scoring first. In fact, in every game this season Pitt has scored first. The first quarter, especially has been very high octane for Pitt.

Whatever their motivation, the Panthers certainly are on the same page come game time. Pitt (6-1, 2-0 Big East) is off to its best start in 24 years, largely because it has outscored opponents, 76-3, in the first quarter this season.

“It’s very difficult to maintain the intensity that these guys have,” Wannstedt said. “We haven’t had a game, including the one we lost to Michigan State, where we’ve come out of the tunnel and our guys have been flat. We’ve come out smoking.

Our guys are coming out, and they’re mentally focused. We’re coming out emotional. You can’t play this game at the level you need to play it at unless you’re emotionally ready to play. We can’t wait to see how good they are or how ready they are and react to that.”

Rutgers has been similar in the fast start approach.

When it comes to fast starts, the Panthers aren’t alone. Rutgers has outscored opponents, 48-7 in the first quarter and 44-0 in the third quarter.

Pitt’s scoring by quarter: 76-3; 69-29; 74-31; 44-30. Total 263-93.

Rutgers’s scoring by qtr: 48-7; 68-24; 44-0;  30-19.  Total 190-50.