I find this sort of statement to be the best compliment for Pitt. The team, the program is what others now aspire to.

UC absorbed an 85-69 loss to No. 4 Pitt before 12,508 fans at the Petersen Events Center and left with the realization that they still have a long way to go to reach the levels of intensity, execution and talent that the Panthers display on a regular basis.

“We made a great run here in the last month or so,” said UC coach Mick Cronin. “This was kind of a final exam for us because we aspire to be more than what we are right now. We’re trying to become who they have become.”

It was a team that imposed its will on Cinci. Pitt had everyone scoring.

Pitt had five players score in double figures led by senior power forward Sam Young, who poured in a game-high 18 points. Sophomore center DeJuan Blair had 17 points, Jermaine Dixon 14, Gilbert Brown 12 and Fields 11.

It was the fourth time in the past five games that the Panthers have scored 85 points or more.

“We executed our plays,” Fields said. “Guys did a great job of spotting up and knocking some shots down. DeJuan and Sam did a great job inside as well as Tyrell [Biggs].”

Young and Blair were each 7 for 9 from the field. All five starters shot better than 50 percent from the field. Every player who took a shot except Brad Wanamaker shot better than 50 percent, and it was a Wanamaker miss in the final minute that prevented the school record.

“This is the best Pitt team that I’ve seen,” Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said. “They have three players who are the best in the league at their position with Fields, Blair and Young.”

Everyone was scoring, in no small part because Levance Fields has been distributing. Fields had another double-double with 11 points and 13 assists. To say nothing of 0 turnovers.

In the past five games, Fields has 56 assists and only six turnovers.

“The numbers are mind-boggling,” Dixon said. “It was an unbelievable performance. He’s doing it game after game down the stretch. I don’t know who is playing better than him as a point guard. You can’t play any better than his numbers.”

Fields seems determined to leave the bar really, really high at the PG position after this season is finished.

The team has confidence and don’t mind giving each other some grief.

The Panthers got a big lift from Brown in the first half. He scored seven points in the first 20 minutes and was more aggressive than he had been all season. Brown hadn’t scored in double figures since the Big East opener at Rutgers Dec. 31.

“Gil Brown stepped up, finally,” Blair joked. “He did an excellent job coming off the bench. He gave us a spark in the first half.”

Of course, that is Blair, who is at ease in most situations. Gilbert Brown stayed with the cliches.

“I was just thinking about staying positive,” Brown said. “I wanted to be more assertive.”

I’m just here to help the team.

While Pitt ended up letting Cinci shoot above 50%, the defense did the job against the main threat. Deonta Vaughn had little room to operate.

The Pitt defense shut down junior guard Deonta Vaughn on Saturday, holding him to nine points, seven below his average, in the No. 4 Panthers’ 85-69 victory…

With Vaughn struggling offensively, the Bearcats’ comeback attempt in the second half was severely hurt without him.

“It hurt, but we probably weren’t going to win,” said UC coach Mick Cronin. “I don’t like when people do that, so I’m not going to do it. Pitt’s a great team and they played well. We were unable to stop them.”

Now we can move on to the next game.