Grizzley_Blair: Ray, now that Coach Dixon has announced his 2009 recruiting class, what are your thoughts? Also, with Durand Scott deciding on Miami yesterday, does Pitt now put all of its eggs in the Dominic Cheek basket?

Ray Fittipaldo: Cheek is going to visit in a couple of weeks, I believe. He would not be able to sign until the spring signing period. Obviously, Dixon addressed the needs at power forward and center in the recruits that signed yesterday. Cheek would be a welcome addition, but you have two shooting guards on the roster now in Jermaine Dixon and Ashton Gibb, so there is not an immediate need to put an all-out full-court press on Cheek. Yes, it would be nice to sign him in the spring, but it would not be the end of the word if he signed elsewhere.

Grizzley_Blair: I noticed that the Pitt games in the Legends Classic will be on HDNET, which I do not get on my Comcast Digital Cable. Will another network be broadcasting the games on 11/28 and 11/29?

Ray Fittipaldo: According to my handy dandy Pitt basketball schedule that Pitt sports information provides me, another network will not carry the games.

MPM: What role do you think Nasir Robinson will play as the season progresses and the benches get smaller?

Ray Fittipaldo: Robinson is making the coaching staff rethink the rotation because he is playing so well. I think they went into the season with some ideas of what they would do at power forward and center, but because Robinson has played so well it probably has changed things. If he continues to provide the energy he is now I don't see any reason for the coaches not to use Robinson when the games get more competitive. Pitt does not have another player like him. He adds something unique to the mix, for sure.

TJS: How much has Blair improved from last season? I know it's early but do you see Pitt as a Top 5 team by tournament time?

Ray Fittipaldo: It's so hard to say now. I will pass along what Miami of Ohio coach Charlie Coles said after Monday's game. He was asked how Pitt compares to UCLA. Coles responded by saying that Pitt was probably a little better. Take that for what it's worth. He went position by position, Pitt vs. UCLA. He gave UCLA the nod at point guard and shooting guard, but said PItt had the edge at the three frontcourt positions.

demetriusgore: So ... apparently Jermaine Dixon's pretty good at shooting guard. What does this mean for Gil Brown?

Ray Fittipaldo: Jermaine Dixon has been very impressive in the first two games. We'll have to wait to see how he does against better competition, but he is very solid in all facets of the game. He can handle the ball, penetrate, play defense and against Miami he showed he could stroke the 3-pointer. Gilbert Brown was playing strictly small forward before his injury, so it probably means that the coaching staff thinks Brown is better served to play in the frontcourt as a sub for Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs. I still think Brown will be a big part of this team. He should still see his 20-22 minutes a game once healthy.

Nasir_the_junkyard_dog: Ray, how do you like the "new" Pitt defense? So far I am loving that they are taking the hedge on screens to almost half-court and basically trapping the ballhandler. Do you feel that the staff is allowing this because of the supreme athleticism on the floor?

Ray Fittipaldo: No question, this team has a lot of athleticism, but when you hedge out high the way they are you are inviting foul trouble on DeJuan Blair and Tyrell Biggs. And I don't know if the team can afford to have Blair in foul trouble in many Big East games this season. So I'm not a big fan when it leads to ticky tack fouls, the ones I expected Blair to eliminate this season. If it causes a few more turnovers and easy fast break points, maybe I'll reconsider my position, but Pitt needs Blair on the floor for 25 or 30 minutes more than the Panthers needs one or two turnovers caused by the traps out high.

Grizzley_Blair: Ray, thanks again for chatting with all of us. Do you think this team could potentially be the best defensive team of the Dixon/Howland era? Back when Julius Page and Jaron Brown were defensive stalwarts, the team struggled to score. Now, we have plenty of scorers and I love the athleticism on D.

Ray Fittipaldo: It's probably too early to say, but it was interesting after the Miami game how Jamie Dixon praised his team for their defensive effort. Usually, early in the season Dixon is harping on his team defense and saying how much better it can get. Against Miami, he made sure to mention how well the seniors prepared the younger players to play defense against the Redhawks. And it showed in the end, Miami shot 22 percent after halftime as the Panthers pulled away in the second half. You might be onto something, but there's a long way to go. And as Dixon points out, a lot of newcomers are still trying to figure some things out on the defensive end.

TJS: Any surprises in the way of potential breakout players on this team .. perhaps Robinson ?

Ray Fittipaldo: At this point, I would say Robinson is the closest thing, but even he may have a hard time getting a lot of minutes in this rotation once Brown returns. He is very fun to watch, though. It's like he's moving at another gear than everyone else on the floor. I haven't seen hustle like his in a long time from a player in a Pitt uniform.

Nasir_the_junkyard_dog: Ray, thank you very much for taking time out of your day to answer these questions. How do you feel that Brandon Knight is doing in his first season as a full-time coach? Have the players responded well to him?

Ray Fittipaldo: I think it's always good to have a mix of youth and veteran coaches on your staff. Knight is young enough to relate to the players but far enough removed to coach them. He's only been on the road recruiting for about six months, so we'll see in the years to come how he does in that realm. But so far, yes, he's been a positive.

Elite8_or_Bust: Pitt got some GREAT news and some bad news on the recruiting front yesterday. We signed all 4 of our commits including Dante Taylor, but Durand Scott went to Miami - any chance Dom Cheek really comes to Pitt?

Ray Fittipaldo: Pitt is one of four or five remaining schools on Cheek's list, so I guess there's a decent chance. Maybe there'll be some more information after he visits.

Elite8_or_Bust: I have always said that UCLA with Ben Howland is the same exact team as Pitt with Jamie Dixon except UCLA has All-Americans running the show ... with Dixon's improving recruiting classes do you picture the Panthers as a top tier PROGRAM in the future?

Ray Fittipaldo: I think Pitt is already a top tier program. If the Panthers keep knocking on the door at the Sweet 16 one of these years they'll knock the door down. I've written this in the past, but it took Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim 10 years or so to get to a Final Four. Jamie Dixon is in his sixth season as Pitt's head coach. But certainly, when you land players such as Taylor, your chances increase. From what I've been told he is a player who could only be here a year or two. He's that good.

Grizzley_Blair: I like the user name of Nasir the Junkyard Dog. It definitely matches his playing style. Do we have a new nickname on our hands?

Ray Fittipaldo: You'd have to check with WWE to see if it's patented. But maybe you're onto something.

Elite8_or_Bust: Who do you think wins the Big East regular season? I know a lot of places have Pitt top 5 nationally and then 3rd in the BE.

Ray Fittipaldo: I see any one of four teams winning the regular season -- Connecticut, Pitt, Louisville or Notre Dame. It's going to be a fun season once January comes around.

Elite8_or_Bust: Any chance anyone other than Sam Young gets drafted to the NBA from this team?

Ray Fittipaldo: Sure, there's a chance. He was rated as a second-round selection last season had he come out early. It depends on which players make themselves eligible in the spring, but I would say he has a good chance of getting drafted, probably in the second round.

MAdesso: Hello Ray, Do you see Blair leaving school early this year or next?

Ray Fittipaldo: Blair is a great player, but I'm not an expert on the NBA. From what I'm told he is between positions in the NBA. I guess he has to develop a 15-foot jumper to be considered NBA worthy because people don't think he'd be able to dominate inside in the NBA the way he does in college. I'd say it's a long shot that he goes after this season unless there is some sort of family situation I am unaware of. Maybe after his junior season and he develops his game more.

Ray Fittipaldo: Thanks for all the questions this week. We'll do it again in two weeks. Enjoy Thanksgiving.