SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse begins Big East play with a lot of questions hovering over the program. The most pressing: Are the Orange finally at the point where they can take a meaningful step forward?

"I believe the time is now," defensive end Anthony Perkins said. "We're going like a water hose, springing spurts (of progress). Everything's coming together."

Judging by recent history, that kind of talk is cheap. Syracuse's conference record in three-plus years under head coach Greg Robinson is 2-19 (0-7 in 2005 and 1-6 in each of the past two seasons), which has helped put his job in jeopardy.

To his credit, Robinson remains focused on the present, not what seems likely to happen if the Orange don't start winning consistently. Syracuse (1-3) hosts longtime rival Pittsburgh (2-1) on Saturday in the conference opener for both teams.

"I've been excited all week about it. This is a great opportunity for us," Robinson said. "I don't see it as any other way, and I'm not going to let something get in the way of that. This is all about coaching this football team to win a Big East football game.

Syracuse is hoping to build on the momentum they took away from last week's 30-21 home win over Northeastern.

"It's good to have a win like that, to know that we're capable of winning," Syracuse senior safety Bruce Williams said. "It's really important for us, just to get one and feel that taste."

The series is tied 30-30-3, but Pitt has the edge in recent games. The Panthers eked out a 20-17 victory a year ago at Heinz Field for their fifth win in six games against Syracuse, the lone blemish a double-overtime loss in the Carrier Dome in 2004.

"They had a nice win last week," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "They did a lot of good things. They played well in all phases. That's why they won. And you look at the history of us going up to Syracuse, it's always been one of the toughest places that we have to go. We have to be ready to play a lot better than we did last week."

"We're definitely taking them more serious than what their record would indicate," said Pitt defensive back Aaron Berry, who has one sack and three pass breakups on the season. "We can't look past anybody right now."