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GAME NOTES: A battle of Big East Conference heavyweights will ensue in Pittsburgh this afternoon, as the hometown Panthers, ranked 19th nationally, host the third-ranked Villanova Wildcats.

Last Monday, Villanova suffered an 84-75 loss to an unranked and slumping UConn team in front of a disappointed home crowd. The Wildcats have now lost two of their last four outings after suffering just one setback through the first 21 games of this campaign. Villanova is 22-3 overall and 11-2 in Big East action.

As for Pittsburgh, it has won its last four games to improve to 20-6 overall and 9-4 in league play, surprising success for a team that was expected to run in the middle of the pack in college basketball's top conference. On Thursday, the Panthers played strong defense once again in a 58-51 win over Marquette, the third time in the last four games that they held a foe under 60 points. They are 14-1 at home this season and don't figure to be intimidated by the Wildcats' high national ranking.

The Wildcats own a 32-27 series lead over the Panthers, which includes wins in two meetings with Pitt last season.

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds figures to receive some consideration for Big East Player of the Year honors. Reynolds is scoring 18.9 ppg on the strength of 40.2 percent shooting from three-point range, and he is dishing out 3.4 apg to go along with 42 steals. Corey Fisher is netting 14.2 ppg in addition to handing out 4.1 apg, and Antonio Pena provides 11.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg. The Wildcats are posting 85.0 ppg this season, and they are limiting opponents to 73.0 ppg on 40.7 percent shooting from the field. Villanova has been strong on the boards, outrebounding foes by nearly seven boards per contest. Reynolds scored 18 points in the loss to UConn on Monday, and Fisher had 14 points. Pena pitched in 10 points for the Wildcats, who were outrebounded by a 40-29 margin and outscored 35-16 from the foul line.

Sophomore Ashton Gibbs has started all 26 games for Pittsburgh this season, and he is scoring 16.2 ppg despite his lowly 38.3 percent shooting from the floor. Brad Wanamaker checks in with 12.7 ppg, and the versatile performer has compiled 6.3 rpg, 115 assists and 31 steals as well. Gilbert Brown (10.8 ppg) and Jermaine Dixon (10.3 ppg) add balance to the lineup for the Panthers, who are posting 68.6 ppg while holding opponents to 61.2 ppg on 39.3 percent shooting from the floor. Against Marquette last time out, Pitt shot 54.8 percent from the field and held the Golden Eagles to 35 percent. Dixon, Wanamaker, Nasir Robinson and Gary McGhee also scored 10 points as part of a balanced Panther attack.

There is no doubt that Pitt can win this game, especially with the home crowd on its side, but Villanova is the better team and will be highly motivated after the sub par performance against UConn.