Both Pitt and Villanova are in dire need of winning this game. Pitt lost at home to Rutgers and can’t afford to drop a second straight at home. The Wildcats have lost two straight, and are below .500 in conference play. This could be a game that really dictates a lot about the rest of the season for both teams. Neither sets of fans can really disagree on this.

Pitt has been up-and-down while ‘Nova has flat out been in a slump.

The Wildcats have struggled at both ends of the court during their slump, but particularly on defense. They gave up 50 percent shooting to both Rutgers and Notre Dame and struggled defending hot-shooting guards for both teams.

Offensively, leading scorer Scottie Reynolds has felt the effects of the undivided attention of opposing defenses. He is 10 of 32 overall and 1 of 14 on three-point tries in his last two games.

Casiem Drummond, Villanova’s 6-foot-10 sophomore center who has played only briefly in one game since Dec. 9 because of a stress fracture in his right ankle, returned to practice Monday, but coach Jay Wright said he would be cautious about Drummond’s return.

Some of Villanova’s trouble can be attributed to the level of youth on the team.

Two years ago, a veteran Villanova team fell a win short of the Final Four. That team had a backcourt consisting of seniors Randy Foye and Allan Ray, junior Mike Nardi and unflappable sophomore Kyle Lowry.

Now Wright’s backcourt is run by sophomore Scottie Reynolds and a trio of freshmen: Corey Fisher, Malcolm Grant and Corey Stokes.

“Veteran guards in this league are important. No one’s benefited from that more than us,” Wright said. ‘We know that and we respect it when they have them on other teams.”

Pitt struggled against ‘Nova’s defense and pressure on the guards in the last meeting. Pitt players, though, are saying that was then and different circumstances.

Ramon and his backcourt mate, Keith Benjamin, each committed five turnovers against Villanova’s quick, guard-oriented attack. It was only Pitt’s second game without injured point guard Levance Fields (overmatched Lafayette was the first), and it showed with the new backcourt.

“That game is behind us,” Ramon said. “We came out with no energy. It was one of the first games with a new lineup out there. Guys weren’t stepping to the ball or stepping to the pass. We got better on that.”

Ramon and Benjamin weren’t alone. Everyone who played for Pitt that Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia turned the ball over at least twice.

“It was our first Big East game and really our first game without Levance,” said Brown, who had more turnovers (four) than field goals (three) in his second career start. “We had to get used to playing and that was the cause of all the turnovers. So I don’t think it’s going to be an issue.”

Yes, that means everyone will be watching to see that Pitt doesn’t turn the ball over every other minute.

“I think that was an aberration. At least, I hope it was,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.

Dixon seems to be right. As Ramon and the Panthers have become increasingly comfortable with their new roles, they have cut down on the turnovers. In fact, they have halved the number to 10.6 per game since the Villanova loss, a span of five games.

Even in the Panthers’ shockingly bad loss to Rutgers last Saturday, they committed 13 turnovers. It was poor shooting and poor defense, not instability out front, that caused the upset.

Naturally, that will all start with Ronald Ramon. He has played much better at point. Not trying to do too much and making better decisions. Though, he does give his teammates credit for his improvement.

Ramon said his teammates and coaches have made the necessary adjustments in helping him become a more productive point guard.

The playbook was scaled back, giving the less experienced players less to comprehend.

The players also are making sure Ramon gets help when needed. Even little things, such as stepping to the pass with authority, are helping limit turnovers

Of course, if Pitt is going to win this game, they need to dominate where they have the advantage. That is the frontcourt. Young has to play well, and so does Blair. Blair, especially, has to avoid the fouls. Something that has become a repetitive theme.