You don’t think Coach Dixon and the rest of the staff wasn’t banging that point home all day yesterday? You don’t think that was on the recorded message each kid got on their wake-up all in their hotel room?

Safe to say that while Georgetown ostensibly took some pressure off Pitt as the potentially biggest disappointment if they lose, a whole mess of pressure was added to Pitt and the other Big East teams. An absolutely disastrous day for the conference when even the lone win felt like a loss. It was ACC-esque.

That was a wild day, and it seems likely that no matter what happens today will seem like a letdown nationally compared to Thursday. My god, even Lehigh made Kansas nervous for a while in the first half.

Three of the #3 seeds played. While only one was upset, New Mexico and Baylor had tough games (Baylor tied with under 3 minutes left). There are no gimmees.

So, beware Keith Benson, another late-blooming center. Oakland actually expected to be here. Their plan is to attack Pitt the way they have played all season.

I don’t think Pitt is looking past Oakland or more than one game at a time.

After Gibbs only took four shots in the loss to Notre Dame, he is going to look for his shot a little more. Meanwhile, Oakland plans to stick one guy on Gibbs like glue.

[Johnathon] Jones, who has fared well covering some top guards this season, will be counted on to stay with Pitt sophomore Ashton Gibbs, the Big East’s Most Improved Player.

“I’ll say this, and (Gibbs) will score 30,” Oakland coach Greg Kampe said, “but we’ve got a guy I think can guard him.”

He’s a small pesky guard (5-11), so that will be an interesting match-up.

Gotta say, the story on Oakland coach Greg Kampe makes him seem like a good guy.

Lots to do to clear the 12 hours or so of Tourney watching, so that’s it. Liveblog this afternoon.