An article today on Freshman Point Guard Levance Fields getting playing time in the upcoming season.

There could be some reading into the article that controversy could erupt with Fields’ statement that “I am not going to redshirt. I didn’t come here to do that.” I don’t see it that way. That sounds like a reporter asked him about that possibility and an honest answer. Considering the story takes the view that there will be an issue of playing time with a crowded backcourt.

Fields must earn the playing time he receives because the Pitt backcourt is crowded. Krauser averaged almost 36 minutes per game last season and figures to play just as much as a senior.

Three other veterans return and will compete for time at shooting guard. Junior Antonio Graves started 25 games last season and played 27 minutes per game. Sophomore Ronald Ramon started four games and played 26 minutes a game. And sophomore Keith Benjamin played 10 minutes a game.

There does not seem to be a lot of room for maneuvering, but Fields is confident that he can crack third-year coach Jamie Dixon’s lineup.

Fields is Pitt’s point guard of the future. He will crack that line-up. It is more likely that Graves will suffer the most in minutes. Carl Krauser, in his first year as Knight’s back-up, averaged 18.6 minutes per game. Krauser of course had a redshirt year — for academics — so he got to practice with the team and really learn the system. Still there was an effort to make sure Krauser got real playing time in Knight’s final season.

That is what Coach Dixon has to do with Fields. It also an issue of using the best talent. Fields is considered one of the best players. The program has to show that it will use the talent if it wants to keep recruiting it.

This is just part of why I have been saying that this will be Coach Dixon’s big season as far as showing what kind of coach he is. He has all the big decisions and he has to show he can handle it.