Pitt to be challenged in Holiday Hoops Classic

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- That supposedly soft field for Pitt's holiday tournament is suddenly looking a lot tougher.
Pitt will play currently unbeaten teams in the final two games of the loosely configured Holiday Hoops Classic, which wraps up with tripleheaders Saturday and Monday at the Petersen Events Center.
Having played Murray State (8-0) on Saturday night, the No. 18 Panthers (9-0) return Monday night to take on Florida State (9-0).
"It's funny," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "I tried to tell people how good this tournament was. ... It's not a surprise with Murray State. We knew how experienced they would be and how good they would be. We knew Florida State was going to be very good."
None of the three teams has beaten a ranked opponent. Pitt's best victory is over Alabama, while Murray State has beaten Western Kentucky, Southern Mississippi, Texas Christian and Southern Illinois. Florida State has beaten Northwestern, Mississippi and Miami. The two games will give the Panthers a better idea of how good the defending Big East Conference tournament champions are as the conference season approaches.
"We need some tests before January," guard Julius Page said. "We'll really get to see where we stand right now. These two teams are playing great basketball. We'll see how we handle a tough opponent."
Dixon said the tournament is reminiscent of the University Hoops Classic at Robert Morris two years ago. At the time, no one thought much of a field that included Pitt, Kent State and South Florida, and attendance was low. By the end of the season, Pitt and Kent State played deep into the NCAA tournament.
Attendance low for openers
Pitt's first two games in the tournament, against Georgetown (Ky.) College and Chicago State, drew the two smallest crowds since the 12,500-seat Petersen Events Center opened last season. Both crowds were less than 7,000.
On Monday, Wagner meets Chicago State at 1 p.m. and Murray State plays Georgetown College in an all-Kentucky game at 4 p.m. Georgetown, an NAIA power for the last two decades, hopes to get the school's first victory against a Division I school during the tournament.
Wagner plays twice on Pitt's home court, but is the only team in the six-team field that won't play the Panthers.