Benjamin breaks out against Syracuse

Back in October 2004, Chris Taft said after Pitt’s first official practice of the season that… Back in October 2004, Chris Taft said after Pitt’s first official practice of the season that Keith Benjamin knows exactly when it’s game time and when it is time to get serious.

On Jan. 29, the freshman guard got serious, and it was against the least likely of all opponents — No. 4-ranked Syracuse.

His 10 points helped Pitt to a 76-69 victory over the Orange on Saturday. Six of his 10 points came on clutch 3-pointers.

Head coach Jamie Dixon was forced into a situation that required him to put Benjamin in the game early.

“[A] couple [of] players got in foul trouble early, and coach Dixon put me in,” Benjamin said. “I saw it as an opportunity to just bring energy to the court.”

“He does that all the time,” Troutman said, interrupting Benjamin as he spoke to the press.

Benjamin continued: “I know I can shoot the ball, it’s a confidence game. I just want to take the exact, open shots. [I] don’t want to force nothing. I was just trying to make as many as I can.”

“He makes them all,” Troutman interjected again.

He made the biggest shot of the night surrounded by a quieted crowd of 12,508. Standing at the free-throw line nine minutes into the second half, Benjamin stared at the basket, looking to give Pitt its first lead of the game. After tying the game with his first of two free throws, he dribbled the ball, set up and sent the free throw up.

It went cleanly through the basket, and the Panthers stood on top of the Orange, 45-44.

Before the free throws, he had hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to bring the Panthers within three points of the Orange, 44-41. Shortly thereafter, Syracuse’s Hakim Warrick attempted a pass on the ensuing possession, only to have it stolen by Benjamin. He ran the length of the court and floated a shot toward the basket. The shot did not fall, but Aaron Gray was there to put back the miss. Pitt was down by one.

Following the go-ahead free throw, Benjamin stole the ball, leading to a Chevon Troutman bucket, and assisted on a Carl Krauser score. Benjamin stood at the top of the key and tossed the ball out to Krauser at the right wing. Krauser faked the 3 and drove in for the bucket.

Benjamin’s night was not just defined by his shooting. He played great defense, recording two steals and pulling down four defensive rebounds.

“I felt he was going to be a guy that just continues to get better,” Dixon said of the Mt. Vernon graduate. “Keith Benjamin has been out 6 weeks, has been hurt all year long. It just seemed the last two days when he was out in practice … he really just looked comfortable.”

His return from injury could not have come at a better time. Pitt was falling from the rankings and losing players (Yuri Demetris to suspension and Dante Milligan to transfer).

Now, Pitt is on a two-game winning streak, knocking off No. 4 Syracuse and No. 16 UConn in a span of eight days. The Panthers’ schedule tightens now, with a game against Providence tonight and West Virginia on Saturday.

After the two wins, Pitt is right back in the running for the Big East title. But Benjamin is just happy that he’s physically back to running.

“It just feels great right now,” he said, soaking in the moment and the win.