GAME NOTES: In what figures to be a physical Big East Conference bout, the 20th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers welcome the seventh-ranked Georgetown Hoyas to town. Georgetown has won five straight games since its only loss of the season, an 85-71 setback to national power Memphis on the road. The Hoyas, who are 13-1 overall, improved to 3-0 in league play on Saturday with a 72-69 decision over UConn. The 69 points surrendered marked just the second time this season that Georgetown allowed an opponent to exceed 60 points. Pittsburgh has won its last two games to move to 14-2 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Panthers are coming off Saturday's 84-70 decision over Seton Hall, and their only league loss came by one point against Villanova on the road. Pitt is a perfect 10-0 at home to date, an obvious reason for confidence tonight. The Hoyas own a 41-30 series lead over the Panthers, including a win over Pitt in the Big East Conference Tournament title game last season.

Georgetown has been tremendously efficient at both ends of the floor this season. The Hoyas are scoring 73.6 ppg on 51.6 percent shooting from the field and they are holding opponents to 55.9 ppg on 35.4 percent field goal efficiency. Furthermore, Georgetown is shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range, a stark contrast with the 29.1 percent long range shooting managed by its foes. If there is one area of weakness, it is most assuredly free throw shooting, as the Hoyas are currently at 61.9 percent. Roy Hibbert continues to lead the team with 12.6 ppg and 6.5 rpg to go along with 28 blocks, but he is much more steady than dominant. DaJuan Summers (11.8 ppg), Austin Freeman (10.1 ppg) and Jonathan Wallace (10.1 ppg) add balance to the mix. In the narrow win over UConn on Saturday, Hibbert scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Patrick Ewing had 14 points for the Hoyas, who turned the ball over only eight times and hit 10 three-pointers.

Pittsburgh has played quite well despite the loss of Levance Fields and Mike Cook, two of the better players on the team. Cook is gone for the year with a knee injury, while a foot problem could keep Fields out until the NCAA Tournament, if he returns at all. Most times, the loss of two double-digit scorers is too much to overcome. But Pitt has gotten outstanding play from Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, just to name a couple of individuals. Young leads the Panthers with 18.4 ppg on 54.5 percent shooting from the floor, including 52.6 percent accuracy from three-point range. He is also pulling down 7.0 rpg. As for Blair, he checks in with 12.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 27 blocks and 35 steals, proof of his tremendous versatility. Pitt is scoring 78.9 ppg while limiting opponents to 62.8 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the floor. In the win over Seton Hall on Saturday, Young exploded for 28 points, while Blair posted 20 points and 14 rebounds. Ronald Ramon finished with 14 points and eight assists for the Panthers, who connected on 11-of-20 three-point attempts.

Georgetown is not as talented as other top-10 teams, and Hibbert is grossly overrated. The Hoyas are exceptionally well coached, however, and they will contend for the Big East title. Give the edge to the Panthers at home tonight.