Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: So another un-inspiring game last night, but hey we pulled off the win. I think that if Levance and Ronald can possibly get hot behind the arc in the coming week we could really do some damage. What do you think?

Ray Fittipaldo: The 3-point shooting has really been a problem the past few weeks. Over the past nine games the Panthers are shooting something like 28 percent from 3-point range. The thing that is hard to figure out is the Panthers were a very good 3-point shooting team last season and returned many of the same players. Injuries are part of the reason, but I just think the team has had the misfortune of several players going cold at the same time. Ramon is the biggest key, I believe. He shot 45 percent from behind the arc last season, but is shooting 33.5 percent this season. Fields has never been a great 3-point shooter, but he always seems to make big shots like the one he made last night with 55 seconds remaining that sealed the game.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: As much as I like Blair, I would reaallly like to see a taller player in there. Do you think we could have a 6'10 PF with a 6'8 Blair at the 5? If so any idea who we could try and recruit to be that PF? Cassin Diggs certainly looks like a bust, and McGee hasn't really impressed me yet.

Ray Fittipaldo: I'm sure Dixon will explore all of his options over the next few weeks, but I think the bottom line is the players he is playing have to do a better job. Dixon could turn to McGhee to play more minutes and shift Blair and Young around at power forward and small forward, but that would be taking two players out of their element. I'm not sure he would want to make such a move this late in a season. Pitt has really struggled with rebounding since FIelds came back to the starting lineup. That forced Ron Ramon to shooting guard and Keith Benjamin to small forward. Benjamin is the tallest player of that group at 6 feet 2. Dixon took 6-6 Gil Brown out of the starting lineup and put him on the bench once Fields returned. Maybe the team needs Brown in there for rebounding, and Ramon comes off the bench.

Scuba_Steve: Now that everyone has come back, why do you think the team is still struggling so much?

Ray Fittipaldo: It's kind of a mystery to me. It was going to take Fields some time to get back to form. Even though he is playing a lot of minutes he still isn't the same player he was before the injury. It's also taking his teammates some time to readjust to having Fields as the point guard. That explains a few things such as inconsistent offense, but in my opinion it doesn't explain the problems with rebounding and defense. The Panthers have to dig deep and decide which way the season is going to go. Pitt has always won with defense and rebounding. This team seems to have forgotten that.

Darren_D: Do you think Fields finally shook off the rust?

Ray Fittipaldo: I think Fields has looked really good the past two games. He has 12 assists and one turnover since being reinstated as the starter. I know his shooting has been inconsistent, but that's not a big concern at this point. His shot will eventually come around. The key is that he is running the team extremely well, and he is playing a lot of minutes. That has to be a positive as the Panthers prepare for the postseason.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: What is up with Austin Wallace? I know he is busted up but I wasn't sure if there was any updates on his status -- health wise or other.

Ray Fittipaldo: Not much news on Wallace since the injury. He has a fractured knee cap and is out for the season. It's a 9-12 month rehab with that injury, but he should be ready to play sometime next season.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: What do you personally think the chances are for Mike Cook getting the Medical Redshirt? I know JD says they will worry about it after the season, but does he have a good shot at it or no?

Ray Fittipaldo: My understanding is that his chances are slim, but you never know how the NCAA will rule. He might have played too many games before the injury, but Pitt plans to petition the NCAA anyway.

Scuba_Steve: Have any "great" players been recruited to come in next year? I'm a little worried that the players Pitt has just aren't up to the standards we've gotten use to in the Howland-Dixon era and we could be headed for a dip for a few years. Do you think that's possible?

Ray Fittipaldo: Dixon has a solid recruiting class. There are no blue-chippers in the class, but it resembles many of Pitt's recent classes. There are some players who will develop into very good players, but probably no superstars. With Blair, Fields and Young back next season, Pitt should be one of the top teams in the conference no matter what the freshman class brings to the table. After next season, when Fields and Young are gone, Dixon will need to find some players to step up to complement Blair. I'm not worried about next year, but Dixon needs to recruit some good players to play with Blair.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: If Fields and Cook were healthy all year do you think we would be looking at a top 5 team dominating in the big east? Mike Cook was never the shining star but he did sooo much, more like an unsung hero on the team.

Ray Fittipaldo: Pitt would be contending for the conference championship if Fields and Cook had not been injured. I'm not going to say they would be dominating the conference, but they would be fighting Georgetown and Louisville for the top spot. Cook brought a lot to this team. He was a good 3-point shooter, a player who could create his own ashot, and he was a senior. Pitt really miss his experience more than anything.

Darren_D: Do you think Blair will be back after next year?

Ray Fittipaldo: It's too early to say. It's obvious that he has to come back next season. He just has too many issues with his defense and his low post game still is a bit unpolished. If he goes out and averages 20 points and 14 rebounds next season a few NBA teams might be interested. But from my conversations with scouts Blair is a player who needs to stay three years at least before he considers turning professional. They love his potential, but I don't think there is a strong sentiment that he is a can't-miss prospect.

Terrelle: I thought that the Notre Dame kid Luke Harangoody could have fouled out the first five times he had the ball if the refs would have called the charges he committed. He was banging into everyone. What do you think?

Ray Fittipaldo: He likes contact, but I don't think he committed all that many fouls. Blair likes contact as well. All you want is consistency from the officials. Harangody is a very strong presence in the low post. That game should have demonstrated to Blair that he needs to work on his defense. Harangody got too many easy baskets in my opinion.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: Terrelle Pryor's Barber told me that he was considering coming to Pitt again. Apparently he thinks the state of Ohio smells funny, and thinks Rich Rod looks like a communist. Thoughts?

Ray Fittipaldo: You mean Pryor still hasn't made up his mind? I say Charlie Batch is steering him toward Eastern Michigan. It's a big conspiracy.

boookworm: Why do you think Pitt is getting out rebounded continuously the past 4 games or so?

Ray Fittipaldo: Teams have decided to crash the boards and take advantage of Pitt's lack of height and desire. It's true that Blair is a 6-7 center, but rebounding has more to do with heart and toughness than height. And other than Blair, I don't think this team has much toughness.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: What if Blair gets some god awful advice from agents and people in the NBA a la Chris Taft ... do you think he is smart enough to know he has to mature in college or will he jump when he see the $$$?

Ray Fittipaldo: I think Blair is smart enough to know when he is ready. When Blair is a first-round pick, DIxon will let him know because he is talking to NBA GMs all the time. Agents only tell players what they want to hear.

Hippidy_Hoppidy_Flippidy_Floppid: I would give you a medical redshirt if you wanted Ray ... I mean you are a nice guy.

Ray Fittipaldo: I've exhausted my eligibility and my time for the chat today. Join me next week for another question and answer session.