The Elite Cross-State

Boston, Mas. -- After enduring a brutal Big East schedule, the Pittsburgh Panthers (31-4) and the Villanova Wildcats (29-7) will matchup tonight for a ticket to Detroit and a trip to the Final Four next weekend.  

One of Pitt's three losses in the Big East play came back in late January when the Panthers loss 67-57. Villanova's Reggie Redding led all scorers with a career-high 18 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line. But the big story in that game was Nova's ability to shut down DeJuan Blair who had just seven points and eight boards.  

Many would say that Nova does not have a "true" big man to stop Blair-but who does?-and that forces teams to send all five guys to the lane to get a rebound.  

Pitt (31-4) is the toughest team in the nation... mentally. After pulling out a first round squeaker against East Tennessee State 72-62, the Panthers came back and had another second round matchup that played with them until the end. Pitt, obviously, won the second round game 84-76 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys despite turning the ball over 14 times. Then, just two nights ago, the Panthers needed a step back "Brooklyn" three-pointer from downtown Boston by Levance Fields to advance to the Elite 8. Pitt (31-4) won 60-55 over the Muskateers of Xavier.  

Meanwhile, the Wildcats had a first round scare against American, who had the lead until the 7:42 mark after Scottie Reynolds made a layup to tie it up at 55 and eventually taking the lead with a Dwayne Anderson 3-pointer to make it 58-55 Nova (31-4). The Wildcats slipped by with a 80-67 win. The second round game versus UCLA was an absolute romping. Nova (31-4) thumped Ben Howland's Bruins 89-69 to put them into the Sweet 16. Next on the list, Duke. Yet again Nova proved to be one of the hottest teams left in March Madness. Nova rolled all over Duke (30-7) 77-54 advancing to tonight where they will play for a chance to go to the FInal Four.  

Tonight will be a blast from the past. Both Nova and Pittsburgh know each other better than anybody. A cross-state rival, a Big East Rival, and a chance to go to the Final Four are all of the ingredients to be a hell of a basketball game.