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Q: Chevon Troutman and Carl Krauser are playing well this season as expected. But I don't see Chris Taft doing the same. I think he should stay in school for another year. What do you think?

Ron Covato of Florida

FITTIPALDO: Lots of Chris Taft questions this week, so I'll answer your question, Ron, in response to all of them. Taft might not be playing as well as Troutman and Krauser, but he's playing pretty well. Through seven games, Taft is averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Taft is a great talent, but in Pitt's system there isn't going to be that guy who averages 22 points and 12 rebounds a game. The Panthers will have three or four guys who average in double figures because of the balanced offensive system coach Jamie Dixon teaches. I can understand how fans assume big numbers are going to be there for guys who are going to get drafted high, but that just doesn't apply to Pitt players. Just look at the statistics this season: Four players are averaging between 11.2 points and 16.0 points per game. And I'll bet that gap closes even more before the season ends. I think it's a credit to Dixon and coaches to get star players such as Taft to buy into his system. Other schools that get top-level talent end up catering to that star player, which often breeds discontent among teammates. Taft might be off to a little bit of a slow start, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned with at this point.

Q: After watching Memphis play Pitt in the Jimmy V Classic, you'd have to say that ignoring John Calipari and signing coach Dixon was a stroke of genius by the Pitt administration. Calipari's team looks like a very poorly coached group.

Bob LoCicero

FITTIPALDO: It's difficult to make judgments on one game, Bob, but I can see where you're coming from. After losing to Pitt, Memphis lost at home to unranked Mississippi. After the Pitt game, Calipari admitted that he overscheduled this season. Memphis has already lost to three ranked teams - Pitt, Syracuse and Maryland. And the Tigers still have to play Providence at home and Texas on the road. It was a miscalculation on Calipari's part to make such a brutal schedule. Calipari finally had enough this week and suspended leading scorer Sean Banks in an attempt to gain control of the team. Leaving Calipari out of it, stack Jamie Dixon up against just about anyone out there and it looks like Pitt made the right move. Pitt is 38-5 since hiring him. He has done a phenomenal job.

Q: I was at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City last week and Ronald Ramon really impressed me with his defensive intensity. It appears he's really intent on living up to the defensive responsibilities of being a Pitt player. But on the other hand, he seems tentative on offense. He was brought in to shoot 3-pointers. What's the deal?

Maher Hoque of Elizabeth

FITTIPALDO: Ramon got off to a great start shooting-wise and has tailed off as of late. He is shooting around 34 percent from behind the arc, which is much lower than what one would expect from a 3-point specialist. But you have to keep in mind that he is only 18 and is only getting about 15 or 20 minutes a game. Sometimes it's tough to find your groove coming off the bench and when you take a limited number of shots every game. They'll have to get Ramon going in the Big East schedule, but his mini-slump during the past few games isn't anything to be alarmed about.

Q: This is more of a comment that a question. I was at the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden when Pitt played Memphis. It is evident that Pitt's basketball program is on the rise. However, after attending the game, I noticed that there were a lot of Syracuse fans and a ton of Oklahoma State fans in attendance. Last I checked Oklahoma State was quite a bit farther away than Pittsburgh. OSU fans bought up tickets and sat in entire sections at the Garden. Pitt fans should aspire to do this.

Jon P. of Stratford, Conn.

FITTIPALDO: I was at the games, Jon, and Syracuse and Oklahoma State each had more fans than Pitt. The game was on a Tuesday night in December, so I don't fault Pitt fans for not making the trip. And to be fair, airfare from Pittsburgh to New York is probably the same or more than airfare from Stillwater, Okla. to New York. I'm sure Pitt would love a more loyal traveling fan base, but I am fairly certain that when the Panthers play in the Big East tournament in March that another large contingent of Pitt fans will make the trip. At times during the Big East championship game last season, it was hard to tell whether there were more fans from Connecticut or Pittsburgh in the Garden.

Q: I read your Q&A last week and the final question was on freshman Keith Benjamin. I was wondering why they did not redshirt him? Will he play later in the season? Right now he seems undisciplined. That could be because he is trying to impress in a short period of time. Also, do you think Levon Kendall will see more playing time as the season progresses? He has a good stroke. Or does the presence of John DeGroat and Mark McCarroll mean he won't see the floor?

Michael Jack of Claridge, Pa.

FITTIPALDO: Dixon decided to play Benjamin during the preseason trip to Toronto, which eliminated the traditional redshirt possibility. He came to Pitt with a knee injury, so there is still the possibility that Benjamin could take a medical redshirt if he doesn't play any more this season. The limit for games a player can play and still take a medical redshirt is six games. Benjamin has played in five. It certainly does not seem as if he will play much of a role this season. We'll have to wait and see if Dixon believes Bejamin can have any kind of role this season. As for Kendall, the only way I see his playing time progressing is if there is an injury. He is behind Chevon Troutman and Masrk McCarroll on the depth chart. He came in and gave Dixon a couple of solid minutes on Saturday against Penn State. He is a good role player.

Q: Am I the only one who thinks the Panthers could do significantly better than Yuri Demetris at the swing position? I finally got to see a game on Tuesday, and it didn't seem like Demetris was much of a factor at all. Why not see what Mark McCarroll or John DeGroat can do as a starter? Also, is there a chance we'll see a power lineup this season with Gray at center, Taft at power forward and Troutman at small forward?

Jonathan Miller of Los Angeles, Calif.

FITTIPALDO: I've had more e-mails about the small forward position this season than anything else. It's quite the topic among Pitt fans these days. Demetris is a senior who has bided his time in the program. He is smart, a good passer and a decent outside shooter. John DeGroat is in his first season in the program. Compared to Demetris he is a freshman in terms of knowledge of the offense and defense. He is more skilled, is a better rebounder and certainly a better scorer. At this point, Dixon seems enamored of Demetris and what he can provide for the team. There could come a time in the future when DeGroat plays more. But it doesn't seem like that's going to happen any time soon. Dixon has barely used him the last few games. As for the power lineup, Dixon has indicated that having Gray and Taft on the floor on the same time would not be an ideal situation because teams would go small and look to beat those guys off the dribble.

Q: Do you see Pitt recruiting any kids from the WPIAL in the near future? I believe Yuri Demetris from Shaler was the last local recruit.

Ryan from East McKeesport

FITTIPALDO: Pitt coaches are always aware of the top WPIAL players, but there just haven't been many major Division I players here the last few years. The Panthers recruited Ben McCauley, the senior from Yough High School, for a long time but eventually decided to sign other players. McCauley ended up at North Carolina State. The talent is purported to be better in some of the lower grades now. Whether any of them will turn into Big East players remains to be seen. If past history is any indication, don't hold your breath.