The men’s basketball team has fought back from two 13-point deficits this season. It has found… The men’s basketball team has fought back from two 13-point deficits this season. It has found ways to lull teams to sleep and then blow them out in the final five minutes of the game. Right now, Carl Krauser leads the team in scoring, and freshman phenom Chris Taft is headed for Big East Rookie of the Year honors.

But this isn’t why Pitt is 25-2 and vying for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The reason is defense. As a wise man once said, “defense wins championships.” Look at the pitching of the Florida Marlins, the defense of the New England Patriots, or the defense of the Louisiana State football team for example.

Pitt will contend this year for the national championship because of its defense.

Against Georgetown Tuesday night, Julius Page couldn’t hit a shot. Hell, he could only hit half his free throws. Page has struggled with his shot this year after coming off an ankle injury. However, what never gets talked about or noticed is his ability to defend the star on the opposing team.

Both Jaron Brown and Page have gone up against Ben Gordon, Herve Lamizana, Chris Thomas, Gerry McNamara, Gerald Riley, and many others.

The Pitt defense has held 18 of 28 opponents to under 60 points, and the Panthers flat out do not lose when they hold opponents to under 60 points – it’s been three years since this last happened.

At Syracuse, Page held McNamara to eight points and only three-of-11 shooting. Coming into that game, McNamara was the leading scorer for the Orangemen and the key to their success. Page’s defense had a direct effect on the 21-point victory.

For three years now, Page has been the backbone to Pitt’s defensive success. He prides himself more on his defense then his offense.

Brown, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, went up against Lamizana for Rutgers who is almost 6 inches taller than Brown. Lamizana, who was averaging 14.5 points per game going into the match up with Pitt, was held to only six points and three-of-12 shooting.

The nation can talk up the Atlantic Coast Conference and its games that end with point totals near the century mark. But what will happen when these teams play a defensive-minded team like Pitt?

If Pitt were to see the likes of Duke or Wake Forest in the tournament, the matchup of defense against offense would be a sight to see. Against UConn, a running, high-scoring team, Jim Calhoun tried to speed up the tempo of the game, but Page and Brown would not let the Huskies’ guards run the floor.

After the game, Calhoun even said that he tried everything to speed up the game, but Pitt’s defense just wouldn’t allow it.

Pittsburgh is a town that prides itself as a blue-collar place. Heinz Field explodes with Terrible Towels whirling after a sack or interception. The defense gets cheered louder than the offense.

These Panthers represent this city, its blue-collar nature and its defensive-minded sports teams.

So the next time you see Page struggling from the field or Chevon Troutman not scoring as much as he should, look to the other end of the floor and watch them play defense. It might just be more exciting than watching Pitt play offense. Brian Goldman is a staff writer for The Pitt News and is dedicating this column to Mark McCarroll.