One of these days, a Pitt opponent will step up and provide some competition for the Panthers. One of them might actually make a game of it in the second half and test the Panthers' mettle.

And eventually, the Panthers will lose a game.

But six games into the season, Pitt's non-conference opponents are doing little to make the undefeated Panthers believe they are vulnerable in the least bit. Last night, Boston University was the latest foe to visit the Petersen Events Center and leave with its tail between its legs.

No. 14 Pitt bolted to a 42-19 halftime lead and walloped the Terriers, 80-53. And though beating an opponent by 27 points is usually a sign of sheer dominance, the Panthers managed to lower their average margin of victory.

"I don't wonder how good we are," junior point guard Levance Fields said. "I know we're getting better. The competition hasn't been the best. But it's not easy to win by the margins we've been winning by. It's been unfortunate for us that we've been that much better than the other team. We've been showing it. It doesn't always happen like that."

Boston University was supposed to provide more competition. The Terriers were picked to win the America East Conference before the season. But coach Dennis Wolff had to play the game without his top two scorers from last season.

Corey Lowe and Tyler Morris, who were responsible for 42 percent of Boston University's scoring last season as freshmen, did not play, and the Panthers predictably ran away from the undermanned Terriers.

"When you schedule games like this, you're thinking that you have some good returning players," Wolff said. "We've been without our two leading scorers. The thing I've learned is that you can't predict anything and no one is feeling sorry for you."

Even though Pitt coach Jamie Dixon reinserted his starters with about eight minutes to go with a 24-point lead, Wolff thought Dixon was letting up on the gas pedal a bit.

"My first thought I think they were taking it easy on us," Wolff said. "We're kind of friends with those guys and I appreciate it. They subbed very liberally."

So no one will be confusing Dixon with Bill Belichick. Still, there was reason for Dixon to have some concern with his team's play. The Panthers committed 16 turnovers and allowed the Terriers to score 34 points in the second half, including a 14-2 run that triggered Dixon to get his starters back in the game.

"I don't think we were playing well," Dixon said. "But we were going to have to put them back in there anyway. Sometimes that's the hardest time to figure out your substitutions. You want to do things right and be respectful of the other team."

Senior guard Ronald Ramon broke out of a shooting slump and led the Panthers with 15 points, going 5 for 5 from behind the arc. Junior forward Sam Young added 14 points and junior guard Levance Fields and senior small forward Mike Cook had 11 points apiece.

Even though the Panthers won by 23 or more for the fifth time in six games, Fields said the performance last night leaves plenty of room for improvement.

"In these games you have to learn how to sustain it," Fields said. "In the second half, to be honest, we feel they beat us. Fortunately for us, we won the game. We feel that's something we have to work on."

Next up for Pitt: a home game Saturday against a University of Toledo team that is 1-4. As strange as it sounds, the Panthers might have to wait until next Wednesday for their first real test. Yes, at undefeated Duquesne.

NOTES -- With the 9,433 spectators last night, Pitt went over the 1 million mark in attendance at the Petersen Events Center. ... The Toledo game will be televised on Comcast's digital cable package on channel 188 (CN8). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. ... Carlos Strong led Boston University with 24 points. He made 6 of 14 3-point attempts.