No talking to reporters. Total focus on this game. That's what's been going on with the Pitt Panthers ever since they were buried at home by Louisville, 106-51, this past Tuesday in the worst home defeat in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

The Panthers desperately need this home win as they go on the road for three straight games following this matchup with the first two games being at North Carolina and Duke.

Fortunately for Pittsburgh they draw Clemson, which is at low ebb, too, losing and failing to cover in its last six games. The Tigers have surrendered 75 or more points in each of those defeats.

The Panthers had two losses of 15 plus points last season when playing their next game at home and responded with victories in both of them. They have four seniors headed by Jamel Artis and Michael Young. I expect them to step up here as does their coach Kevin Stallings.

Certainly the Panthers are capable having defeated 12th-ranked Virginia, Big Ten co-leader and 22nd-ranked Maryland and Marquette, which just upset top-ranked Villanova.