Remember the Pitt Panthers from 2007? Think again.

No starters remain from the 29-8 team that battled Georgetown in three memorable games for Big East supremacy last season, and the mid-season injuries to Mike Cook, Levance Fields, and Austin Wallace would have left a lot of teams dead in the water. To its credit, Pitt has retooled its lineup and has maintained its role as a legitimate Big East championship contender. The names may not be the same, but Pitt is no less of a challenge for the Hoyas to overcome as it seeks a third road win in as many games.

The loss of Levance Fields until March is the most serious blow to the Panthers this season. Fields, whose assist turnover ratio ranks as the best in school history, was the spark that powered Pitt's high power offense earlier this year. That role has been passed to reserve guard Ronald Ramon, who has picked up his game in a big way. For the first 12 games of 2007, Ramon shot 32 percent from behind the three point line, in the last four, 52 percent. Averaging seven assists a game, Ramon is picking up the pace that Fields was expected to lead to keep Pitt in the upper echelon, but his scoring is starting to increase expectations.

An even more encouraging story has been the play of senior Keith Benjamin, who had started four games in three seasons, averaging 3.5 points a game. In his last four games, Benjamin is, well, on fire, shooting 65 percent from the field, averaging 16.8 points, upholding a Pitt tradition of impact guards that has stretched back to the days of Brandin Knight, Julius Page and Carl Krauser.

The loss of Mike Cook has, to date, been mitigated with the play of forward Gilbert Brown (5.4 ppg, 10 ppg in last four), but this is a potential problem as Pitt goes forward. Brown is a freshman and has not yet been tested against the league's better front lines. Owing that Pitt is thin (and small front), coach Jamie Dixon has to ride with Brown and hope that PF Sam Young can pick up the load. And to date, he's done that and more.

Young has been nothing less than a phenom for the Panthers. Entering the season with an 7.5 average, the 6-6 junior has been huge for Pitt in conference play--59 percent from the field, 71 percent from three, 71 percent from the line, and 22 points a game. Young had 28 Saturday against Seton Hall including 4-4 from three point range. Young is also smart on the boards (7.0 per game) and only has seven fouls in his last three games. He's carried the Panthers through the early steps of the Big East but he will need help over the course of the next six weeks.

After two years with Aaron Gray in the middle, the Panthers go small inside with 6-7 freshman DeJuan Blair. Blair has proven up to the task, averaging 12.2 points and posting seven double-doubles in his first 15 starts. His 20 rebounds against Duke was the first of its kind by a Pitt freshman since Sam Clancy in 1978, and served notice that he can battle with anyone. Blair is familiar with many of Georgetown's players, having played at nearby Friendly HS, and should ahve an extra bosot of enthusiasm entering Monday's game

Pitt is undefeated at home and suffered its only Big East loss giving up a late steal against Villanova, 64-63. The Panthers gave up 22 turnovers in the game, nine above its season average. Georgetown defensive sets should prove a tough test for what is still a work in progress in the backcourt.

Here's a look at some potential matchups:

Jonathan Wallace vs. Ronald Ramon. Ramon was not a factor in games last year versus the Hoyas, owing to some poor three point shooting. Ramon is more likely to be the offensive driver than its scorer, so Wallace needs to stay tight on defense. Offensively, Wallace should be able to rediscover his outside shot, but opposing guards have struggled against Ramon's defense in conference play.
Jessie Sapp vs. Keith Benjamin. Benjamin is on a roll in Big East play, and it's up to Sapp to keep him off the dribble drive. However, Benjamin is prone to turnovers and Sapp may be able to force his hand.
Austin Freeman vs. Gilbert Brown. Freeman is due for a big game, and Brown provides the opponent which could lead to it. Seton Hall did a good job of negating Brown on the offensive end, and Freeman should be able to take advantage offensively as well.
DaJuan Summers vs.Sam Young . Clearly, the matchup of the game. Young started the Feb. 24, 2007 game at Verizon Center with 11 points and 8 rebounds against Jeff Green. Keeping Young off the ball--and off the line--will prove the difference of the game.
Roy Hibbert vs. DeJuan Blair. With all the momentum Hibbert has coming into the game, defense, not offense, is a point of emphasis here. Blair averages nearly 13 rebounds a game in conference play and rebounds are essential for Pitt to control the game.
GU bench vs. UConn bench. With its injuries, the Pitt bench is depleted, with Tyrell Biggs being the chief man off the bench. Georgetown's bench offers the Hoya starters the rest time that Pitt realistically can't afford in this game.

Keys to the game follow that learned in the UConn game, because although UConn was a taller and quicker team, the same issues apply against a team like Pittsburgh:
1. Tempo. Georgetown wins at its pace, and can pose problems to Pitt by keeping the game at a 60-65 point range.
2. Rebound Margin. Pitt is another team with a significant rebound advantage entering the game, including an average of 15 offensive rebounds a game over its first three Big East games. Pitt takes, in average, six fewer shots than its opponents, so if Georgetown can cut off the offensive boards as it did to Connecticut, Pitt has a lot less to work with.
3. Three Pointers. Three pointers saved the Hoyas late against Connecticut, but Pitt has held opponents to 27% from that range. Georgetown has advantages inside, but must be careful how and when to go deep.

For Pitt to win, Young and Benjamin go to work, Blair keeps Hibbert off edge, and Georgetown gets caught in a run and shoot response. Georgetown's advantages are more broad based--like the tortoise and the hare, a steady Georgetown operation can withstand the start and stop Panthers. Pitt is playing on the margin, a margin it cannot maintain all year given the injuries. The test for Georgetown is whether they can expose Young and in doing so, open holes in the entire game plan.

Pitt fans saw how Aaron Gray's cold shooting sent the team off track in the 2007 Big East final. Young must stay hot for Pitt to stay on course.