OTHERS LOST

SF -- CHAD JOHNSON (6-5, 215 lbs., 4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 17.2 minutes, .367 FG, .295 3PT, .604 FT). Johnson was a spark off the bench and seemed to deliver almost everything the Panthers needed. Case in point, a 75-63 win in Syracuse. Pitt trailed 47-33 when he entered. But almost immediately, Johnson blocked a shot and scored six straight transition points to ignite the comeback win.

"He got us started with his intensity. He's just really active when he gets in a game," Knight said. "It seems like when we need a big basket or a rebound, he gets it."

Johnson’s father, Clemon, played 10 seasons in the NBA and won a title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.

"He did a lot for our chemistry. A lot of things off the floor, too, to help us," Howland said of Chad Johnson, who was good friends with Jaron Brown.

G/F -- JARON BROWN (6-4, 229 lbs., JR., #4, 9.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 29.5 minutes, .518 FG, .167 3PT, .625 FT, Bryan Station HS/Maine Central Institute/Lexington, Ky.). Move over, Charles Barkley, there’s a new Round Mound of Rebound around and his name is Brown.

The swingman earned honorable mention Big East status last year after leading the Panthers in rebounding. Considering his waistline, he is a better ball-handler than you would think and he also has a soft touch around the basket (notice the shooting percentage). He is also a valuable defender because he can cover guards, small forwards and has the muscle to bang with power forwards.

"He does so many little things for us," Howland said. "He really does everything well."

Brown hit for double figures 19 times, including a career-high 15 against Boston College. He only grabbed 10 or more rebounds twice, but had seven boards or more 19 times.

PG -- BRANDIN KNIGHT (6-0, 183 lbs., SR., #20, 15.6 ppg, 7.2 apg, 4.8 rpg, 3.2 tpg, 2.3 spg, 36.7 minutes, .427 FG, .356 3PT, .442 FT, Seton Hall Prep/East Orange, N.J.). What a leap he made from a guard who averaged 9.2 points and 5.5 assists as a sophomore. Last season, Knight became Pittsburgh’s most decorated basketball player since center Charles Smith starred for the Panthers in the late 1980s.

He earned All-America honors (third team), was selected the Big East Co-Player of the Year and Most Improved Player and this season already was nominated for the Wooden Award and chosen to the 10-member Playboy All-America Team.

"He’s really an unbelievably smart player," Howland said of the player who won’t turn 21 until Dec. 16. "He has a great understanding of the game, court presence and unselfishness. Where he really made strides last year was shooting the ball from 3-point range and really increasing his offensive production."

Knight shot just .258 from behind the 3-point line as a sophomore, but bumped that up to .356 last season. That meant defenders had to guard him more closely and his water-bug quickness to penetrate gave opponents fits.

Whether pushing the break or trying to set up a teammate in a half-court set, Knight seemed to make every right decision with his great vision and passing skills. His poise was uncanny. When coaches talk about quarterbacks in basketball, they mean players like Knight.

But he meant so much more. Consider that Knight, by no means a big guard, led Pitt in defensive rebounding (4.0 per) and ranked in the top 15 in the Big East.

"He’s fearless," Howland said.

Knight’s best games included 17 points, nine assists and five steals in the first round of the NCAAs against Central Connecticut State, 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists against Seton Hall and 20 points and 14 assists in a Big East Tournament semifinal against Miami. That assist total tied the tourney mark held by Syracuse’s Pearl Washington and St. John’s Mark Jackson (both 1986).

His assist-to-turnover ratio was 2.2 (2.15 in league games ranked third).

SG -- JULIUS PAGE (6-3, 191 lbs., JR., #1, 12.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 tpg, 34.3 minutes, .466 FG, .313 3PT, .809 FT, Turner-Carroll HS/Buffalo, N.Y.). An explosive wing with leaping ability and a left hand made for highlight reel dunks in transition. He also is Pitt’s defensive stopper.

"He is athletic as any player in the country," Howland said. "And it’s great lateral quickness, too. Sometimes you’ll find players who are great jumpers but can’t move quickly laterally. Julius is one of the best on-ball defenders there are."

Where Howland wants to see improvement is on offense. Page is a streaky perimeter shooter. More consistency there would give the Panthers another reliable threat and it would help greatly in their halfcourt sets.

Page scored a team-high 17 points in the second-round NCAA win over Cal, igniting a game-clinching 16-0 run with seven points. The honorable mention All-Big East pick also pulled down a career-high eight rebounds in that game.

PF -- CHEVON TROUTMAN (6-7, 236 lbs., SO., #2, 5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 13.0 minutes, .557 FG, .471 FT, Williamsport Area HS/Williamsport, Pa.). A turning point in Pitt's season came when Howland started Troutman in the second half against Georgetown at the MCI Center Jan. 9. Then a redshirt freshman who hadn't played in the previous four games, Troutman sparked Pitt's 68-67 upset victory to snap a two-game losing streak.

Troutman (four starts) could be the man in the middle this season after replacing Morris (32 starts) in the final two NCAA games last year. A good defender in the post, he is quick enough to guard smaller players and strong enough to handle bigger ones.

"I should have played him inside earlier last year," Howland said. "I expect Chevy to pick up where he left off last year. He really gained a lot of confidence."

Troutman played more than 20 minutes in five of the last seven games.

PF -- DONATAS ZAVACKAS (6-8, 238 lbs., SR., #5, 11.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.4 spg, 31.2 minutes, .426 FG, .333 3PT, .814 FT, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary/ Klaipeda, Lithuania). After canning nearly 50 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore (41-for-83), Zavackas went cold last year, making only 41-for-123. If the third-year starter can rediscover his touch, it’ll make the Panthers even tougher.

"He’s a very smart player, a good post defender and we expect him to shoot the ball a lot better this year," Howland said. "He’s done a good job on weights in the offseason."

With all of Pitt’s other muscle -- even from players who are smaller than Zavackas -- it allows him to sneak out to the perimeter. But he still came in as the No. 2 rebounder on the team last year.

PG -- CARL KRAUSER (6-2, 200 lbs., FR., #11, DNP 2001-2002, St. Thomas More Prep (Conn.)/Bronx, N.Y.). While Knight got all of the awards last year, Krauser quietly deserved some of the credit. A partial qualifier, he was allowed to practice with the Panthers. His matchups against Knight were at times standoffs -- a great sign for this season.

Krauser brings a Bronx toughness and competitiveness to a team already loaded with it. Expect to see tight defense, sharp passing and him pushing the ball a lot.

"He's one of those guys who raises the level of everyone else around him," Howland said. "He was a real key element last year."

Krauser, who was ranked among the country’s top point men coming out of St. Thomas More Prep, could be even more key this year. He’ll spell the Panthers’ Ironmen backcourt of Knight and Page, but Howland said he does expect to use Krauser and Knight together, too.

F/C -- ONTARIO LETT (6-6, 265 lbs., SR., #50, 8.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 18.1 minutes, .570 FG, .471 FT, Pensacola JC/Pensacola, Fla.). The junior college transfer is another Pitt player who gets the most out of his size and uses his body well in the paint to get shots off. Lett came off the bench to score in double figures 15 times and also was a good post defender (team-high 37 blocks).

He scored a career-high 18 points at Miami and connected for 17 in the Big East title game loss when Pitt needed offense without Knight at full strength.

"His biggest negative was that he got in foul trouble quite a bit," Howland said. "But we’re working hard on him to play defense with his feet and to do less reaching. This is Ontario’s senior year so he should be motivated to have a good season."

Lett fouled out six times and registered four fouls 12 other times. Howland also said Lett’s "great attitude and personality," aided the team’s good chemistry.

PF -- MARK McCARROLL (6-10, 210 lbs., SO., #21, 2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 9.7 minutes, .429 FG, .214 3PT, .400 FT, Christ the King/Milford (Conn.) Academy/Queens, N.Y.). Came off a medical redshirt year (chronic knee problems) to become a contributor last season. But with so much raw ability the Panthers want more from McCarroll, who is long and athletic and could be the team’s best shot-blocker with some improvement. He has added about 20 pounds since his arrival at Pitt.

"We think he can be a real special player here before his days are done," Howland said.

C -- TOREE MORRIS (6-10, 282 lbs., JR., #55, 4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 15.7 minutes, .542 FG, .462 FT, Clinton HS/Oliver Springs, Tenn.). Morris was given a wake-up call in the NCAA tournament by losing his starting spot in the final two games to Troutman, who is three inches shorter but is much quicker.

In Pitt’s half-court sets, a big body in the post can help. Morris could be that guy.

"I think people will be in for a surprise when they see the improvement he has made," Howland said. "He’s as strong as ever now. He had a really good summer and has a great attitude."

SG -- YURI DEMETRIS (6-4, 205 lbs., SO., #3, 1.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 5.9 minutes, .417 FG, .200 3PT, .583 FT, Shaler Area HS/Glenshaw, Pa.). Howland called him one of the team’s best shooters and passers, but Demetris didn’t see the floor much a year ago because Knight played so well.

"He’s a smart player," Howland said. "I think he’ll make a solid contribution this year. On a good team, sometimes a guy like Yuri doesn’t get the notice he would in a different situation."

G -- CARLO DORAZIO (6-0, 173 lbs., JR., #0, 0.7 ppg, 1.0 minutes, Plum HS/Plum, Pa.). A walk-on last year, he played in three games (two Big East), including the March 2 finale at Fitzgerald Field House when he recorded two points, one assist and one rebound in one minute of action.

G -- GINO FEDERICO (6-5, 215 lbs., JR., #15, 0.5 ppg, 1.5 minutes, Montour HS/McKees Rocks, Pa.). A walk-on for the second straight year, he appeared in 11 games last year (four Big East). Recorded one assist and one rebound in the final game at Fitzgerald Field House on March 2.

PF -- LEVON KENDALL (6-9, 210 lbs., FR., #14, 23.3 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, Kitsilano HS/Vancouver, B.C.). Skilled but thin. Kendall has a good mid-range jumper and will be able to finish on the break. But in order to defend in the post the way Howland wants, he’ll need to add some muscle.

Kendall was on the Canadian Junior National team that competed last summer in Venezuela. He might be a candidate for a redshirt with Pitt’s frontcourt depth.

SF -- ED TURNER (6-6, 180 lbs., 18.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.5 bpg, Turner-Carroll HS/Buffalo, N.Y.). A slasher who is all arms and legs, Turner will need to add some serious weight to compete in the bruising Big East. He chose the Panthers over Massachusetts, Rutgers and Siena.

He spent the summer recovering from a broken hand but was expected to be ready by the start of the season. Although he attended the same high school as Julius Page, the two were never teammates at Turner-Carroll. Turner played his first two seasons at Nichols, the alma mater of Christian Laettner. He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he is looking forward to playing with Page at Pitt.

"People don't know a lot about me," said Turner, whose father, Edward, was a 1982 second-round draft pick of the Houston Rockets. "They probably think me and Julius play the same way because we come from the same high school. He can jump higher, just a little bit. I can dunk good, but he can dunk real good. ... I've got to show everybody what I can do."

No more sneaking up on teams now.

This season the Panthers will have to handle expectations and opponents who will be pumped to play them, not the other way around. They’ll have to match that intensity and not rest on last year’s success.

Howland and Knight give Pitt strong leaders on the bench and on the floor. Knight is great at controlling the flow of a game. Last season didn’t look like a "career year" for him, just the natural progression of someone who could become a great player. If he and the others can play as well or better than last year, reaching the Final Four is possible.

What’s the old saying? Defense wins championships. When the Panthers hold the opposition under 60 points, they are 28-1. But the heat will be on every night this winter, so Pitt needs to bring its "A" game. Even when it doesn’t, though, it has its stingy defense to bail itself out and half of the time should have a noisy homecourt advantage.

"Now we have the bull’s-eye on our chest," Howland said. "So we can’t just think what we did last year will be enough. We have to keep getting better."

Count on it.