Barring a chance meeting at Madison Square Garden, this will be the last time Pitt is reunited with the one that got away.
Thursday night at Petersen Events Center, West Virginia star senior Kevin Jones, the leading candidate for Big East Player of the Year honors, takes his final shot at Pitt (15-11, 4-9 Big East), the school he nearly attended.
Four and a half years ago, Jones, a consensus top-100 recruit out of Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School, picked the Mountaineers (16-10, 6-7) over the Panthers 10 days after taking an official visit to Pitt.
"He's tough," said Nasir Robinson, who signed with Pitt as part of that 2008 class and became the Panthers' starting power forward. "He's active. He's real strong. He knows how to use his body. He's a senior now. He's more comfortable, and he's just playing his game."
Jones leads the Big East in scoring (20.6) and rebounding (11.2). He's trying to become only the third player to lead the Big East in both categories, joining Walter Berry of St. John's in 1986 and Troy Murphy of Notre Dame in 2000.
Jones is among the national leaders in scoring (11th), rebounding (fourth) and double-doubles (third). He has helped youthful West Virginia to wins over Kansas State, Miami and Georgetown.
"I think KJ clearly has been the best player in the league," coach Bob Huggins said. "When you look at the history of the Big East and there have only been two people that led the league in both scoring and rebounding for a season, that says volumes."
Pitt has done a good job handling Jones. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound power forward is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in eight career games against the Panthers. He had 21 and 13 against Pitt on Jan. 30 in their first meeting ? both career highs against the Panthers ? but the Mountaineers lost, 72-66.
Pitt could counter West Virginia's size advantage by playing 6-9, 240-pound junior Dante Taylor at center and moving 6-9, 230-pound sophomore Talib Zanna, the starting center, to power forward. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he had planned to play the two together more in the teams' first meeting, but the Panthers' regular rotation was working, holding the Mountaineers to 40 percent shooting.
"I think it's something that could happen," Dixon said. "It's something we will have ready to do."
Robinson, who gives up four inches and 35 pounds to Jones, said the key to defending him is to contest every shot and keep him off the offensive glass.
"Just try to make him shoot tough shots," Robinson said. "Box him out. He's a good offensive rebounder. Get a high hand on him and make sure he takes tough shots. If he makes them, he gets them."
Both teams are headed in the wrong direction. West Virginia has lost five of six to put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Pitt has dropped two in a row and would need to sweep its final five Big East games to reach .500 in the league.
"We've got to win some games," Dixon said. "How many? I don't know exactly. We've got to play well, and we've got to play better. And we've got to win a lot of games ? no question about it."
Series: West Virginia leads, 95-88
Of note: Pitt and West Virginia rank first and second in rebounding margin in the Big East.
Players to watch
West Virginia: Truck Bryant, Sr., G ? He has made the most free throws (123) in the Big East.
Pitt: Tray Woodall, Jr., G ? In the past four games, he's averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
Thursday night at Petersen Events Center, West Virginia star senior Kevin Jones, the leading candidate for Big East Player of the Year honors, takes his final shot at Pitt (15-11, 4-9 Big East), the school he nearly attended.
Four and a half years ago, Jones, a consensus top-100 recruit out of Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School, picked the Mountaineers (16-10, 6-7) over the Panthers 10 days after taking an official visit to Pitt.
"He's tough," said Nasir Robinson, who signed with Pitt as part of that 2008 class and became the Panthers' starting power forward. "He's active. He's real strong. He knows how to use his body. He's a senior now. He's more comfortable, and he's just playing his game."
Jones leads the Big East in scoring (20.6) and rebounding (11.2). He's trying to become only the third player to lead the Big East in both categories, joining Walter Berry of St. John's in 1986 and Troy Murphy of Notre Dame in 2000.
Jones is among the national leaders in scoring (11th), rebounding (fourth) and double-doubles (third). He has helped youthful West Virginia to wins over Kansas State, Miami and Georgetown.
"I think KJ clearly has been the best player in the league," coach Bob Huggins said. "When you look at the history of the Big East and there have only been two people that led the league in both scoring and rebounding for a season, that says volumes."
Pitt has done a good job handling Jones. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound power forward is averaging 10.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in eight career games against the Panthers. He had 21 and 13 against Pitt on Jan. 30 in their first meeting ? both career highs against the Panthers ? but the Mountaineers lost, 72-66.
Pitt could counter West Virginia's size advantage by playing 6-9, 240-pound junior Dante Taylor at center and moving 6-9, 230-pound sophomore Talib Zanna, the starting center, to power forward. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he had planned to play the two together more in the teams' first meeting, but the Panthers' regular rotation was working, holding the Mountaineers to 40 percent shooting.
"I think it's something that could happen," Dixon said. "It's something we will have ready to do."
Robinson, who gives up four inches and 35 pounds to Jones, said the key to defending him is to contest every shot and keep him off the offensive glass.
"Just try to make him shoot tough shots," Robinson said. "Box him out. He's a good offensive rebounder. Get a high hand on him and make sure he takes tough shots. If he makes them, he gets them."
Both teams are headed in the wrong direction. West Virginia has lost five of six to put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Pitt has dropped two in a row and would need to sweep its final five Big East games to reach .500 in the league.
"We've got to win some games," Dixon said. "How many? I don't know exactly. We've got to play well, and we've got to play better. And we've got to win a lot of games ? no question about it."
Series: West Virginia leads, 95-88
Of note: Pitt and West Virginia rank first and second in rebounding margin in the Big East.
Players to watch
West Virginia: Truck Bryant, Sr., G ? He has made the most free throws (123) in the Big East.
Pitt: Tray Woodall, Jr., G ? In the past four games, he's averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
