From the opening paragraph previewing Pitt in Street & Smith’s preview guide:

Jamie Dixon is the toughest interview by far in the Big East coaching fraternity. He never seems at ease, and he offers nothing in the way of news or insight.

Now they try to make it seem like a positive in the next paragraph by comparing that to the way Pitt has played defense — giving nothing away. A bit tortured, but I think we all know that Dixon has been one of the more boring, coachspeak personalities when talking to the media and fans.

Or as reader and Pitt News writer Keith puts it:

For every Bobby Knight, there are 100 coaches who always want to say the right thing in their press conferences. Instead of another press conference full of “We gave our best effort,” or “They just outplayed us,”…

Instead, Keith considers if Dixon interviewed a media person about Pitt and Dixon.

JD: So we aren’t ranked in the top 25, no big deal, but why is everybody sleeping on Pitt this year?

Me: Well, you’re unproven as a head coach. Last year’s team was horribly inconsistent and there is no one to blame but, uh, you. It’s time for you to prove your worth as a head coach.

JD:We did make the NCAA Tournament last year, and losing in the first round isn’t that bad.

Me: You’re right, it isn’t. A lot of good teams lose in the first round, but like all the losses last season, it was the way you lost and the way it was handled that was disturbing. Pitt’s defense, which was their trademark in years past, failed at key times. Chris Taft was allowed to loaf, free throw shooting stunk. You lost to Bucknell! To the public, you never seemed to care.
…
JD: And there is nothing wrong with this year’s team. Sure we might be young, but that’s not going to be an excuse.

Me: You’re already considering your excuses? Look at Syracuse’s team, they are a lot like Pitt — a young team with a veteran point guard — and they were preseason ranked in the top 25. The difference? Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. The Orange beat Texas Tech, 81-46, looking better versus a Sweet 16 team from last season than Pitt did against Saint Peter’s, who lost its first game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

JD: So I’m not Jim Boeheim, but I do have the best winning percentage among Big East coaches.

Me: I am not saying you are a bad coach; you may end up a great coach. I’m just not sold yet.

For the record, Keith was nice enough to e-mail me in advance, asking if I minded him lifting the Syracuse/Pitt/Boeheim/Dixon comparison I tossed out last week.

Dixon’s job is in no immediate danger. But fan support and confidence is. A lot of people are already negative to him, and a lot more are on the fence. Once that is lost, short of at least coming close to winning it all (a la Tommy Tuberville and Auburn football last year) that doesn’t come back and will eventually get the coach fired.

I’ve long maintained that Dixon’s discomfort and/or unwillingness to be more engaging in large settings would become a major issue for him in terms of job security and fan support.