Need Any More Proof?

I've said it before and I'll say it again here: Pitt is good this year because its offense is one of the best in the nation.

Yeah, offense.

The most efficient offense in the nation belongs to ... your 2008-2009 Panthers.

The defense will always be there. That No. 21 ranking for defensive efficiency will rise. And as long as Jamie Dixon is coaching Pitt, the Panthers will never leave the top 25 in defensive efficiency. The rebounding will be great every year, too, no matter how large or small the lineup is.

But the reason Pitt is good this year is that its offense -- stocked with the best creator in the nation Levance Fields, an inside-outside nightmare in Sam Young and the best big man in the Big East DeJuan Blair -- has the tools to score from anywhere, in the halfcourt or transition. Sure, the Panthers struggle from 3 from time to time, but they've got the bench and the starting talent to work around that by getting easy baskets and second chances.

And if they start hitting foul shots at a better rate, the Panthers will be primed to break the Sweet 16 curse.

Heck, maybe even an Elite 8 curse, too.