When Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center was chosen to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament for 2010, coach Agnus Berenato’s first thought was to sell the place out.And she still hasn’t considered it.

What she never considered, after two straight Sweet 16 berths, was that her team wouldn’t make the tournament.

And she still hasn’t considered it.Pitt, which lost its top two scorers from last year in Shavonte Zellous and Xenia Stewart, is 12-8 overall, 1-6 in the Big East Conference following Saturday’s 98-56 loss to UConn in Pittsburgh.

Pitt, which lost its top two scorers from last year in Shavonte Zellous and Xenia Stewart, is 12-8 overall, 1-6 in the Big East Conference following Saturday’s 98-56 loss to UConn in Pittsburgh.The Panthers did some things against UConn though, scoring more points than anyone since Florida State scored 59 on Dec. 28. With nine games left in the regular season, including those against top 25 teams Notre Dame (No. 3) and Georgetown (No. 17), can Pitt recover in time to benefit from a home-court advantage come March?

The Panthers did some things against UConn though, scoring more points than anyone since Florida State scored 59 on Dec. 28. With nine games left in the regular season, including those against top 25 teams Notre Dame (No. 3) and Georgetown (No. 17), can Pitt recover in time to benefit from a home-court advantage come March?“I have never once thought different,” said Berenato, who’s adamant that Pitt can get to the 18- or 19-win mark it would need to reasonably stand a chance at an NCAA bid. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going and we’re a bunch of tough people.

“I have never once thought different,” said Berenato, who’s adamant that Pitt can get to the 18- or 19-win mark it would need to reasonably stand a chance at an NCAA bid. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going and we’re a bunch of tough people.“When Selection Monday comes, we’ll be in the NCAA tournament and we’ll be at home. This is very important to us. Our university went out on a limb to be a host.”

“When Selection Monday comes, we’ll be in the NCAA tournament and we’ll be at home. This is very important to us. Our university went out on a limb to be a host.”How is it possible? Well, for one thing, never count out Berenato.

How is it possible? Well, for one thing, never count out Berenato.“We had to play Clemson, we had to go to N.C. State. And we did,” she said. “People just wrote us off.”

During the 2007-08 season, Pitt dropped four straight Big East games to Notre Dame, West Virginia, UConn and Marquette. The Panthers not only rallied to qualify for the tournament, they went to the Sweet 16.

Berenato recalls a similar situation when she coached at Georgia Tech and started 0-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but went on to make the NCAAs, nevertheless.

“We had to play Clemson, we had to go to N.C. State. And we did,” she said. “People just wrote us off.”The coach said the key is to go one game at a time, using the things the Panthers did well against UConn — they had 26 points in the paint and also outscored UConn in second-chance points 16-14 — to build.

The coach said the key is to go one game at a time, using the things the Panthers did well against UConn — they had 26 points in the paint and also outscored UConn in second-chance points 16-14 — to build.“With 10 games left, nine games left now, we felt we didn’t have to go undefeated in those 10 games,” she said. “That would’ve been a reason not to even go to practice. But 18 or 19 wins … and look at our conference.”

“With 10 games left, nine games left now, we felt we didn’t have to go undefeated in those 10 games,” she said. “That would’ve been a reason not to even go to practice. But 18 or 19 wins … and look at our conference.”The Panthers next play Syracuse at home on Tuesday, one of five home games they have remaining, including those with Georgetown, Louisville, Seton Hall and St. John’s.

The Panthers next play Syracuse at home on Tuesday, one of five home games they have remaining, including those with Georgetown, Louisville, Seton Hall and St. John’s.

A point to makePittsburgh’s Jania Sims was injured in the team’s season-opener a year ago and did not return, sitting out with bilateral tibial stress fractures. She’s returned to lead the Panthers in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game prior to Saturday’s game against UConn.

Pittsburgh’s Jania Sims was injured in the team’s season-opener a year ago and did not return, sitting out with bilateral tibial stress fractures. She’s returned to lead the Panthers in scoring, averaging 13.4 points per game prior to Saturday’s game against UConn.Berenato, the Pitt coach, said she used the opportunity of Sims sitting on the bench last year to help her envision what she would be asked to do in the future.

Berenato, the Pitt coach, said she used the opportunity of Sims sitting on the bench last year to help her envision what she would be asked to do in the future.“When I would do things, I would say, ‘Do you know why I did this?’” Berenato said. “She’d say, ‘No.’ She’d look at me like I was crazy. I would say, ‘Well, when you’re a coach, this is why. When you’re on the court next year, this is why.’”

“When I would do things, I would say, ‘Do you know why I did this?’” Berenato said. “She’d say, ‘No.’ She’d look at me like I was crazy. I would say, ‘Well, when you’re a coach, this is why. When you’re on the court next year, this is why.’”Berenato said that because Sims wasn’t cleared to play until Oct. 15, it took her longer than she thought to get back to full speed. Sims, from Newark, N.J., played for nationally-ranked Malcolm X Shabazz High School.

Berenato said that because Sims wasn’t cleared to play until Oct. 15, it took her longer than she thought to get back to full speed. Sims, from Newark, N.J., played for nationally-ranked Malcolm X Shabazz High School.“Her mind and her heart is at a whole different place than her wheels are,” Berenato said earlier in the year. “She’s a phenomenal point guard. She’s fun to watch. She will get better and better. She will get to know our players.”

“Her mind and her heart is at a whole different place than her wheels are,” Berenato said earlier in the year. “She’s a phenomenal point guard. She’s fun to watch. She will get better and better. She will get to know our players.”

Magnificent SevenSeven players were added to the watch list this week for the Wade Trophy, which honors the national player of the year. Among those added to the already existing 25-player pool were UConn opponents Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Notre Dame’s Lindsay Schrader and Duke’s Jasmine Thomas.

Seven players were added to the watch list this week for the Wade Trophy, which honors the national player of the year. Among those added to the already existing 25-player pool were UConn opponents Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Notre Dame’s Lindsay Schrader and Duke’s Jasmine Thomas.Of the three, Ogwumike had the best game against the Huskies, with 20 points and six rebounds in UConn’s 80-68 victory on Dec. 23. A sophomore forward, Ogwumike set Stanford’s single-game rebounding record with 23 earlier this month against Oregon, a game in which she also had 30 points.

Of the three, Ogwumike had the best game against the Huskies, with 20 points and six rebounds in UConn’s 80-68 victory on Dec. 23. A sophomore forward, Ogwumike set Stanford’s single-game rebounding record with 23 earlier this month against Oregon, a game in which she also had 30 points.Thomas, however, also proved tough for UConn to stop. She had 17 points and four assists in the Blue Devils’ 81-48 loss to the Huskies on Jan. 18. Thomas had 11 points in the first half when Duke trailed just 38-28.

Thomas, however, also proved tough for UConn to stop. She had 17 points and four assists in the Blue Devils’ 81-48 loss to the Huskies on Jan. 18. Thomas had 11 points in the first half when Duke trailed just 38-28.“We couldn’t keep her in front of us most of the time,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s fast enough with the ball that she can go right by and we lost her a couple times in the first half. I thought in the second half we did a much better job … we didn’t give her a lot of lanes to slash through like she likes to do.

“We couldn’t keep her in front of us most of the time,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She’s fast enough with the ball that she can go right by and we lost her a couple times in the first half. I thought in the second half we did a much better job … we didn’t give her a lot of lanes to slash through like she likes to do.“You’re not going to be able to guard her with just one player. She’s just too difficult to guard.”

“You’re not going to be able to guard her with just one player. She’s just too difficult to guard.”No. 7 Duke is the only unbeaten team in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 6-0.

No. 7 Duke is the only unbeaten team in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 6-0.Also added to the Wade Watch list were James Madison’s Dawn Evans, Nebraska’s Kelsey Griffin, Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen and Mississippi’s Bianca Thomas. Evans leads the NCAA in scoring with 26.4 points per game, while Griffin leads unbeaten Nebraska, ranked sixth in the nation, with 19.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Also added to the Wade Watch list were James Madison’s Dawn Evans, Nebraska’s Kelsey Griffin, Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen and Mississippi’s Bianca Thomas. Evans leads the NCAA in scoring with 26.4 points per game, while Griffin leads unbeaten Nebraska, ranked sixth in the nation, with 19.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

Around the Big EastLouisville wore uniforms recently that incorporated the U.S. Army’s ACU Digital Camouflage Pattern, partnering with the Army, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Army National Guard to help show appreciation to those in the surrounding area who have served in the armed forces. The colors were presented by the Kentucky National Guard and the national anthem was performed by the 100th Army Band. … No. 3 Notre Dame (19-1, 6-1), which had a tough road test on Saturday, winning 74-73 at Syracuse, will have another on Monday. The Irish travel to Rutgers for a 7 p.m. Big Monday game to be televised on ESPN2.

Louisville wore uniforms recently that incorporated the U.S. Army’s ACU Digital Camouflage Pattern, partnering with the Army, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Army National Guard to help show appreciation to those in the surrounding area who have served in the armed forces. The colors were presented by the Kentucky National Guard and the national anthem was performed by the 100th Army Band. … No. 3 Notre Dame (19-1, 6-1), which had a tough road test on Saturday, winning 74-73 at Syracuse, will have another on Monday. The Irish travel to Rutgers for a 7 p.m. Big Monday game to be televised on ESPN2.

Prior to Saturday’s league games, Georgetown freshman Sugar Rodgers was leading the league in scoring with 18.7 points per game, a slight edge over UConn junior Maya Moore with 18.6 and Providence senior Chelsea Marandola with 18.3. Pittsburgh’s Chelsea Cole was the leading rebounder with 11.1 per game, followed by South Florida’s Jessica Lawson with 10.8. … Rutgers’ 73-36 loss to UConn on Tuesday yielded the second fewest number of points in program history for the Scarlet Knights, who shot a season-low 28.6 percent from the field.

MLK Day factsThis was the 16th straight season UConn played before a national television audience on Martin Luther King Day, beating Duke 81-48 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The streak began in 1995 with the Huskies’ first-ever meeting against Tennessee, a 77-66 victory at Gampel Pavilion.

This was the 16th straight season UConn played before a national television audience on Martin Luther King Day, beating Duke 81-48 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The streak began in 1995 with the Huskies’ first-ever meeting against Tennessee, a 77-66 victory at Gampel Pavilion.The Huskies are now 12-4 on Martin Luther King Day.

The Huskies are now 12-4 on Martin Luther King Day.

They have wins over Tennessee (1995), Georgia (1997), Old Dominion (1998), Rutgers (2000, 2004), Notre Dame (2002-03), Texas (2005), LSU (2006), North Carolina (2008-09) and Duke (2010).

The losses are to Georgia (1996), Louisiana Tech (1999), Notre Dame (2001) and North Carolina (2007).

Vickie Fulkerson covers the UConn women’s basketball team for The Day.