Q: Was Pitt trying to slow things down with a big lead in the second half of the Oklahoma state game, or was it foul trouble for key personnel that caused them to stop being aggressive in the offensive end? It looked like they were trying to give the game away until Fields got back in there and turned things around.

Vinny Losasso, York, Pa.

FITTIPALDO: I think it was a combination of a couple of things, Vinny. The first is that I think the Panthers got a little disinterested after going ahead 49-31 at halftime. The focus was not there at the beginning of the second half. The second thing was Levance Fields picking up his third foul four minutes into the second half. Pitt is a very ordinary team without Fields on the floor. As soon as the lead got trimmed to seven, Jamie Dixon put Fields back in the game, and the Panthers resumed control.

Pitt played without Sam Young for 10 minutes in the first half against Washington and still only trailed by three at halftime. The Panthers have played without DeJuan Blair for long stretches because of foul trouble and still been successful. It became obvious to me Saturday that the player they can least afford to lose is Fields.

Q: Ray, since Coach Dixon has shortened his bench to 8 players, do you see the likes of Gary McGhee and Brad Wannamaker getting redshirted? I hate to see them waist a year of eligibilty on the bench.

Mike Johnston, North Hills

FITTIPALDO: Unfortunately, once they set foot on the floor in one game this season they lost their ability to redshirt. The only way they can get another year is

if they apply for a medical redshirt like Gilbert Brown did last season. Pitt would need to present medical documentation of the injury to the NCAA and the NCAA would have to approve it. Pitt might try with McGhee, who has had some injury problems, but I don't think Wanamaker has had any injuries.