Pitt is killing people, which is one thing, but the people most responsible ought to be most concerning to WVU.

DeJuan Blair, the burly but ever-smiling Panther center, is coming off a career-high 32 points performance against DePaul where he played volleyball off the backboard, putting back shot after missed shot. He finished the double-double with a side order of 14 rebounds to go with that 32-point main course.

And Blair’s night may not have been the most amazing put together by a Panther. Point guard Levance Fields, perhaps the most overlooked and underappreciated talent in the conference, finished his evening with a school-record tying 16 assists.

The last time any Panther had 16 assists, to stick with the presidential theme, Richard Nixon was in office, that being in 1976.

Fields has an incredible 36 assists and two turnovers over the past three games while Blair is averaging 24.3 points and 14.6 rebounds over that same period of time.

I hear you. “They do this all the time. What’s the news?” Well, to win, WVU has to deal with Blair and Fields, which means solid and consistent efforts from Wellington Smith and Truck Bryant. Those two haven’t been the most reliable players on the roster. Then again …

Truck looked at least comfortable against Providence. That’s no small thing. Maybe it was because the Mountaineers were playing a zone for the third straight game and things began to come a little easier. Maybe he’s over whatever complex develops when an AAU star struggles. Maybe it’s nothing and Providence just isn’t that good. Regardless, Huggins liked what he saw from his freshman point guard — 10 points, three assists and more good plays than bad ones.

“It’s a day-to-day deal. I hope Truck doesn’t feel too good because (tonight) he has to go and play Levance Fields again. So I hope he doesn’t get too giddy about it. It’s just day after day in this league and it’s hard for these young guys to get a hold of.” 

Smith is the wild card because if Fields gets inside, he’s eigther throwing up floaters or he’s looking for Blair. Smith has to alter or block the floaters and keep his eyes on Blair. Fun. If Blair does his thing on the block and on the boards, it’s going to be a bad night. Cam Thoroughman has actually played Blair pretty well, but, again, you don’t want him playing all of Smith’s minutes. It’s OK in stretches, but not what’s best for the team.

Good news? Smith looked good Saturday — six points (two put-backs) and five rebounds, but also four turnovers — and will bring some confidence into an area that may just haunt him a little still for the way things ended last year. Huggins noted that, too.

“Wellington Smith was very good (Saturday). That’s as good as Wellington’s been in a month. He was really active and did a good job getting to the ball. The ones he didn’t block he changed and he kept plays alive for us. He was very good.”

Add those elements to the fact Ruoff was Ruon and Ebanks and Jones, the other two freshman, looked assertive and reliable and there are a couple of reasons for them to feel good as they enter a place where opponents are 10-110 since it opened in 2002.