Throughout the fall, the Pantherlair featured the "Talking Pitt Football" series, with a different Pitt player each week discussing the ups and downs of the season. With basketball season underway, the Pantherlair now presents "Talking Pitt Hoops."

Today's edition features guard Antonio Graves. Through ten games as a senior, Graves is looking like he could be on the road to his best season at Pitt, averaging 10 points per game. He's shooting 48% on three-pointers, the best on the team, and has seven steals. He spoke with the Pantherlair recently about the season so far, his time at Pitt, and what's special about this year's Panthers.

I feel great about this season has been going. It's really been a dream come true and a blessing to be in this situation. From my freshman year to now, I've played with a lot of great guys. For this to be my final year, it tops it all, just being able to grow with a group of guys like we have, from the off-season to now. I think our number two ranking is well-deserved. We have a really great team and everybody on the team really complements each other on the court and off the court.

It's tough to say how this team compares with the other teams I've been on here. When I first came here as a freshman, we had great guys who helped build this, who started this era of championship-caliber teams. We had guys like Carl and Jaron Brown and Julius Page and Chevy, but I was young and I didn't have a clue: I was making the transition from a little Mansfield, Ohio, high school to this great place. So I was young and I didn't have too much insight on things. I wasn't playing as much as I am now so I didn't have a good feel for those guys, not like I do as a senior with the guys that are here now.

I've grown and I know these guys and I know the ins and outs of this team. As a freshman and a sophomore, you're slowly maturing into things. And you have guys who have been here before and they know the system and they're teaching. It's easier to know the team when you're in the position of the juniors and seniors, and I think I can look back and say that this is a great team. I think we have what it takes to win the Big East championship, to get past the Sweet Sixteen, almost to the point where you can guarantee it: this team feels that good.

...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial