Before tipoff against Miami (Ohio) on Monday, the Pitt men’s basketball team performed its usual… Before tipoff against Miami (Ohio) on Monday, the Pitt men’s basketball team performed its usual ritual. The team joined in a circle, linked arms, swung back and forth and had a player in the middle fire the team up. The man in the middle was 6-feet-6-inch sophomore forward Gilbert Brown. But he was in a tracksuit and had a protective boot on his left leg. Brown is down with what is being called a stress fracture in his left foot. He didn’t play in Pitt’s first opening game against Fairleigh Dickinson or its game against Miami on Monday night, and a timetable for his return still isn’t set. Junior-college transfer Jermaine Dixon started both games this year with success, scoring 14 points on 6-of-9-shooting from the field on Monday. But entering the season, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he expected Brown to be an integral part of the team. One of the best athletes that Pitt has, he played a key role in Pitt’s run at the Big East title last year. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said he still feels unsure of the situation, meaning that Brown likely isn’t ready to return to the court full time. ‘We’re going to have an MRI, and then we’ll have a better idea,’ said Dixon. ‘But he didn’t feel good. He said about 70 percent.’ Brown’s MRI was set for yesterday. The team is going to take every precaution necessary before Brown sees action on the court again, as he is poised for a breakout season. Brown averaged 6.5 points per game last year.