Purr: Keys to WIn?

Ray Fittipaldo: Get Gray off to a good start. Gray should be able to dominate against Jordan Pleiman, the 6-foot-8 center from Wright State. If Gray gets double-teamed, Antonio Graves, Levance Fields and Ronald Ramon must knock down some open outside shots. On the defensive end, if DaShaun Wood scores 20 or more points, the Panthers must not let any other Wright State player score above their average. Pitt should win in fairly easy fashion if Gray comes to play and the outside shooters make 35 percent of their 3-point shots.

sams1016: Ray, your earlier messages today talk about Gray going for 20 and 10 against Wright State. Please, if he can't dominate a 6'8" player, he's not worthy to be drafted let alone be a #1 pick. Yes, his Big East Tourney performance cost him a bunch of money, but tell me when he plays well against someone his own size and/or strength? He should be playing at a mid-major level. All year you said he was Pitt's go to guy. I guess we now know why they've lost every big game they've been involved in this year.

Ray Fittipaldo: Last yeat at Georgetown, Gray scored 15 points in the first half against Roy Hibbert. John Thompson III had to take Hibbert out of the game and play small because he didn't think it was a favorable matchup for his team. Obviously, Hibbert got the better of Gray last week on a much biggest stage at the Big East tournament. But it was the first time in their four or five meetings that Hibbert outplayed him. The two other games during the regular season Hibbert and Gray canceled each other out. I agree that Gray should score 20 and 10 against a 6-8 center. He is 7-foot, so he should dominate against that type of competition. I understand people's frustration with Gray laying an egg the way he did in the Big East title game, but let's get some perspective, too. He was voted third-team All-American by the NABC, which means they regard him as one of the top 15 players in the country. He was first-team all-Big East, which is voted upon by the league's coaches. Please don't let one game take away from an otherwise impressive season by Gray. He has meant a lot to this program the past two seasons.

mat1776: How far do you see Pitt going at the big dance this year

Ray Fittipaldo: I'd like to see Pitt get to the Sweet 16 and face UCLA. That would provide some great storylines for the week. But the Panthers have been so up-and-down the past month that it's hard to predict what they will do in the tournament. I fully expect the Panthers to beat Wright State, but losing in the second round would not surprise me because of their up-and-down nature. If Pitt does play Duke, it would be a good measuring stick for the program. Jamie Dixon likes to point out how Pitt is one of the winningest programs over the past six years. Duke, even it has been an off year, is one of those programs that you measure yourself against. Pitt has racked up a lot of wins the past six years, but the Panthers need to beat teams like Duke to get that national reputation.

sams1016: Ray, I understand I shouldn't expect 20 and 10 every night from Gray, but he tends to disappear in the big games. Remember, last year in the NCAA when Patrick O'Bryant dominated him which took him to a #1 draft pick. O'Bryant is such a stiff, he is barely visible at Bakersfield in the NBDL. My issue with Gray is that a good player shows up when the lights are on. Gray gets lost - twice against Marquette. Wisconsin, Ok St.and then against Georgetown. It seems that with all of his size, temas that get physical with him intimidate him and he goes away.

Ray Fittipaldo: We all remember the Bradley game and how poorly he played. I don't want to make excuses for the guy, but he was sick at Wisconsin in December. And if I am recalling correctly, he played very well offensively against Oklahoma State. I know he missed some big free throws at the end, but he was very good besides that. And he was very good against Marquette in the Big East quarterfinal game. He has not bee consistent lately, but he does have a pretty good track record for two seasons as Pitt's starting center. People can't forget about all the good games he had because of a handful of bad ones. He will dominate Pleiman tonight. If he does well against Josh McRoberts Saturday night, will the fans out there start giving him the benefit of the doubt?

mat1776: Pitt versus UCLA would be a great game on many levels. If they get to play each other, who do you think wins?

Ray Fittipaldo: UCLA has better talent and has the expereince of advancing to the title game. On the other hand, I think Pitt would have an advantage inside with Gray if he came to play. They run the same plays, so it would be like an intra squad scrimmage in many ways. It would be a matter of which team executed the best. And since it will be in San Jose, I'd also give the Bruins a little home-court edge.

FishHead: I'm late and yes, everyone must be watching the early games. I would think that with good perimiter shooting, Pitt would look to drive and kick more often than it does. Do you think the presence of Gray in the middle can have a negative effect on executing that type of offense?

Ray Fittipaldo: Really, what they do insitead of driving and kicking out is feed it into Aaron, and he kicks it out. I think it serves the same purpsose. Teamd double down to prevent Gray from getting an easy basket and players get out of position. The same thing is created when a guard penetrates and kicks it out. It's merely the way the Panthers run their offense through Gray. Once Gray is gone next season and Pitt is forced to play a smaller lineup, I think you'll see more driving and dishing from the likes of Levance Fields and Pitt's other guards.

Ray Fittipaldo: Thanks for the questions this week. We'll do it again next week if Pitt makes the Sweet 16.