I have to admit this. Optimistic as I am that Pitt will have a strong season despite the major changes in starters and expected in style, there is a part of me that worries about all that could go wrong. Major injuries, academic issues, chemistry, and all the things that can derail a season. Right in the conference, we saw UConn have a stunningly bad season. Syracuse couldn’t seem to get the team fully together for any extended stretch. Louisville took over half the season before coming together. All three teams coached by three hall-of-fame (or eventual hof) coaches with some major talent. Never forget that things can go horribly wrong.
Yet, even Coach Dixon is apparently excited for next year (Insider subs).

Dixon said he has never been as excited about a recruiting class as he is about the one coming to campus in the summer.

The main piece of this class might be the most improved player in the Class of 2007. DeJuan Blair, a power player out of Pittsburgh, is quite simply blowing up to use an overused recruiting term.

Dixon expects Blair to come in and be an impact player in the absence of Aaron Gray, who finished his eligibility.

“His body has changed and he’s grown to where he’s about 6-8, 250,” Dixon said Monday. “He can play both the four and the five for us. He’s just so skilled and versatile. When we lost our big guys we needed someone to have an impact.”

Blair joins a class of 6-foot-6 Darnell Dodson, 6-foot-4 Bradley Wanamaker, 6-foot-9 Gary McGhee and 6-foot-10 Cassin Diggs.

The Panthers lost Gray and Levon Kendall inside as well as guard Antonio Graves. But a strong nucleus returns led by wing Mike Cook, guards Levance Fields, Ronald Ramon, Keith Benjamin and big men Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs. If Blair is the stud that he is being projected as then the Panthers should have enough balance to be in the thick of the race again.

Blair still has some academic issues to hurdle but the Panthers expect him to be on campus soon to be enrolled in summer school.

I’m mildly surprised that Coach Dixon is willing to talk up the young players. In Dixon’s 4 years of coaching, only one freshman ever earned significant playing time — Chris Taft. That he thinks Blair will break through immediately is worth noting.