Sophomore point guard Carl Krauser, Pitt's leading scorer through the first 11 games, has a pulled groin muscle and missed the 52-38 victory last night against New Hampshire.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said after the game that Krauser is day to day, but, according to one source, he could miss as much as three weeks.

"It's day to day from what the doctors are telling me," Dixon said. "He's had problems with his groin all year. It's just something we're going to have to deal with and see how it responds to treatment. From what they tell me, it's hard to read."

Krauser did not speak to reporters after the game. Pitt has a policy of not allowing players to do interviews if they do not play in a game.

Dixon said Krauser did not aggravate the injury in practice, but that it was more of a buildup from wear and tear.

"It's been bothering him on and off all year," Dixon said. "He's been in discomfort all year."

Krauser was all smiles after Pitt's 63-56 victory against Florida State Monday, when he scored 17 points, dished out eight assists and had no turnovers in 38 minutes. He watched the first half of the game last night before receiving treatment. He limped noticeably on his way to the locker room.

Senior Julius Page took over the point-guard duties, and true freshman guard Antonio Graves made his first start.

Krauser had been Pitt's most consistent player this season. Before the game last night, he led the team in points (172), 3-pointers (22), free throws (46) and free-throw percentage (73.9), assists (51), minutes (371) and was tied for the team lead in steals (14).

Krauser, a 6-foot-2, 200-pounder from the Bronx, N.Y., led or tied for the team lead in scoring in eight of the first 11 games while averaging a team-high 15.6 points a game.

If Krauser has to sit out three weeks, he will miss six games. That would include the first three on Pitt's Big East schedule, which begins Jan. 6. The Panthers also have a tough non-conference test Tuesday against Georgia. "I haven't talked to him specifically about the injury," Page said. "But he looked fine to me. Knowing Carl, he'll come back as soon as possible. If he's supposed to be out a month, he'll push it up to two weeks."

Krauser wasn't the only starter missing from the game last night. Junior center Toree Morris was tending to family matters in Tennessee.

Junior forward Mark McCarroll made his third consecutive start in place of Morris. He had started the previous two games in place of Chevon Troutman, who returned to the starting lineup last night after a groin injury prevented him from starting against Murray State and Florida State.

Junior reserve guard Yuri Demetris, who left the team briefly this past week to contemplate his future, returned to action last night and scored three points.

First Published: December 28, 2003, 5:00 a.m.