So, let me get this straight. The coach who ended up being trashed repeatedly in no small part because he had to follow Phil Jackson in Chicago without Michael Jordan and a completely barren rebuilding team, is going to head to Arizona to follow Lute Olson and a completely barren and rebuilding team? Really? Did someone erase this guy’s memory of how well that worked last time?
Tim Floyd is a moron, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised if he does take the Arizona job. It’s not a done deal, yet. He’s mulling, apparently. The speculative reasons as to why he wants to go somewhere for at least slightly better money is that there is actual caring about the basketball program by the fans. The other is that he knows some bad crap is about to come down the pike from the O.J. Mayo stuff last year.
I don’t know, but that will re-fuel the Jamie Dixon to USC stuff.
Matt “Money” Smith during Lakers Line on AM 570 KLAC said Ben Howland protege and current Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon is rumored to replace Floyd.
Dixon, with family in LA and such, will be a popular name tossed. Of course, the Trojans tried to get him to bite a few years back and he completely rebuffed them.
Still, as I cautioned, this sort of rumor stuff will be going for a bit. In fact, if Floyd does leave expect the intensity and rumors to really hit the fan. Why? All coaches and athletic directors will be in Detroit for the next several days for the Final Four.
That will mean breathless reports of clandestine meetings. Unsubstantiated rumors, sightings and pairings.
They were saying expect Floyd to go to Arizona… then expect Dixon to take the job at USC.. which means Miller will go to Pitt and…
blah blah blah, etc
as far as the arizona job, i still think people treat that program like its top tier. without olson its a second tier program at best.
There is one reason for Dixon to go to USC, and unfortunately for Pitt it is a big one with no price tag … of course, I’m talking about family. Thus far, it does not seem to be amjor factor but can nver be discounted.
The one job that may pique Jamie Dixon’s interest to come West is USC, even if it meant going against his good friend, UCLA’s Ben Howland. Dixon is very comfortable at Pitt, has a more passionate fan base, loves his athletic director and president, and his family enjoys the city. But USC would put him in the L.A. area near his parents and sister, and his wife would be going back to her alma mater. The money would have to be a major upgrade for him to move, but at least it would make him pause. I’m not sure he would do it since he’s in quite a groove at Pitt. He’s comfortable on the East Coast, and as he said he “summered” in the Bronx with his grandparents. But if he ever did make a move like this, then Xavier’s Sean Miller, a Pitt alumnus, would be the logical choice if the Panthers went outside the current staff.
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would hate to see Dixon go but Sean Miller would soften the blow, and may finally bring in someone that will stay until retirement
