It blows my mind that a conference game that involves a top-10 team gets this kind of regional distribution (not simply Pittsburgh, but all over the country). 8pm on a Wednesday, and this is it? The game is also on ESPN3.com (subject to blackout) and on the ESPN FullCourt package.

This is the kind of coverage that makes it imperative that the ACC gets its own channel in the next five years. Still, it could be worse. It could be the Big East on FoxSports 1.

Pitt comes in on a 3-game winning streak. It hasn’t been easy. Even against Bryant. Pitt hasn’t been much for defense. At times, giving up all pretense that the defense will do much more than run clock — and late in a couple of the games not even that. Instead, the team has leaned on the offense.

Specifically, the ACC Player of the Week, Jamel Artis. Artis has averaged 24 point, 8 rebounds and 3.33 assists over the last 3 games. Mike Young hasn’t been as noticeable, but he keeps producing at a constant clip.

James Robinson has stepped up a bit. His shooting in the first half of the Syracuse game, kept Pitt in striking distance. He had a stinker of a shooting game against Bryant, but even with that he’s averaged 12 points and 6.6 assists per game over the last five outings.

Chris Jones quietly had a solid game against Syracuse. 3-6 on 3s, 6-9 overall shooting. He shows flashes like that of the player he might be. In the mold of Lamar Patterson. The issue is Jones is a redshirt sophomore, and is about at the same place Patterson was at the same point. Shaky on defense, and at times looking to take the perfect shot rather than the open shot.

Josh Newkirk has struggled quite a bit since being put in the starter role over Chris Jones. That might be being kind. Since the heroics of the Boston College game, he has only reached double-digit scoring once in the past 9 games.  He is 7-28 (.250) on 3s and 10-30 (.333) from inside the arc (17-58 — .293 — overall). He has improved his assists in the past 3 games, but the caveat there being Pitt is actually shooting well at the moment which would help assist totals.

Cam Wright may or not play tonight. His sprained ankle has him a game time decision.

Sheldon Jeter got minutes in his place and had a big game against Syracuse. Jeter is a wildcard tonight. Not because of playing time, or worrying about Coach Jamie Dixon pulling him for mistakes on defense. No, it has to do with how he handles Louisville’s defense.

Unlike Syracuse’s zone that has room for Jeter to attack the basket and go after rebounds. Louisville’s defense is a lot tighter inside. There isn’t as much room, and he will get manhandled.

This game is not against a porous zone or Notre Dame’s own eagerness to avoid playing defense. This is against one of the most efficient defenses in the country. Pitt shot below 40%, and proved to be the slump-buster for the ‘Ville’s own struggling offense. At least until they played Virginia.