By Todd Spangler
The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh coach Ben Howland has one easy decision to make in most games. He picks out the opponent's best offensive player and assigns Julius Page to him. But Howland sees trouble in second-seeded Pittsburgh's matchup Thursday against third-seeded Marquette (25-5) in the Midwest Regional.

Just like the Panthers, the Golden Eagles are a backcourt-driven team with two excellent guards, either of whom can hit a key shot or turn a game with a creative offensive play.

"They emphasize the same things we do," Howland said Tuesday.

So while the 6-foot-3 Page draws the 6-foot-5 Dwyane Wade, the Conference USA player of the year who is strong and athletic, Pittsburgh (28-4) also must find a way to slow Travis Diener. That's no easy assignment - the 6-foot-1 Diener is the tournament's leading scorer with 55 points in two games.

"I'm going to get him. It's a given," said Page, who, while praising Wade for his ability to shoot and drive, wouldn't allow him an edge. "It's like a mirror match."

Even Howland wouldn't dare ask Page to try to guard two players at once, so point guard Brandin Knight is expected to draw Diener when Pitt plays man-to-man.

Wade averaged 21.3 points during the season and had 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Marquette's 101-92 overtime victory Saturday over Missouri. Diener scored 26.

But Missouri doesn't play defense like Pitt does - the Panthers have held six of their last seven opponents to fewer than 60 points.

Marquette worries Howland because of its backcourt, unpredictability and disciplined style. The Golden Eagles are coached by Tom Crean, a one-time Pitt assistant under coach Ralph Willard.

"They run 100,000 set plays. ... There's a million sets we've got to try to pick out," Howland said.

As Marquette eased past Holy Cross and Missouri, Pittsburgh cruised into the round of 16 for the second straight season with easy victories over Wagner and Indiana.

A year ago, the Panthers' season ended with an overtime loss to Kent State in the regional semifinals. This season, they have talked repeatedly about going much deeper into the tournament.

"We're right where we want to be," Knight said. "(This) is nothing special because we've been here before. We don't want to settle for the Sweet 16. I know our guys aren't satisfied with it."

Should the Panthers win, top-seeded Kentucky might await in the regional final, but forward Donatas Zavackas said the Panthers (28-4) aren't in awe of the Wildcats (31-3) and their 25-game winning streak.

"What are we supposed to do, get scared of Kentucky? No, I don't think so," Zavackas said.

For all the attention being paid Kentucky, Indiana coach Mike Davis wouldn't be surprised if Pittsburgh makes the Final Four.

With the possible exception of Knight, the Big East's co-player of the year last season, the Panthers don't have any high-visibility players. But they look to be peaking, with 11 straight wins and a mind-set that no team has an offense as good as their defense.

"They're the best I've seen," Davis said. "We played Kentucky and Illinois this year, and I haven't seen a team like them. I'm not saying they have the most talent, but they're the best team because of the way they play."