It appeared as the ultimate mismatch. The last-place team in the Big East against a team that was 92-7 in the history of Peterson Events Center.

Yet, Rutgers knocked off Pittsburgh on the road - which was the Scarlet Knights second consecutive victory over a ranked team after a home win against Villanova earlier in the week.

Rutgers coach Fred Hill doesn't want to make excuses for his team's 0-6 Big East start, but his most talented player, freshman guard Corey Chandler, hasn't been healthy for most of the season.

Chandler missed two games and still isn't 100 percent after suffering a stress fracture earlier in the season.

"He came back and was out of sync," Hill said. "But he's been terrific the last two games."

Chandler, who is still coming off the bench, averaged 16 points per game and was 4-of-9 from long distance in the two upset wins.

Hill said that Chandler's injury also allowed his other freshman guard, Mike Coburn, to gain valuable experience. Coburn has played at least 30 minutes in seven of the last eight games and averaged 20 points and four assists in the victories over Villanova and Pittsburgh.

"We're in the process of building something here," Hill said. "Are we taking steps forward?  No question. We're still a long ways away, though."

"Now people see where we're headed," he added. "Now it's not a question when we're going to get there. It's a matter of when we're going to get there."

Hill has one senior and nine scholarship players after Courtney Nelson was declared academically ineligible for the second semester.

K-STATE MUCH IMPROVED

First-year Kansas State coach new it would take some time. He has seven freshman and nine first-year guys.

The Wildcats took a few early lumps - losses to George Mason and Notre Dame on neutral courts and a setback at home to enigmatic Oregon. However, he knew once his young team racked up some experience, it would start to improve.

Martin's team has jumped out with four consecutive Big 12 wins, but all the talk in Manhattan, Kan., revolves around Wednesday's matchup against Kansas.

The last time that K-State has beaten the Jayhawks in Manhattan was back in 1983.

"It's an unbelievable streak," Martin said. "It's unheard of."

Martin said that he's seen Kansas play about a half-dozen times this season and is blown away.

"They don't have any weaknesses," Martin said. "When you prepare for a team, you try and find their weakness and go at it. They don't have one. There's no soft spot."

Martin said that one of the major differences is the health of Bill Walker - who struggled early in the season after recovering from a jammed right thumb. Another is the solid play of his point guards - Clent Stewart and Jacob Pullen.

Walker is averaging 19.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and is shooting 52 percent (16-of-31) from 3-point range.

"It's ridiculous how good he's been - both offensively and defensively," Martin said.

PRESEASON AWARD MISSES

The Wooden Award has made a major mistake with the inclusion of Tennessee senior Chris Lofton on the Midseason Top 30. Lofton has picked it up of late, but he has no business being on the list this season.

Another player who has somehow been omitted is Butler senior guard Mike Green, who was included on the Naismith's midseason list of 30 players.

One player who didn't make the cut on either list is the top scorer in the top conference in America - Cal sophomore forward Ryan Anderson.

RANDOM NOTES: Missouri will be without senior guard Stefhon Hannah for 4-6 weeks after sustaining a broken jaw outside a Columbia nightclub on Sunday morning. ... UConn got a commitment from Provine High (Miss.) 6-foot-4 shooting guard Scottie Haralson - a Rashad Anderson-type of player. ... Hofstra senior guard Antoine Agudio scored his 2,000th career point in a road win at Northeastern.