Pitt: The Power Of Will

After losing last year to Georgetown and having to fight the image of runners up in the Big East Championship game, the Pittsburgh Panthers send others home this time thinking about what could have been. And I'm sure with numerous New York kids on their roster, they found some nice spots to celebrate last night in the Big Apple.

After losing six of their last seven Championship Games, Pitt took revenge for the humiliating loss in last year's final, beating the reigning champs from Georgetown 74-65. And exactly here lies the secret of the win. The Panthers were the underdogs, yet they felt they had something to prove. They wanted this game a little bit more and it showed throughout the forty minutes. They got 18 offensive rebounds and made the little plays that ultimatively can decide such a game. Despite playing their fourth game in four nights, it proved that you can make up for fatigue by sheer will, determination and again, wanting it a little bit more.

The Georgetown Hoyas weren't ready last night. Not that I'm saying they didn't want to win this game, they obviously wanted to, but they couldn't get up for this game like the Panthers could. Maybe they already had their minds on the NCAA Tourney or maybe they just never broke out of their usual ice cold routine. That can be a problem later in March. It didn't help that Pittsburgh shot 35 more free throws then the Hoyas but so what. Congratulations to head coach Jamie Dixon and his Panthers!