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Q: In years past, I always thought Keith Benjamin should have been ahead of people like John Degroat, Antonio Graves & Ronald Ramon on Pitt's depth chart because his athleticism and offensive skills were superior. Now that Benjamin has proven himself with his increased minutes,do you think Benjamin will start ahead of Ramon at shooting guard when Fields returns late in the season? Or possibly play the three with Gil Brown coming off the bench?

Allen Weinstock, Harrisburg

FITTIPALDO: That's a great question, Allen. I was wondering the same thing on my trip back from Tampa today. Benjamin is playing really well right now. He's done it for three games. Pitt has to play another 10 or 12 until Fields returns, so we'll see if Benjamin can keep it up. But I would be in favor of starting Benjamin and bringing Ramon off the bench when Fields returns. That way, you would be keeping a hot player in the lineup and changing roles for someone who has been struggling all season. Ramon did very well in his role off the bench last season. He could do it again. And I would keep Brown as the starter at small forward. He's just starting to come into his own now.

Q: I had the pleasure of seeing my second Pitt game last night verses USF and I came away with one major question: where has Gary McGhee been all year? With the early foul troubles to Blair, McGhee stepped in and offered an unexpected spark to the team. Do I even begin to think he could be another Chevy Troutman type player? We can only hope. Do you see Dixon playing him and Blair together at all?

Brad Tremitiere, Sarasota, Fla.

FITTIPALDO: McGhee had been on the bench since a Nov. 27 game against Boston University. He is a freshman and has been improving as the season has progressed. Dixon admitted after the game that he was going to get lots of questions about why McGhee had been sitting for so long. The truth is the Panthers didn't need him when they had Levance Fields and Mike Cook. But the injuries have opened up a space in the rotation, and McGhee is doing his best to make Dixon play him more.

I think the long-term plan is for McGhee to be the center and Blair be the power forward, but I don't think you'll see much of that lineup this season. Maybe not even next season. Sam Young is flourishing in his role at power forward and Blair is doing the same at center. Foul trouble could dictate otherwise, but I suspect McGhee's role the rest of the season will be spelling Blair when he is in foul trouble just as he did against South Florida.

As for the comparison to Troutman, McGhee is more like a slightly smaller version of Aaron Gray. Based on what I've seen so far I would say McGhee is ahead of where Gray was at this point in his career. McGhee is put together well, does not get moved off the blocks easy and has a developing offensive game. His defense already looks to be solid.

Q: Any chance that Herb Pope would transfer to Pitt from New Mexico State? I know the Panthers were committed to signing him early in the recruiting process last year but when coach Reggie Theus left I figured the Panthers might be back in the running. Any chance now considering Hope is academically ineligible this season?

Steve Blahovec, Arlington, Va.

FITTIPALDO: Herb Pope could transfer to Pitt, but he won't be playing basketball for the Panthers. Pope was arrested on Route 60 a few weeks back and charged with a DUI when he was home for Christmas break. Why in the world would Pitt want to accept him into the program?