Hartford - UConn has become an almost team.Yet again the Huskies showed Wednesday that they're

Yet again the Huskies showed Wednesday that they're almost good enough to win a tight game against a ranked team.They're

They're almost talented enough to overcome their mistakes.

Almost isn't good enough. Not in the fiercely competitive Big East Conference.No. 15 UConn's shortcomings sent it to a damaging 67-57 loss to No. 16 Pittsburgh at the XL Center. It was the Huskies' first home defeat this season and third loss in five games overall.

No. 15 UConn's shortcomings sent it to a damaging 67-57 loss to No. 16 Pittsburgh at the XL Center. It was the Huskies' first home defeat this season and third loss in five games overall."We aren't putting the package together right now the way we should," coach Jim Calhoun said. "Obviously, I have great concerns like any coach would. … Everybody is playing pretty well against us, it seems. We're responding almost enough.

"We aren't putting the package together right now the way we should," coach Jim Calhoun said. "Obviously, I have great concerns like any coach would. … Everybody is playing pretty well against us, it seems. We're responding almost enough."Almost enough doesn't get you anything."

"Almost enough doesn't get you anything."Ultimately, the surprising Panthers (14-2, 4-0) held the toughness card, riding a 26-13 second-half rebounding edge (40-31 overall) and making key plays down the stretch to earn their seventh straight win.

Ultimately, the surprising Panthers (14-2, 4-0) held the toughness card, riding a 26-13 second-half rebounding edge (40-31 overall) and making key plays down the stretch to earn their seventh straight win.Sophomore Nasir Robinson's reverse layup with 5:48 left handed Pitt the lead for good at 50-49, starting a decisive 9-2 spurt. Poor half-court execution prevented UConn from rallying. Junior Brad Wanamaker (19 points) hit four free throws in the final 27.6 seconds to ice the win. Senior Stanley Robinson led UConn with 19 points.

Sophomore Nasir Robinson's reverse layup with 5:48 left handed Pitt the lead for good at 50-49, starting a decisive 9-2 spurt. Poor half-court execution prevented UConn from rallying. Junior Brad Wanamaker (19 points) hit four free throws in the final 27.6 seconds to ice the win. Senior Stanley Robinson led UConn with 19 points."They played with a sense of purpose and hungriness," Calhoun said of the Panthers, "and I don't think we played with anywhere near the sense of purpose, particularly offensively."

"They played with a sense of purpose and hungriness," Calhoun said of the Panthers, "and I don't think we played with anywhere near the sense of purpose, particularly offensively."Falling to 0-4 against ranked teams this season, the Huskies (11-5, 2-3) are left shaking their heads looking for solutions.

Falling to 0-4 against ranked teams this season, the Huskies (11-5, 2-3) are left shaking their heads looking for solutions."I'm frustrated," senior Jerome Dyson said. "We have the talent and we have the skills. We're just not going out there and giving it the whole game. It's hard because we know it's right there every game and we're not doing the little things to get us over the edge."

"I'm frustrated," senior Jerome Dyson said. "We have the talent and we have the skills. We're just not going out there and giving it the whole game. It's hard because we know it's right there every game and we're not doing the little things to get us over the edge."A win was there for the taking Wednesday.

A win was there for the taking Wednesday.After committing the major mistake of falling behind early and trailing 43-33 with 16 minutes left against the Big East's top scoring defense, the Huskies scratched and clawed their way into the lead on Dyson's driving layup that capped a 10-0 run and pushed the lead to 47-46.

After committing the major mistake of falling behind early and trailing 43-33 with 16 minutes left against the Big East's top scoring defense, the Huskies scratched and clawed their way into the lead on Dyson's driving layup that capped a 10-0 run and pushed the lead to 47-46.It was UConn's first lead since 5-4.

It was UConn's first lead since 5-4. Senior Gavin Edwards hit a short hook for a 49-48 lead with 8:58 left.

Senior Gavin Edwards hit a short hook for a 49-48 lead with 8:58 left.Then the Huskies simply self-destructed with help from the hustling Panthers.

Then the Huskies simply self-destructed with help from the hustling Panthers.With four chances to extend its one-point lead, UConn misfired. Dyson, who had 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting and six turnovers, forced a bad shot. Edwards traveled. Then sophomore Kemba Walker missed a driving shot with the shot clock running down.

With four chances to extend its one-point lead, UConn misfired. Dyson, who had 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting and six turnovers, forced a bad shot. Edwards traveled. Then sophomore Kemba Walker missed a driving shot with the shot clock running down.To cap it off, Ashton Gibbs stripped Dyson for a turnover. Pittsburgh, which had just one field goal during almost a nine-minute stretch, finally scored on Robinson's go-ahead basket. The Panthers had missed their previous six shots.

To cap it off, Ashton Gibbs stripped Dyson for a turnover. Pittsburgh, which had just one field goal during almost a nine-minute stretch, finally scored on Robinson's go-ahead basket. The Panthers had missed their previous six shots."That was the point where we needed to take the game," Dyson said. "We had a one-point lead for a little while and we didn't execute at the other end. We can't blame anybody but ourselves."

"That was the point where we needed to take the game," Dyson said. "We had a one-point lead for a little while and we didn't execute at the other end. We can't blame anybody but ourselves."Pitt built a 61-55 lead with 1:29 remaining when Jermaine Dixon beat Robinson off the dribble and drove the lane for an easy basket. The Panthers held on from there.

Pitt built a 61-55 lead with 1:29 remaining when Jermaine Dixon beat Robinson off the dribble and drove the lane for an easy basket. The Panthers held on from there.Another opportunity for a quality win slipped away from the Huskies, who had a miserable time trying to score in the half-court.

Another opportunity for a quality win slipped away from the Huskies, who had a miserable time trying to score in the half-court."We were just kind of in disarray the whole game," Edwards said. "We never really ran anything the way we were supposed to. We didn't set screens. So it just came down to execution. They just out-executed us."

"We were just kind of in disarray the whole game," Edwards said. "We never really ran anything the way we were supposed to. We didn't set screens. So it just came down to execution. They just out-executed us."In four of five losses this season, UConn has stumbled down the stretch. In the previous game, the Huskies blew a 19-point lead at Georgetown, losing by three.

In four of five losses this season, UConn has stumbled down the stretch. In the previous game, the Huskies blew a 19-point lead at Georgetown, losing by three."I don't accept the way we've lost some of these tough games," Calhoun said. "Congratulations to Pittsburgh. We have a lot of work to do for Michigan on Sunday."

"I don't accept the way we've lost some of these tough games," Calhoun said. "Congratulations to Pittsburgh. We have a lot of work to do for Michigan on Sunday."g.keefe@theday.com

g.keefe@theday.com