Jamie Dixon assumes coaching duties at Pittsburgh. Wait a minute. Jamie ... who? The surging Pittsburgh program has fallen into the hands of a neophyte, a 37-year-old who's spent his career as an assistant.

Dixon emerged from the shadow of Ben Howland, the man who resurrected Pittsburgh basketball the past four seasons, when Howland bolted for UCLA in the spring. The new coach will attempt to continue an upward trend that's seen the Panthers earn back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances and consecutive top 10 finishes. Dixon welcomes back seven of the top 10 players from last season's 28-5 team, including two starters -- senior guards Julius Page and Jaron Brown. The biggest loss is All-America point guard Brandin Knight, who was instrumental in turning Pittsburgh into a national contender.

"I've been around long enough to understand what it takes to win," said Dixon, who spent the past nine seasons on Howland's staff. "We're going to do the same things we've always done -- play defense, rebound and outwork our opponent. That's what sets winners apart."

FRONTCOURT

The departures of center Ontario Lett and four-year starter Donatas Zavackas at power forward will sting, but the influx of several highly regarded newcomers and three solid returnees should make the transition manageable.

Junior power forward Chevon Troutman is the triggerman. The 6-foot-7 powerhouse evolved into a force in the paint, where he pounded his way to a Big East-best shooting percentage of 71.8 and developed into a go-to player. What sets him apart is his ability to run the floor and maneuver from odd angles. He'll face countless double teams, but with 10 pounds of muscle added to his massive frame, he appears to be prepared for the onslaught.

Complementing Troutman is senior swingman Brown, an unsung star. Brown was the team's most productive player in the postseason, leading the Panthers to their first Big East Tournament title in school history. His blend of strength and quickness creates matchup problems and allows him to rebound and score from the weak side.

The third letterwinner is 6-10 senior Toree Morris, who has yet to fulfill his promise. He was used in a reserve role last year but is expected to start at center this season.

Expectations are high for Brooklyn schoolboy star Chris Taft, who could push for the starting center job, and fellow true freshmen Walter Waters of Detroit, blue-chip center Aaron Grayof Emmaus, Pa., and Dante Milligan of New York.

Redshirt freshman forwards Ed Turner and Levon Kendall will assume reserve roles, along with junior Mark McCarroll.

BACKCOURT

Sophomore point guard Carl Krauser is the X-factor. As he goes, so go the Panthers. With no other pure point guard on the roster, Krauser will have to be a 40-minute man -- or close to it. He'll also have to assume the role of floor general and team leader. He showed signs of those traits last season as an understudy to Knight but also played erratically. If his level of play improves, the Panthers will battle for the Big East title. If not, they'll struggle, even with a team rich in talent.

Krauser's backcourt mate is the flashy Page, who could be the go-to guy. Page, who averaged 12.2 points per game, is capable of putting up more than 20 per night, thanks to an array of offensive moves and explosive leaping ability. He is the Panthers' best on-ball defender and is versatile enough to play point guard if needed. Page, a third-team All-Big East pick, spent the offseason working on his jump shot, which was inconsistent last season.

FINAL ANALYSIS

A repeat of the past two seasons is asking a lot of a Pittsburgh team that lacks depth in the backcourt, will be without former leaders Howland and Knight, and is adjusting to a new coach. There's no way to replace the intangibles Knight brought to the court, and there's no way of knowing whether these players will respond to Dixon as they did to Howland, a taskmaster who pushed his teams to the limit. The Panthers should remain in the upper echelon of the Big East and return to the NCAA Tournament, but they aren't likely to get to the Sweet 16 for a third consecutive season.

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