Keep in mind this is a liveblog, not a gamelog. If you want every shot, play charted, they have computer monkeys for that. This is comments and observations as the game goes along. Number of updates and comments will vary accordingly.

4:09: Wow, nearly 2 minutes before anyone scored. Pitt got it first, but now down a whopping 4-2. This looks to be a brutal, poor shooting game.

4:17: Not only poor shooting, lots of defense, but the video is very dark in this. Poor lighting for this, at least for TV. Pitt down 15-10 with under 12. Cinci showing some really good ball movement on offense.

Can’t say I’m worried. Cinci hitting a lot of shots. They have been very streaky, so they will hit a bad patch.

Pitt looking ragged on the road, but only 2 TOs so far.

4:25: Dixon got a technical foul for something he said to the officials. Right after Blair got called for his second foul. Pitt now down 18-10 with a little over 11 minutes.

4:27: McGhee time with Blair out. Arguably, the right kind of opponent to build his confidence as well.

4:28: Freshman mistake by McGhee tried to go 1-3 to get an offensive rebound and chased too far. Called for a foul.

4:35: Oy, Biggs. You have to be willing to give up the ball. Missed one, got the rebound and never even thought of passing out as 3 Cinci players were dropping on him. Pitt down, 20-18 with 6:07.

Benjamin is being looked at as Mike Jarvis speculates that Benjamin might have a dislocated finger (right hand) on a prior defensive play.

4:37: Benjamin going to the locker. New speculation is a torn fingernail. Ouch.

4:39: Fantastic steal by Brown, even better dish to trailing Young who trails. Scores but couldn’t convert the +1. Damn.

4:42: Vaughn loses the handle then commits his 2nd foul trying to get it back. Good news for Pitt. Keep him silent.

Pitt up 22-20 with under 5.

4:44: Wanamaker getting some minutes. Got a basket on a bit of an out of control fast break (seemed lucky) then gets bailed out a couple minutes later by a foul — but misses both free throws.

Now tied at 22 with under 4.

4:49: Benjamin has a laceration on his pinky. Return, questionable. Uh-oh.

4:51: Pitt trailed by as much as 8, but goes into the half 28-27. Ramon hit a pull-up jumper, and then Cinci hit a big three to keep it close.

Considering that Pitt was with out Blair for over half the half, and Benjamin for the final 6 minutes or so, this isn’t too bad. Cinci is playing some very, very good defense. Have to respect their effort.

Cinci not pressing, or gambling on defense. Arguably, this is the kind of defense Pitt has run. Very difficult, in-your-face, man-to-man that just will be physical and bump. No gambling for steals. Pitt only has 2 TOs.

If not for a little sloppy defense by Pitt inside — late rotating — Cinci would be down more.

The second half won’t be any easier.

5:08: Benjamin back to start the 2nd half.

5:09: Not sure what the foul was on Blair when Hryancuik blew past him? Blair yanked, but I still didn’t see the foul. He got threw him but, what foul?

Now Cinciy up 3 31-28.

5:14: Yeah, Williamson took a scrape across his eye/face by Brown before the strip. No call.

5:20: Credit to Cinci’s ball movement. They are driving Pitt’s frontcourt nuts as they are late on rotation.

Ramon with an easy basket on a goaltend.

McLain looking good taking advantage of Blair.

Young slams home a missed 3 by Benjamin. Pitt down 38-36 with under 14.

5:33: Auugh. Pitt tips in a missed FT. to give Cinci a 45-40 lead.

5:40: Pitt now down 51-40. They just aren’t getting open shots. Cinci’s defense is doing a hell of a job. Limiting opportunities for Pitt more than anything else. Pitt isn’t shooting horribly (except form outside), but not getting second chances.

Pitt starting to rush shots out of frustration.

5:44: Cinci is having a very effective shooting night. They are getting to the free throw line, because Pitt has been late on defense inside. Plus they hold a 12-2 advantage on points off turnovers even though both teams have the same amount of turnovers.

5:50: Perspective moment with UCLA losing to USC and UNC losing to Maryland — both were home losses. Wow.

6:03: Vaughn probably just put it away on the transition basket. Even with the miss.

Just a minute left, Pitt down 59-54.

Cinci has just kept complete control of the pace in this game. It’s been an impressive effort. They have closed fast to limit shots, and just been more aggressive going after the ball.

6:08: Vaughn ices the game with both FTs. 61-57

Damn. Cinci caught a break when there was no +1 when Brown caught the home run and went up with the ball. Instead, they called it a foul before the shot.

61-59 Cinci with 15.9. Cinci inbounds.

6:11: Pitt loses 62-59. Damn fine block on Benjamin’s 3. Risky, but Bishop was clean.

I credit Cinci with a great game. As I said before this game, losing to Cinci wouldn’t be a stunner. The Bearcats –especially at home — are a dangerous team. They were tremendous in almost the entire game on defense. They flew out to prevent good looks on threes, and they absolutely collapsed inside.

If you want to talk about a game where Pitt missed Fields and Cook, this was it. Both would have had success penetrating and driving inside. That was the element missing offensively for Pitt. The way Cinci slowed the pace and forced Pitt to keep using clock to find a shot was the kind of thing Pitt has had to do in the past against more athletic teams.

The Bearcats also converted their FTs. Their best FT shooters got to the line and made them. Cinci was able to penetrate better and follow shots. Getting fouls in shooting action.
Pitt actually had less TOs than the Bearcats.