Well, not that it means much at this point, but after a 5 week absence, Pitt is back in both national polls — #17 AP, #19 Coaches.

As previously noted, Pitt is a hot pick, nationally. Great quote from Keith Benjamin.

“We’re in a good situation,” Benjamin said. “It was always one thing with us — heart. I never questioned our ability to play defense or play offense. It was the guys wanting to do it. And now I think the guys want to do it. As long as we want to do it, I feel like we can’t be beat.

“But you still have to want to do it every day. You can’t take any plays off. I don’t think we did that last week. That’s what got us through the Big East tournament.”

And obviously they can’t let that go.

Heart or “it.” Whatever you want to call it, the whole team seems to have it going.

This much is simple: There was not one reason for Pitt’s revival.

Maybe it’s best for the Panthers if they don’t try to explain why they finally got “it,” just figure out a way to keep it.

One thing Pitt didn’t have going in the BET, was free throw shooting. Levance Fields and the team promises to do better.

“You can laugh about it a little bit now because we got the win,” he said, “but we won’t miss 22 again in a game.”

Fields was 5 for 13 from the line against Georgetown and 23 of 38 in the Big East Tournament. It was big dip for a career 73 percent free-throw shooter who went 8 for 8 from the line in the win at Syracuse. Fields wasn’t alone. Sam Young was 3 for 8 and DeJuan Blair was 4 for 8 against Georgetown. In the four Big East Tournament games, Pitt shot 59 percent from the line. The Panthers missed 53 free throws. Young said it must be corrected for the NCAAs. Pitt needed overtime against VCU last year because of late missed free throws. The Big East semifinal game with Louisville also went to OT due to missed chances.

Please, please, please do better. My blood pressure would appreciate it.