Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Levon Kendall is fouled by Villanova's Chris Charles in the first half last night in the Big East semifinal at Madison Square Garden in New York. Click photo for larger image. Related articles Big East tournament semifinal: Syracuse rallies late to nip Hoyas, 58-57 Big East tournament notebook: Dixon's new agent meets with Long Smizik: Pitt overcomes long odds in run to Big East final

NEW YORK -- Pitt was playing its worst basketball of the season heading into the Big East tournament, with three losses in its final four games. This morning the Panthers are preparing to play in the Big East championship game.

Guess that's why they call it March Madness.

Pitt defeated No. 2 seed Villanova, 68-54, to advance to the Big East championship game. The Panthers (24-7) will play Syracuse (22-11) at 8 p.m. today. Syracuse came back from a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgetown in the other semifinal.

"Everyone was saying we didn't have the guards or the coaching to stay with Villanova," senior Carl Krauser said. "We just really showed the truth. We have great guards, smart guards. We quieted a lot of people today. I don't think this was an upset at all."

Villanova's guards were all the talk going into the game, but it was a little-used Pitt guard who stole the show. Light-scoring reserve Antonio Graves provided the punch off the bench. Graves came into the game averaging just 4.4 points per game, but he put the dagger into the Wildcats by hitting several big shots. He led the way with 18 points and made three 3-pointers.

"We're a deep team," Graves said. "Us guys on the bench not being in the scouting report. ... You have to watch out for us now. Everyone should know by now that you have to watch out for us. We're a deep team. We play well together. And we share the ball. That all counts."

Freshman guard Levance Fields came off the bench to score 14 points. The Pitt reserves outscored the Villanova reserves, 38-4. And an even more telling statistic demonstrates the Panthers' depth: Pitt's reserves outscored the Pitt starters, 38-30.

"We expect it," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "We have good players and a lot of good players. That's a good thing to have."

Pitt's improved defense played a big role in the win, too. The Panthers held Villanova to a season-low point total and forced the Wildcats to shoot 35 percent from the floor. They came into the game shooting 43 percent for the season.

"I'm very impressed," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "They had all the answers tonight. They defended very well. You have to give them credit. They have great leadership from Carl Krauser and their young guys are very good."

Villanova had to play most of the second half without Allan Ray, the team's second-leading scorer. Ray left the game with an eye injury 32 seconds into the second half after Krauser inadvertently hit him going after a loose ball.

Pitt received a boost from junior forward Levon Kendall, who played one day after back spasms forced him to miss the quarterfinal victory against West Virginia. Kendall did not start, but he came off the bench to provide solid defense and rebounding.

"I felt good," Kendall said. "I got enough medication in me that it didn't bother me too much. Hopefully, it's the same way [this] morning."

Pitt had an 11-point lead at halftime and boosted the lead to 14 twice midway through the second half. A few minutes later the lead was 18 points after Graves and Krauser made back-to-back 3-pointers.

Pitt overcame a slow start and raced to a 32-21 halftime lead thanks to the play of Graves and Fields. Fields came off the bench to score nine points and Graves added seven to lead the Panthers, who played the final 10:37 of the half without Krauser.

Villanova only made four shots from the field in the final 15:46 of the half. Pitt held Villanova without a field goal for more than five minutes and went on a 14-3 run to take an 18-12 lead with 7:53 remaining in the half. Pitt outscored Villanova, 21-11, in the final 10 minutes of the half.

"When you have great teammates who believe in each other, who don't want to go home, these things can happen," Krauser said. "I told them I have been to the championship game two times. I have one win and one loss. I want you guys to experience what I got to experience."

Tonight, at the most famous arena in the world, this young team that doesn't know any better will get that chance.

NOTE -- Ray's eye injury appeared to be serious, and Krauser was distraught afterward. Krauser and Ray played basketball together growing up in New York.