Pitt basketball: Move over, football. The college basketball season has arrived. Miami of Ohio visits The Pete for Game No. 2 on the road to March for the No. 5 Panthers -- the first of a two-game week vs. Mid-American Conference schools. The University of Akron is in town Friday.

Did you know: The RedHawks come to Pittsburgh off an appearance Nov. 12-13 in the early rounds of the 2K Sports Classic in Los Angeles, where they barely lost to No. 4 UCLA in the second round, 64-59.

To watch: 7 p.m., Petersen Events Center, FSN Pittsburgh.

Last, but not least: Major League Baseball's awards season comes to a close with the announcement of the American League Most Valuable Player Award one day after the National League names its honoree. Of all the awards, this is the murkiest to predict. We'll give the edge to Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis (.312, 29 HRs, 115 RBIs), with teammate Dustin Pedroia a darkhorse.

Did you know: The closest vote for AL MVP occurred in 1987, when Toronto's George Bell edged Detroit's Alan Trammell by a scant 332-311.

When: 2 p.m. announcement.

The Answer? LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers square off with the Detroit Pistons for the first time since the Pistons shook up the dynamic of the NBA's Eastern Conference by trading for Allen Iverson, pictured at left.

Did you know: Iverson, 33, is averaging 21 points per game this season -- his 13th in the NBA. He has never averaged less than 22 in any season.

When: 7:30 p.m.

Steelers: It will be a short week for the Steelers -- just over 97 hours between last hit vs. San Diego and first hit against Cincinnati in this Thursday Night Special.

Did you know: Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, the Steelers own the best home winning percentage in the league at .718 (212-83-1).

To watch: 8:15 p.m., NFL Network & WPCW.

WPIAL championships: Eight teams remain. Eight teams complete their month-long journey at Heinz Field for the right to hoist the trophy as WPIAL football champions of 2008.

Did you know: Thomas Jefferson will be the first school in WPIAL history to appear in six consecutive championship games. The only other school to play in five championship games in a row was Upper St. Clair (1991-95). FYI: Braddock won six in a row, but was awarded the title without a game in 1955.

To watch: Look for the championship schedule in the print editions of the PG or online at www.post-gazette.com.

Big, bigger, biggest: No. 18 Michigan State visits No. 7 Penn State (3:30 p.m.). No. 21 Pitt goes to No. 22 Cincinnati (7:15 p.m.). The games will either determine a championship (Big Ten) or go a long way toward that end (Big East).

Did you know: A win would likely send Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1994. Every Big Ten team except for Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State and Iowa has played in it in the interim.

To watch: Penn State, 3:30 p.m., WTAE; Pitt, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2.

Black-and-gold-less Sunday: A Sunday without the Steelers. What to watch? How about Steelers West, aka the Arizona Cardinals? Ken Whisenhunt's NFC West leaders play host to the NFC East-leading New York Giants.

Did you know: The Cardinals have nine players with ties to the Steelers and/or Western Pennsylvania, including regulars Steve Breaston (Woodland Hills High School), Clark Haggans (Steelers, 2001-07), Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt) and Gerald Hayes (Pitt).

To watch: 4:15 p.m., WPGH.