Everything seemed to indicate the issue was dead. Plenty of reports said Dixon had quietly rejected the overtures. Reggie Theus was apparently lined up for the USC interview. The page had turned.

Then it hadn’t.

Pittsburgh basketball coach Jamie Dixon remains USC’s top choice to replace Tim Floyd and has not declined overtures from the university, according to sources close to Dixon.

Despite some media reports Dixon is not interested in the job, the Southern California native and USC were in contact during the past 10 days and discussions could continue, according to sources.

Dixon, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, is 162-45 at Pitt, the most victories in NCAA history for a Division I coach in his first six seasons.

“Why wouldn’t they want Jamie?” a source close to the 43-year-old Dixon said. “And why wouldn’t he want to listen?”
…
Sources said USC is not put off that Dixon would probably command a salary of at least $2 million per year or that his Pitt contract includes a $1 million buyout.

“The timing is not perfect but it’s not impossible,” the source said.

Just for the record, the timing is just about impossible. Can you imagine the distraction that would be to preparing for the U-19 games? You think USA Basketball would be happy about that? If the squad loses, the blame goes straight on Dixon because he was coaching and put himself in a position where it appeared he lost focus because of a new gig.

We are now in a world of dueling sources. Per Gary Parrish at CBSSports.

Obviously, I was surprised by this report because it contradicts everything that’s been written.

But just to be safe, I reached out to a source close to Dixon and asked about it.

I was hit with the following response:

“He is not going there,” the source said. “Not happening.”

When you start to get these mixed signals — claimed to be from “sources close” to the coach — it is an easy step for the present fanbase to be come agitated. To blame the coach for not ending the rumors at once.

I have had no problem with Coach Jamie Dixon not commenting on the USC job. I understand the business aspect of having his name floating out there, especially when it just won’t happen. Now, though, it is starting to get annoying. Whether it was Dixon’s fault or the “source” close to Dixon and the USC sources for the LA Daily News story.

So, Coach Dixon and the Pitt athletic department might want to think hard about putting something out there to end this stuff.

UPDATE (1:08): Parrish also has a full article explaining to USC why they need to forget the pipedream of Dixon.

The other thing worth noting is that there has been absolutely no other story backing up the LA one since this morning. None of the national college b-ball writers are offering any corroboration.

UPDATE (1:53): Thank you Andy Katz.

USC made another run at Pittburgh’s Jamie Dixon, but continued to be rebuffed, a source said Friday.

The Trojans targeted Dixon to replace Tim Floyd, who resigned last week. Dixon was in Colorado Springs coaching the FIBA U-19 USA basketball team this week and turned down another overture.

Dixon leaves with the Americans next Thursday for the World Championships in New Zealand. The competition runs July 2-11.

That Dixon’s name led the speculation is not surprising, as he is from Southern California and his wife, who is from Hawaii, went to USC. But a source said there is no family pressure to go to USC. The Dixons have been extremely happy living in Pittsburgh, the source said.

So USC apparently upped the starting point of money and possibly years to see if Dixon would bite. And again, not even a nibble. Please let this be the end. Hire Theus or someone else and just prepare for the NCAA sanctions.