It’s another win. It beats losing. It doesn’t get to be listed as a bad loss like say to the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks come March when Pitt will be sweating the bubble watch. Was it an impressive, dominating win? No. Nor should that be expected no matter how short Eastern Kentucky was.

It is clear, beyond the oft-repeated lack of Jermaine Dixon and Gil Brown at this time, that the players are still learning to play with each other and the chemistry and rotation are still trying to be found. Right now, it will probably be more of a test of just how spoiled we as fans have become.

A 71-60 win, where the team definitely focused on the rebounding.

Pitt responded by outrebounding Eastern Kentucky, 47-25, on Thursday. Maybe the next test Dixon can give his team is to improve their free-throw shooting. The Panthers were 14 for 24 from the line.

In the first 3 games, Pitt has failed to shoot even 60% at the line. No doubt that will remain an adventure all season.

With the rebounding, the guards definitely got after it more — which was very necessary against a team like EKy that took 40% of their shots from outside the arc. Woodall and Wanamaker had 6 and 8 rebounds respectively.

Ashton Gibbs had his second straight 20-point game. Travon Woodall seems to show that he is an extremely unpredictable shooter from game-to-game going only 1-8. Nasir Robinson was effective in the second half with 15 points on 6-9 shooting. Lamar Patterson, though, provided the lift in the first half off the bench.

Pitt’s young players were in the game because junior Brad Wanamaker and sophomore Nasir Robinson were on the bench in foul trouble.

Patterson scored all 10 of his points in the first half and Gibbs scored 14 of his team-high 20 in that period to lead the Panthers.

Pitt held Eastern Kentucky to 40 percent shooting for the game. Much of that had to do with Pitt’s shot-blocking. The Panthers tied a school record with 12 blocks. Taylor and junior center Gary McGhee each had four blocks apiece.

Eastern Kentucky’s coach was happier with his team’s defensive effort, but Pitt’s guard-oriented shift was more than they could handle .

The Panthers switched to a three-guard offense late in the first half and used the diminutive lineup to pull away from Eastern Kentucky en route to a 71-60 victory Thursday night at Petersen Events Center.

Pitt (3-0) played guards Travon Woodall, Ashton Gibbs and Chase Adams simultaneously for the first time this season. The plan worked against the Ohio Valley Conference school, as the trio was on the floor for the majority of game-altering 11-0 run to end the first half.

“That small lineup did bother us,” Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer said, “but I made mistakes personnel-wise as well.”

Pitt ended the first half with 11 straight points, holding Eastern Kentucky scoreless over the final 6:57 to take a 39-24 lead into the break.

J.J. Richardson and Talib Zanna got no action in the game. They’ve only made appearances in 1 game to this point. Clearly they are still well on track to redshirt.