Q: Here it is, not even five minutes into the second half, and I can't take it anymore listening to Doug Gotllieb. What is his beef with Pitt? For every barely postive comment he has, there are two or three negatives. He doesn't think the Petersn Events Center is intimidating to play at, doesn't think Pitt has that go- to player, and he continues to put down pretty much everything but the defense. Although he did say they play defense too well, and that's why they hurt offensively. Please enlighten me here. Coach Dixon should replay this game just so the players can listen to his commentary.

Royce Jacomen, Blacksburg, Va.

FITTIPALDO: I was receiving text messages throughout the game from my collegaue Paul Zeise, who was keeping me abreast of what he was saying. This is nothing new. Gottlieb has been a consistent critic of Pitt for the past few years now. I have to give him credit for not backing down from his opinion. The Panthers are the No. 3 team in the country and he's picking away at them. That takes a certain amount of guts. The only way Pitt fans can get him to change his opinion is to get past the Sweet 16, so I think you'll have to endure Gottlieb's analysis for the next three months at least, unless you turn down the volume when you see his mug on your TV set.