The Coach Dixon Radio Show kicks off tonight. I really wish they would put them out as podcasts — then I might actually listen. I am guessing that it will be streamed — either via the flagship 970 or one of the affiliates (listed in the press release). The show, though, airs from 6-7 and there is little chance at that time to go sit by the computer to listen. I suppose I could use a stream-ripper but that would mean remembering and still having to be home to start the recording. Seems like way too much work. If anyone has a good suggestion to time-shift that is free or if there are podcasts, let me know.
Bob Smizik is now declaring Coach Dixon the best coach in the ‘Burgh, while taking swipes at the talent levels and recuiting. Really, do you think there would be a Smizik column/post without the glass at least somewhat half-empty?
That’s what sets Dixon apart. He can win with lesser talent. Some might call that a knock on his recruiting ability, and there’s an element of truth to that. But the fact remains: Dixon regularly wins with less talent.
That is the mark of a great coach.
Nobody gets their players to play harder, no one gets a greater commitment to defense and team.
He takes the ordinary and makes them excellent. There’s no better example of that on the current team than Ashton Gibbs, the leading scorer. He was an mid-level recruit who is turning into an outstanding player. That’s a typical Dixon story. Gibbs is playing at an all-Big East level. No one had the right to expect that. But Dixon, with plenty of help from Gibbs, got him to that point.
Gibbs finally snapped his consecutive FTs made streak at 46. He has missed only 4 FTs all season. As if in counterpoint, Nasir Robinson has missed 13 straight going back to the beginning of December.
As usual, though, free throw shooting remains a consistent worry. Last year, Pitt shot 67.6% on free throws. Presently they aren’t too far away at 66.4%. Wanamaker is shooting 67% down from nearly 75% last year, though Dixon is hitting 76% which is up from 66%. Woodall is under 62%. Dante Taylor is tolerable at 62.5%. Gilbert Brown’s sample size is still too small to judge fairly. I don’t think I want to even discuss Gary McGhee (51.3), Nasir Robinson (30) and even Lamar Patterson (54.5).
Still, a 3-0 start in the Big East has raised expectations. Seriously, though, Elite Eight — based on this plan? That would only happen if there was a confluence of incredible leaps in development, several souls being sold and flat-out freaky luck.
Gilbert Brown has come out of his suspension looking like he has played most of the season. This despite not practicing or conditioning with the team or coaches since his suspension. Despite playing more of a power forward than a small forward. And still coming off the bench. He did have time to learn the last couple years what Sam Young was doing and prepared for it after last season ended.
“I’ve talked to Gilbert about it,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “We kind of want to use him similar to Sam. We ran a lot of sets for him that we ran for Sam. He finished strong, and he made some plays.”
Brown, who missed the first 11 games while on academic suspension, scored a career-high 17 points — 13 in the second half — in a 74-71 victory at Cincinnati. The redshirt junior forward scored nine consecutive points for No. 23 Pitt in a critical second-half surge, capped by a soaring, attack-the-rim, baseline dunk that harkened some of Young’s memorable slams.
The complaint about Coach Dixon’s approach has been that he is playing too many guys out of position. That he is not taking advantage of their natural ability at the right spot.
The flip side to that is how much it increases the versatility of the players and gives the team much more flexibility. It is part of the reason for the long-term success at Pitt under Dixon. The team can survive injuries better and not have to change the system as much.
To take the Sam Young example. Young fought and pouted about being forced into playing power forward when his size and ability suggested keeping him exclusively at the small forward spot. Instead, he learned to play inside better, play more defense and develop a more rounded game. It not only helped Pitt better when Blair had foul trouble. It helped his overall development as a player.
Brown returning clearly helped by increasing the team’s ability to score and improved their intensity. It also takes some pressure off of other players to produce and minutes needed. The other factor was in terms of practicing. With playing defense and immediately buying into what Dixon has taught about playing out of position. The team has more energy and intensity as it gets through to them.
While the addition of his two veterans has been a big part of the team’s improvement the rest of the players deserve a lot of credit, as well, the coach said. For one thing, some players lost some minutes they were getting early in the season to make room in the lineup for Jermaine Dixon and Brown; for another, the other players have all improved and most because they have responded to the challenges given to them by the coaching staff.
“We’ve challenged these guys to improve. They’re taking the responsibility,” Jamie Dixon said. “And I think they’re enjoying improving. Some guys don’t want to change, they want to stay the same. But these guys want to get better and they are. I think there’s a real understanding our mentality was we’re not going to be the same team in January as we were in November.
“[Brown] is getting better defensively and he’s getting more comfortable, especially on defense. Even though he’s been here three years, it really is like starting over for him, but he is continuing to improve — as they all are.”
