That seems to be the reaction by the Pacific players. They seem to know as little about Pitt as we know about them. Though, Pacific knows it won’t be sneaking up on anyone this year.

“We beat a Big East team last season, so Pittsburgh will be a lot more ready,” Thomason said. “We aren’t going to be a surprise anymore. There are no hidden factors for Pacific now.”

Though the Tigers’ success has robbed them of anonymity, going through the NCAA Tournament experience last year should aid UOP this season, because most of the prominent players were regulars last season.

Pittsburgh finished fifth in the Big East and Thomason is concerned about the Panthers’ muscle.

“They’re a tough team and physical, and that’ll be the biggest problem,” Thomason said. “Utah State does that, and we have not done real well against that.”

The Tigers will have their hands full with Pittsburgh forward Chevon Troutman, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound All-Big East selection, and point guard Carl Krauser will be a challenge for UOP’s David Doubley, the Big West Player of the Year who did not play particularly well in the Big West tournament.

Pitt has its game notes (PDF) for the match-up.

Naturally some are trying to look ahead in the bracket.

The bracket is also loaded with schools that may feel slighted and have something to prove, such as Wake Forest, Louisville and Pittsburgh. Call it the fat-around-the-middle bracket.
…
But while the Huskies use a frenetic and disruptive brand of man-to-man, full-court pressing and trapping defense to ignite their high-powered offense, their Achilles’ heel is lack of size in the post. That’s what the other 15 teams in the region hope to exploit. Especially bruising Pittsburgh, which could meet the Huskies in the second round; Georgia Tech, which could throw skilled 7-foot-1 center Luke Schenscher at them in the regional semifinal; or Wake Forest, which has playmaker Chris Paul to negate the Huskies’ quick backcourt, in the regional final.

One game at a time for Pitt. Pacific will be enough of a challenge.