For a program that has achieved the most success in the nation's toughest conference the past few seasons, Pittsburgh still can't seem to parlay those great regular seasons into a long-overdue Final Four appearance. The Panthers have exited the NCAA tournament with three straight losses by three points or fewer, none more painful than last year's loss to Butler in the Round of 32 after Nasir Robinson fouled Matt Howard in a tie game with less than a second to go.

It's difficult to have faith that Pittsburgh will play in a Final Four until it happens, but the Panthers once again have the talent to contend in the Big East and earn another high seed in March. Despite the departures of starters Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee, Pittsburgh returns sweet-shooting All-American candidate Ashton Gibbs and a nice collection of role players who have gained valuable experience the past two years.

In the backcourt, efficient junior Tray Woodall should be at point guard and either J.J. Moore or Lamar Patterson will start at wing, with Moore the most likely candidate since he's the superior scorer of the two. And in the frontcourt, the undersized but scrappy Robinson is a returning starter at power forward and former McDonald's All-American Dante Taylor hopes to follow in the footsteps of McGhee and Aaron Gray as quality Pittsburgh big men who didn't blossom until their junior years.