In the 101 seasons Pitt has been playing basketball, the Panthers have never been able to raise their right index fingers and point toward the heavens.

But that will all change today thanks to a topsy-turvy week in college basketball which, in all likelihood, will leave Pitt alone atop the national polls with the No. 1 ranking in the country.

With No. 1 North Carolina's loss to Boston College last night and No. 2 Connecticut's loss to Georgetown a week ago, the undefeated Panthers likely will move up two spots to No. 1 when The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today coaches' polls are released today. They were ranked No. 3 in both polls last week.

Pitt remained undefeated (14-0) with a 70-54 victory at No. 11 Georgetown Saturday, but it appeared unlikely that the ascension to the top would happen this week. Not when North Carolina was playing a home game against an unranked Boston College squad that was a 21-point underdog.

But Boston College did Pitt a huge favor by upsetting the Tar Heels, 85-78, last night.

Pitt has been as high as No. 2 in the AP poll on three occasions but never No. 1. The Panthers were No. 2 for three weeks in November-December 2006, in December 1987 and for two weeks in late December 2002.