Submit your Pitt basketball question

Q: Amazing win for Pitt last night. Ronald Ramon really showed some nerves. From what I heard the play was drawn for Sam Young, so great improvising by Keith Benjamin. My question refers to the first half. Having followed this team for some time, I know that Dixon RARELY plays a player with two fouls in the first half, even if its the team's star. So why bring Sam into the game with around seven minutes to go in the first half and two fouls? Gary McGhee and Tyrell Biggs were playing well if Dejuan needed a rest. And Sam simply couldn't play any defense for fear of picking up a 3rd foul (and WVU went right at him). Do you know why Jamie put him in, or why he didn't switch to a zone to minimize foul trouble?

Kamesh Krishnamurthy, Pittsburgh

Fittipaldo: Dixon said after the game that he broke his own rule and reinserted Young into the game with two fouls because he thought Tyrell Biggs was playing too many minutes. Even though Young did not score when he was in there for the final few minutes of the first half, Dixon said he felt like he got a few good minutes out of him at a crucial time. As for Dixon playing zone to protect his players, he must not feel comfortable playing a zone because he has has watched player after player get into foul trouble this season.

In almost every instance, he has stuck with his man-to-man defense in lieu of a zone.

Q: There's a lot of negativity about Brad Wanamker from the people who contact you, but I continue to see possibility him being a good player, although he has been inconsistent. That leads to my question about DeJuan Blair, another inconsistent freshman. Do you think the longer college season is starting to wear on him? He seems to be missing a lot of easy shots lately.

Bill, Highland Park

Fittipaldo: That's a good observation, Bill. Blair has been struggling with his offensive game. In the past three games he is 11 for 34 from the field. He was 3 for 13 against West Virginia and missed at least five layups or dunks by my count. You hear about freshmen hitting a wall at certain times in their first seasons. Balir could be hitting that wall now. It's something he's going to have to fight through because he is a big part of this team, and the Panthers need him making those easy shots under the hoop.

Q: When the referees took the time see a replay and correct Alexander's trip to the line instead of his teammate, they had to see that Blair didn't foul anybody. Why not take away the free throws and make the right call? Instead they send another player, who also wasn't fouled, to the line. They were probably as relieved as I was that he missed the front end.

Ken Turner, Cherry Hill, N.J.

Fittipaldo: I did not have the benefit of seeing the replay, so I can't say for sure whether Blair fouled anyone on that play in question. As a Pitt fan, you ought to be ecstatic that the officials even decided to review the play. The only reason they reviewed the play was because West Virginia coach Bob Huggins called a timeout. If he hadn't called a timeout and stopped the clock there's no way they could have gone back and taken points off the board. Everyone involved agreed that the officials made the right call even though it took them far too long to realize their mistake.

Kamesh Krishnamurthy, Pittsburgh

Fittipaldo: Dixon said after the game that he broke his own rule and reinserted Young into the game with two fouls because he thought Tyrell Biggs was playing too many minutes. Even though Young did not score when he was in there for the final few minutes of the first half, Dixon said he felt like he got a few good minutes out of him at a crucial time. As for Dixon playing zone to protect his players, he must not feel comfortable playing a zone because he has has watched player after player get into foul trouble this season.

In almost every instance, he has stuck with his man-to-man defense in lieu of a zone.

Q: There's a lot of negativity about Brad Wanamker from the people who contact you, but I continue to see possibility him being a good player, although he has been inconsistent. That leads to my question about DeJuan Blair, another inconsistent freshman. Do you think the longer college season is starting to wear on him? He seems to be missing a lot of easy shots lately.

Bill, Highland Park

Fittipaldo: That's a good observation, Bill. Blair has been struggling with his offensive game. In the past three games he is 11 for 34 from the field. He was 3 for 13 against West Virginia and missed at least five layups or dunks by my count. You hear about freshmen hitting a wall at certain times in their first seasons. Balir could be hitting that wall now. It's something he's going to have to fight through because he is a big part of this team, and the Panthers need him making those easy shots under the hoop.

Q: When the referees took the time see a replay and correct Alexander's trip to the line instead of his teammate, they had to see that Blair didn't foul anybody. Why not take away the free throws and make the right call? Instead they send another player, who also wasn't fouled, to the line. They were probably as relieved as I was that he missed the front end.

Ken Turner, Cherry Hill, N.J.

Fittipaldo: I did not have the benefit of seeing the replay, so I can't say for sure whether Blair fouled anyone on that play in question. As a Pitt fan, you ought to be ecstatic that the officials even decided to review the play. The only reason they reviewed the play was because West Virginia coach Bob Huggins called a timeout. If he hadn't called a timeout and stopped the clock there's no way they could have gone back and taken points off the board. Everyone involved agreed that the officials made the right call even though it took them far too long to realize their mistake.