Pitt's Big East tournament paid dividends tonight when it was announced that the Panthers will be a No. 4 seed in the South Region in the NCAA tournament and will play No. 13 seed Oral Roberts in the first round Thursday in Denver, Colo. Game time will be announced later tonight or tomorrow morning.

If Pitt beats Oral Roberts, the Panthers will play the winner of the Michigan State-Temple game. The No. 1 seed in the South Region is Memphis.

Pitt entered the Big East tournament pegged as a No. 8 or 9 seed. By winning four games in four days, including victories against NCAA teams Georgetown, Marquette and Louisville, the Panthers put hemselves in better position for the tournament.

West Virginia notched a no. 7 seed in the West region and will face no. 10 seed Arizona also on Thursday in Washington D.C.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.