PITTSBURGH - One season after becoming the first visiting team to win at Pitt's Petersen Events Center, Syracuse is seeking another distinction.

The Orange can become the first team other than Pitt to win there twice.

No. 4 Syracuse will be the highest-ranked opponent to play at Pitt's on-campus arena when it visits Saturday night. Pitt had lost at home only once in three seasons - last season's 49-46 overtime loss to Syracuse - until dropping consecutive upsets to Bucknell and Georgetown earlier this month.

It's a potentially pivotal game for two teams coming off comeback victories - especially for No. 20 Pittsburgh (11-3, 3-2), which has already lost twice in the conference and could fall to .500 with another loss.

"We need to protect our house this time," point guard Carl Krauser said.

Syracuse (20-1, 7-0 Big East), with four starters remaining from its 2002-03 NCAA championship team, would like to reverse a trend that has seen it lose five of seven to Pitt.

The Orange have won 13 straight overall after rallying from 18 down to beat Rutgers 86-84 on Monday and, dating to last season, have won eight consecutive Big East road games. They already know they can win in Pittsburgh, where they halted Pitt's 34-game home court winning streak in its new building and 40-game home streak counting games at the old Fitzgerald Field House.

For Pittsburgh, it's a chance to prove its come-from-behind victory at No. 19 Connecticut last weekend wasn't just a one-game anomaly, but a sign they have turned it around since dropping three of five.

The Panthers held a long team meeting before they rallied from 17 points down to beat UConn 76-66 behind Chevon Troutman's 29 points, 25 in the second half. It was their first victory over a ranked opponent this season.

"I think we definitely turned the corner the last game, so we're going to keep going straight on that road," Krauser said. "We had our meetings and everyone took a look at themselves. Now we're all believing in one thing, and that's winning every game we play."

The Panthers often follow Krauser's lead - if he's on, running the offense with a minimum of mistakes, they usually play well. When he's turning the ball over frequently, forcing shots and not getting other players involved in the offense, they don't.

Krauser averages 6.2 turnovers per Big East game, an alarmingly high rate. He averaged only half that last season.

Syracuse hasn't lost since falling 74-60 to Oklahoma State on Dec. 7. The Orange are led by former Pennsylvania high school all-state guard Gerry McNamara, who averages 15.6 points and has five or more 3-pointers in his last three games.

McNamara was only 1-for-9 at Pitt last season while being blanketed by guard Julius Page, but his 3-pointer was the key basket in overtime. Page has used up his eligibility, which means sophomore Antonio Graves is expected to guard him Saturday.

Pitt will again be without former starter Yuri Demetris, who has been suspended since he was arrested on charges of simple assault and burglary earlier this month. He will have a formal hearing Feb. 18.