Pitt Ensures Boston College’s Short Stay : Big East: Panthers roll in tournament elimination game and earn right to face Syracuse in today’s quarterfinals.

When the Big East tournament resumes today it will do so without ninth-seeded Boston College, which played its elimination game Thursday night against Pittsburgh as if the team bus was warmed, ready and conveniently parked near a Madison Square Garden exit door.

This was a team in search of an off-season, not a victory. The Eagles began the year with one conference victory, and they ended it that way, too, losing, 88-70, to a Pittsburgh team considered a dangerous underachiever.

“We’re done,” said Boston College Coach Jim O’Brien, as he dashed into the chilly New York night. “And to be perfectly frank with you, I’m sure the kids are happy it’s over. Praise the Lord, see you later.”

But before he left, O’Brien warned Syracuse--Pitt’s quarterfinal opponent today--and the rest of the Big East not to overlook the Panthers. And with good reason.

Pitt’s starting lineup includes four players with double-digit scoring averages and another just two-tenths away. The Panthers finished first in the conference in three-point percentage, second in scoring, third in free-throw percentage and third in field goal percentage, which makes you wonder how they ended the regular season 11-16 and 5-11 in the Big East.

“People will make a mistake if they underrate them,” O’Brien said. “If they don’t get tired in four games, I think they can (win) it.”

Pitt will need performances like those delivered Thursday night by guard Jason Matthews, formerly of St. Monica High, and forward Brian Shorter, recently named to his second consecutive all-Big East team. Matthews scored a season-high 32 points, 24 in the second half. Shorter added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

“We know we need to fight like dogs,” Matthews said.

As opposed to playing like them, which is what Pitt did for most of the season. Picked to finish third in most Big East preseason polls, the Panthers dived deep into the conference standings and never recovered.

“I think this helped us,” Evans said. “We needed for our kids to get some confidence.”

Five Pitt players reached double figures against Boston College, which played without leading scorer Doug Able, who was back in Boston with a suspected case of mononucleosis. Also ailing was Eagle starting center David Hinton, who scored 12 points while suffering from flu and an injured elbow.

It probably wouldn’t have mattered. In their previous two meetings this season, Pitt won by an average of 19 points.

Now on to the quarterfinals, where Pitt faces No. 1-seeded Syracuse, which swept the Panthers this year. Pitt blew a late lead in the first game and lost by two points and then was beaten by nine at Syracuse.

Also scheduled for today are games between Connecticut and Seton Hall, followed by Georgetown and Providence and St. John’s and Villanova.