After Pitt beat Coppin State a week ago, Coppin State coach Fang Mitchell gave credit to Pitt center Aaron Gray for his impressive 14-point, seven-rebound performance but couched his remarks by saying: "Eventually, he's going to have to play somebody eye to eye."

	Scouting Report: Matchup: Pitt (9-0) vs. South Carolina (7-3), 7 p.m. today, Colonial Center, Columbia, S.C. Radio/Internet: WBGG-AM (970), WPGB-FM (104.7)/ www.pittsburghpanthers.com. Pitt: Coming off 77-51 victory against Coppin State. ... Playing outside city limits for the first time this season. ... Beat South Carolina, 72-68, last season at the Petersen Events Center. ... Led by senior G Carl Krauser (17 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and junior C Aaron Gray (13 ppg, 10.4 rpg). ... Gray leads the Big East in rebounding. ... First in the Big East in scoring defense (55.0 ppg) and rebounding margin (plus 11.7). South Carolina: Coming off 63-50 loss at Temple. ... Also lost to Marquette and Clemson. ... Victories came against Toledo, Alaska-Anchorage, Monmouth, UNC Greensboro, Winthrop and Wofford. ... Led by Tarence Kinsey (16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Renaldo Balkman (11.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Tre Kelley (11.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg). ... Kinsey is shooting 46.5 percent (20 for 43) from 3-point range. The Gamecocks are shooting 41.3 percent as a team from behind the arc. ... Gamecocks won the NIT championship last season. Hidden stat: Pitt has held eight consecutive opponents to 60 points or fewer. The last time the Panthers did that was the 1948-49 season when 11 consecutive teams failed to score 60.

Gray, a 7-foot, 270-pound goliath center who is averaging 13 points and a Big East leading 10.4 rebounds per game, has piled up his impressive statistics against David-like foes. Through the first nine games, Gray has faced centers that had neither the size nor the athleticism to defend him.

When Pitt (9-0) plays at South Carolina (7-3) tonight, Gray will finally get the opportunity to look across at an opponent and not have to look down at him.

South Carolina's Brandon Wallace, who stands 6-11, will be the first opponent Gray has faced who has the height and quickness to defend Gray in the post. A slender but long-armed junior, Wallace has the task of standing up to Gray in the lane.

"It'll be good to see Aaron go up against someone who isn't 6-7," junior power forward Levon Kendall said with a smile. "I'm looking forward to seeing that."

Pitt has dominated the middle in each of its first nine victories. Gray has registered six double-doubles and Kendall, after a slow start, has scored in double figures the past three contests. He is third on the team in scoring with 7.9 points per game and second in rebounding with 6.8.

Kendall will have his hands full with South Carolina sophomore Renaldo Balkman, the Gamecocks' second-leading scorer with 11.7 points per game and their top rebounder with 7.2 per game. Balkman, who is 6-8, also leads the Gamecocks with 20 blocked shots. Wallace has 18.

"It's a nice challenge," Kendall said. "He is putting up some nice numbers and is really active. He's doing lots of little things. We'll see if we can lock them down and show them how good we are inside."

Wallace is only 200 pounds and Balkman just 210, so Gray will have an advantage with his girth. But Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said Wallace's and Balkman's athleticism will challenge Pitt's front line. Gray is going to have to show he's capable of defending Wallace on the perimeter. Wallace can step away from the basket and make outside shots. He is 7 for 17 from 3-point range and has a nice midrange game as well.

"These guys are good players," Dixon said. "They're experienced guys. We know them from last year. They bring a different dimension. They're very active, athletic and quick. They are probably the best all-around big guys we've played so far."

Dixon also has to worry about South Carolina's guards. Tarence Kinsey, a 6-6 senior, leads the Gamecocks with 16.5 points per game and is shooting 46.5 percent from behind the arc. Tre Kelley is third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game.

South Carolina's athleticism bothered the Panthers at times in last season's game at the Petersen Events Center, a 72-68 Pitt victory. The Gamecocks pressured Pitt's guards and forced 17 turnovers, including five from Carl Krauser.

Krauser said the Panthers are better equipped to handle South Carolina's press this season because of the emergence of sophomore point guard Ronald Ramon and freshman Levance Fields.

"Oh yeah," Krauser said. "We have a lot more guards this year. We're just going to push the ball and make them play hard on defense. I don't think the press will last too long, so it shouldn't cause that many problems."

Krauser also indicated Dixon won't deviate much from what has been successful this season and last. Chevy Troutman, Chris Taft and Gray combined to score 38 points and pull down 18 rebounds in last season's victory against the Gamecocks.

The Panthers indicated that they intend to stick with what's been working and test South Carolina's post players.

"We should always stay with what's working for us," Krauser said. "We shouldn't change the chemistry and flow of the team."

Said Kendall: "That's always the game plan. Once the big guys are established it opens up everything for the guards. I think our best games are when that happens. Guards start worrying about us and doubling down on us. It spreads everything out. That's been one of our strengths."