A bull of a test on the docket for Pitt

Pitt understands the meaning of not taking anything for granted.

Several weeks ago, the… Pitt understands the meaning of not taking anything for granted.

Several weeks ago, the Panthers (12-2, 0-1 Big East) were off to an 11-0 start, capped by a tremendous come-from-behind victory over Duke at Madison Square Garden.

Despite posting their seventh consecutive 10-win, non-conference season, things have unraveled quickly for the Panthers since their Madison Square showdown.

The Panthers lost starters Levance Fields and Mike Cook, as well as backup Austin Wallace to injuries for at least the remainder of the regular season.

Now, Pitt must attempt to erase any panic from its fans following losses to Dayton and most recently Villanova.

South Florida provides Pitt its next opportunity to right its squad.

The Bulls (10-5, 1-1 Big East) are reeling from an 89-77 loss to Syracuse this past Saturday.

Despite, or perhaps because of the loss, the Bulls will be a dangerous team.

Freshman guard Dominique Jones leads the squad in scoring at 16.7 points per game.

Jones posted back-to-back 30-point efforts earlier this season against Central Florida and Richmond.

He gives South Florida an outside threat that it lacked in its previous clashes with Pitt.

The Bulls also have the perfect complement to Jones in former LSU transfer Kentrell Gransberry.

The 6-foot-9-inch center is the nation’s top returning rebounder, averaging 11.6 boards per contest so far this season.

He has also contributed 15.1 points per game and has eight double-doubles.

Gransberry was named to the five-man Big East Honor Roll for two straight weeks.

He will have a significant height advantage over Pitt’s 6-foot-7-inch center DeJuan Blair.

Blair, however, has been outsized by most opponents this year, but has yet to be dominated by anyone defensively.

The freshman forward-center has averaged 11.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, including a phenomenal 15-point, 20-rebound effort in the victory over Duke.

Another key player to this game will be redshirt freshman Gilbert Brown.

In his first active season for the Panthers, Brown’s minutes have increased significantly since the injury sustained by Cook.

He will continue to be relied upon to provide the same aggressive slashing style that Cook did for the Pitt offense.

Brown has had back-to-back 10-point games.

He will need to build upon that success if he is to replace Pitt’s fourth-leading scorer.

Senior Ronald Ramon has stepped in to replace Fields at point guard.

Ramon struggled earlier in the season to find the perimeter shot for which he has become renowned.

A career 41 percent 3-point shooter coming into this season, Ramon’s average has dipped to 35.1 percent so far this season.

While Pitt could certainly use his range, Ramon must also replace Fields’ team-leading 5.4 assists per game.

Fields excelled at creating opportunities for his teammates, a trait that Ramon must master quickly if Pitt is to overcome their injuries and reach the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers defeated South Florida in their only contest last season, 69-48.

In that contest, Ramon led all returning Pitt players with nine points and five rebounds.

This is the first time the Panthers are visiting the Bulls since they joined the Big East in 2005-06.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.