UConn again is upstaged by Pitt

Two games, two Connecticut losses, two big performances by Pittsburgh’s Sam Young. By now, UConn could be excused for not wanting to see the Panthers again, yet the Huskies can’t wait for the next matchup. Or maybe the next two.

Young dominated one of this season’s biggest games with 31 points and No. 3 Pittsburgh probably secured one of the top seedings in the NCAA tournament, opening a 14-point lead early in the second half before holding off top-ranked Connecticut, 70-60, on Saturday.

Pitt (28-3, 15-3 Big East) had never beaten a No. 1-ranked team in school history, only to accomplish it twice in less than a month -- both times against Connecticut (27-3, 15-3), which still hasn’t figured out how to slow down Young.

“Every time I see those UConn jerseys, my eyes light up,” said Young, who scored 25 points in Pitt’s 76-68 win at Hartford on Feb. 16.

Said the Huskies’ Stanley Robinson: “I guarantee you we’re going to see them again, nine times out of 10 we’re going to see them in the Big East tournament and we’re going to be ready for them. We could see them after that -- in the NCAAs, semifinals or national championship or whatever.”

Louisville will be the top-seeded team for this week’s Big East tournament in New York. Pittsburgh, with the tiebreaker over Connecticut, has the No. 2 seeding.