The city of Pittsburgh is synonymous with blue-collar workers and the 2001-02 men’s basketball… The city of Pittsburgh is synonymous with blue-collar workers and the 2001-02 men’s basketball team is slowly adding the color of gold to the standard work ethic.

Write off the dainty “recruit to shoot” mindset. Ben Howland’s coaching philosophy is more along the lines of “stronger, tougher, bigger.”

It’s working, because the Panthers are on top fo the Big East West Division.

New attitude

In his third year as coach of the Panthers (21-4, 9-3 Big East), Howland has molded Pitt into a strong, chiseled team that plays together. This year’s squad relies on a ferocious defense, ranking eighth nationally.

They are surprising most people around the nation. But not Howland.

“I really did [think we were going to be this good this year],” Howland said. “This is what we are supposed to do.”

The hard-nosed Panthers are clawing up the rankings by diving for loose balls, pressuring opponents every possession and refusing to be out-muscled. Sounds like a good fit for the Steel Town.

Even after almost winning the Big East Tournament and advancing to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament last year, Pitt still did not have the respect of the Big East coaches as they picked the team to finish sixth in the seven-team West Division.

Howland shrugged it off. He knew what his team was capable of.

“That’s the thing I’ll say about this year-our team has great chemistry,” Howland said. “Everybody likes each other. We’ve got good leadership within the team. They’re very, very unselfish.”

That leadership begins with Brandin Knight. He embodies Howland’s team approach. He leads them in scoring, but also dishes out 6.8 assists per game, ranking second in the conference. The junior point guard acts as the general of Howland’s half-court offense.

After the team’s loss to Boston College in the Big East Tournament Championship last year Howland stressed that his team needed to be stronger and in better shape. Knight listened.

“You don’t improve unless you work hard,” Howland said. “He [Knight] worked hard at his game all summer long. He really worked hard in the weight room.”

Making a name for themselves

Coming into the year, critics made light of the Panthers’ weak non-conference schedule. But Pitt responded by going 12-1 with a win against Big Ten power Ohio State. Even the loss to South Florida in the championship game of the three-day University Classic at Robert Morris College, did not bother Howland.

“The one loss against South Florida was a tough one,” said Howland, “but that was our sixth game in 10 days. I thought that would give us some experience.”

And he was right.

Pitt rolled into their Big East schedule. It beat St. Johns for the first time in eight tries, knocked off then No. 11 Boston College and defeated Rutgers as the No. 23 team in the nation. It is Rutgers’ only loss at home to date.

Pitt looked invincible. Their hot start was reminiscent of the Billy Knight days of the mid-’70s. But the Panthers soon lost their first top 25 ranking since 1998.

After a loss to Notre Dame at home and dropping a double-overtime game to Miami, Pitt was reeling when players other than Knight provided a spark.

Sophomore guard Julius Page lit that fire, leading the team with 18 points in its next game against Georgetown. Chevon Troutman impressively handled Hoya star Mike Sweetney, and Jaron Brown battled for one of his infamous offensive rebounds to layin the winning basket.

Since then, Pitt has gone 6-1 while sweeping Georgetown for the first time and sweeping Syracuse for the first time since 1986-87 – losing only to Notre Dame.

Georgetown coach Craig Esherick said that Pitt is “the best team in the league, no doubt about it.”

The Panthers’ 21 wins ties the 1990-91 mark and they are inching toward the 1974-75 record of 25. They have finally gained national respect as they rank No. 14 in the Associated Press Poll.

Team play

By using a solid nine-man rotation, Howland has developed something Pitt has not had in years: depth.

Along with Knight, Page has become a consistent scoring threat while Donatas Zavackas and Brown are both averaging over 10 points per game. The thick-chested, 6-foot-4-inch Brown muscles his way over taller players invariably to come up with key rebounds.

The tag team comprised of Toree Morris and Ontario Lett has been an important asset in the paint for Howland. The 282-pound Toree adds power underneath, while 6-foot-6-inch Lett comes off the bench providing an inside scoring touch.

“I think Toree’s really improved, and he has a great attitude,” Howland said. “He wants to be good.”

And in a year of surprises, Lett leads them all.

“Ontario’s been the best surprise. I didn’t know he was going to be as good as he is; we got him late,” Howland said.

“This JC coach walked up to me at the end of July down in Orlando and said, ‘Hey I got a guy for you.’ Everything worked out, and he’s a great kid. He plays with a lot of passion and a lot of heart. He just fits right in to exactly what you want.”

Same ol’ Ben

One might think after the success of the team, the head coach would have a huge ego. Not Howland.

After Troutman’s first impressive performance against Georgetown, Howland admitted the freshman should have been playing more. Then he took the blame for the Panthers’ second loss to Notre Dame after confessing he was caught up in postseason speculation.

The future

Outside the locker room, many people are talking about Pitt’s postseason chances. Not only would an appearance in the NCAA Tournament be the team’s first since 1990-91, but espn.com analyst Joe Lunardi has Pitt as a No. 3 seed playing in Pittsburgh. But Howland would rather “play one game at a time” before jumping to conclusions.

Howland, the West coast coach whose teams would lead the nation in three-point percentages, has fashioned himself a winner in the rough-and-tumble, cold and dreary Big East. On the way, he is captivating an entire city that prides itself on hardworking, winning teams.

“Any time you win, Pittsburgh’s a sports town,” Howland said. “They’re gonna be happy. The thing that’s great, even when we weren’t winning we were getting good crowds.”

Howland, whose daughter will be attending Pitt next year, has no plans to jump ship.

“My daughter’s really excited about being here next year,” he said, “and my son’s going to be a freshman at Shadyside Academy. They love it here and we’ve established roots.”

The support from the University has helped the once no-name coach feel at home.

“After every win we have, Walt [Harris] calls me,” he explained. “It really is a family. Athletic Director Steve Pederson has really fostered that attitude along with the chancellor in the athletic department.”

By losing only one senior, having four touted recruits itching to see action next year and the Petersen Events Center set to open, the foundation is set for Howland’s Pitt basketball program to thrive.