PITTSBURGH — Pitt point guard Levance Fields practiced Wednesday for the first time in almost two weeks after being bothered by a sore groin and appeared ready to play in the Panthers' first-round NCAA game against East Tennessee State Friday.

Fields was bothered by the injury during the Panthers' final regular season game, against Connecticut March 7, and their Big East tournament loss to West Virginia March 12, but did not sit out either game.

"He was out there today, and he looked pretty good," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "It's a good sign because he appeared to be moving well and he didn't seem to be bothered much at all."

After practicing, the Panthers (28-4) left Pittsburgh for their first-round game in Dayton. If they win — and no top-seeded team has lost to a 16th-seeded team — they will play the Tennessee-Oklahoma State winner Sunday, also in Dayton.