Should Pitt Sit Fields to Protect Seed?

In Pitt's win over Marquette Wednesday night, starting point guard Levance Fields went down hard with 9:30 left in the game. He suffered a bruised tailbone, but finished the game. Today, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said that Fields is questionable for Saturday's game against UConn, and that ultimately it would be a game time decision.

The question is, should Pitt even play Levance Fields? By nearly every bracket projection, Pitt is in line to receive a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. So did Blake Griffin and Oklahoma provide Pitt a precedent, an "injury protection" for Pitt if Fields does not play?

When Griffin suffered his concussion that knocked him out of two games -- both losses for Oklahoma -- the punditry and brackets all indicated that the Sooners should not, and would not, be penalized in the polls and bracket projections for losses without their national player of the year candidate.

While DeJuan Blair is arguably Pitt's most important player, Fields is a close second, averaging about 33 minutes per game in the Big East. He provides over 11 points and and nearly eight assists per conference game. His backup is a freshman, Ashton Gibbs, who plays fewer than 10 minutes per game. Clearly, Pitt would be nowhere near the same team without Fields.

The injury is not serious, but it requires rest to heal. It would be a smart and reasonable precaution to make sure one of the team's most important players is fully recovered. There is no question that with a few days off, Fields would easily be back for the Big East and the NCAA tournaments. So, it would only be one regular-season game missed ... against the No. 1 team in the country that Pitt would be hard pressed to win without Fields anyway. (And Pitt has already shown that it can beat UConn -- in Hartford, Conn., no less.)

Keeping Fields out of the game is a logical move for the Panthers. Pitt is already assured of finishing the season no worse than third in the Big East, and securing the double-bye for the Big East tournament. The best that happens if Fields plays and Pitt wins is that the Panthers might finish the season in a three-way tie for the Big East regular season title with UConn and Louisville -- if Louisville loses to West Virginia in its finale. Then Pitt would have a No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament.

A No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament, though, hardly means as much as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. By sitting Fields, Pitt would be protecting its seed position and be in a no-lose situation in their season finale.

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Villanova's Dante Cunningham acknowledges the crowd after coming out for the last time at home during their NCAA college basketball game at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 5 , 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Villanova's Dante Cunningham's fakes out Providence's Randall Hanke, 32, Geoff McDermott, 11, and Marshon Brooks, 2, during first half action at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 5 , 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Villanova's Corey Fisher is hammered by Providence' Jeff Xavier during second half action at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 5 , 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Villanova seniors Frank Tchuisi, Dante Cunningham, and Dwayne Anderson acknowledge the crowd during their NCAA college basketball game against Providence at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 5 , 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Villanova head coach Jay Wright reacts after Dante Cunningham received a foul for throwing an elbow during their NCAA college basketball game against Providence at the Pavilion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, March 5 , 2009. (Ron Cortes/Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT)

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Villanova's Dwayne Anderson, left, Scottie Reynolds (1) and Reggie Redding, right, celebrate during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Villanova, Pa., Thursday, March 5, 2009. Villanova won 97-80. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Villanova's Dwayne Anderson (22) and Antonio Pena, left, and Providence's Jonathan Kale scramble for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Villanova, Pa., Thursday, March 5, 2009. Villanova won 97-80. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Illinois coach Bruce Weber, left, yells from the bench as guard Trent Meacham (1) enters the NCAA college basketball game against Penn State during the first half Thursday, March 5, 2009, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Penn State forward Jamelle Cornley, right, and Illinois forward Mike Davis look for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., Thursday, March 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)