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March 25, 2010

Assorted Dixon Notes

Filed under: Basketball,Coaches,Dixon,Recruiting — Chas @ 10:16 am

Maybe it is because I don’t reside in the ‘Burgh. I didn’t know there was a huge debate and divide over Coach Jamie Dixon.

I ask, because few local sports personalities generate as much hysterical reaction as Dixon.

Some consider him overrated. They say he’s never won a big game, ignoring the fact he wins big games every year.

Others wildly boast that Dixon is the best coach in America. Which sounds great until you look at all the names you’d put behind him.

I can say that there seems little debate among college basketball bloggers and writers around the country that Coach Dixon is one of the best coaches — and always high on fans wishlists. Obviously, I am part of the group that believes Coach Dixon is one of the best coaches in the country.

Not top-5 or even top-10 (which when considered with career achievements includes Krzyzewski, Williams, Self, Izzo, Pitino, Calhoun, Boeheim, Howland, Donovan, Calipari). Instead he is in that high-character, excellent coach tier with Ryan, Wright, Few, Miller, Crean and others like that .

The dichotomy of maximizing the talent of players, but not getting the most talented players possible seems to really be the issue. Something that has been beaten to death over the years. I’ve maintained in the past, and seeing it occurring in the present, that the way Coach Dixon has built this Pitt program is not to be flash and immediate. Instead it is steady, building on each success. The talent has been increasing each year.

Like everything in life, the growth and progression is not a pure straight line. There are dips and spikes, but it is all trending upward. The result is a stronger overall program with better foundations and creating a perspective of high expectations within the program and by the fans.

The issue of not winning the big games, really comes down to not getting the team to the Final Four or more. Under Dixon, the team is always near the top of the conference. They have made runs to and won the Big East Tournament. The team has always made the NCAA Tournament, made the Sweet 16 and for the first time in the programs history gotten past the two-win mark in the NCAA Tournament. They even achieved their first #1 ranking in the polls.

You can expect a lot of this sort of write-up about Pitt for next year.

Pittsburgh: After losing DaJaun Blair and Sam Young to the NBA, the Panthers were under the radar entering the season, but coach Jamie Dixon again proved the staying power of his program with a 25-9 record and a tie for second place in the Big East. This time around, Dixon should be returning nearly all of his significant contributors. Sophomore leading scorer Ashton Gibbs will again be one of the Big East’s top home run threats and solid point guard Brad Wanamaker returns for his senior season. Gone will be defensive specialist Jermaine Dixon. The defense will again be anchored by 6’10” junior Gary McGhee, the Panthers’ top rebounder and shot-blocker. This collection of solid talent will be joined by a pair of Rivals ranked recruits, No. 69 Isiah Epps, who will back up Wanamaker initially, and No. 107 J.J. Moore, who could help replace the defensive gap created by Dixon’s departure. Should be another strong team for Dixon.

Yes, I know there are plenty of inaccuracies and fallacies in the details. That is the difference between broad overviews of a boatload of team and focused examinations.

I don’t know how closely anyone follows the coaching rumor mill, but yesterday had a real fun one. Ben Howland to DePaul, and then Pitino to UCLA. Sadly the silliness was debunked, but that’s great stuff. Still, there is some claim that it was somewhat legit, while at least acknowledging Dixon to DePaul was never real.

Contrary to a TV report that ran in Chicago last week, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon was never a serious candidate for the job. He is a good friend of DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto and the two keep in touch but Dixon never was offered the job and he never seriously considered it. UCLA coach Ben Howland did consider the DePaul opening but decided on Tuesday to stay in Westwood where he feels his program is poised for a rebound season after a difficult 2009-10 campaign.

Sorry, the only reason Howland’s representatives even listened is for the same reasons any coach’s agent listens. The money (rumored to be in the $3 million ballpark) and to remind his bosses that he is still a valuable commodity. Something Howland probably needed to do after the disaster of a season the Bruins had.

Coach Dixon was out yesterday in Chambersburg, PA watching a potential recruit for 2011 in Jaylen Bond.

Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Jaylen Bond may have picked the perfect time to get rid of the blues, caused by foul-shooting woes, that have plagued him recently.

Last night, in a PIAA Class AAAA state semifinal against North Allegheny, with University of Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon watching him for the first time, Bond delivered a monster performance to place PW within a win of its first state championship since 1997.

Fueling a 16-2 scoring surge, Bond erupted for 12 of his game-high 26 points in the third quarter as the Colonials broke open a two-point game and blasted the Tigers, 71-47, at Chambersburg Area High.

“This was my best game in the whole playoffs,” Bond, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, said. “I did everything I could to help my team win.”

He also had 14 rebounds in the game. Bond has interest from Villanova and WVU, as well as FSU and Temple. This story has video from the game (Bond is #15). At the moment, Pitt still has one scholarship open for the 2011 class. Guard John Johnson has one spot claimed.

Bond gets a “93” from Scouts, Inc./ESPN.com (Insider subs), but they don’t have an evaluation up since April of 2009.

He has very good length coupled with very good leaping ability, which makes him a handful on the offensive boards. He runs the floor well and can finish off the break with a dunk. In the paint, he has a tendency to keep the ball low, which serves to make him smaller and prone to guards coming in and swiping the ball from him. Bond also will have to work on staying under control offensively and not playing too fast, which makes him turnover prone at times.

He’s a tweener as far as forwards go. Plays inside like a PF, but size makes him more like a SF. For those hoping Pitt goes for more size inside, with recruits, this won’t make you happy.





There is no debate over Dixon, even in the ‘Burgh. Casual fans may question his value, but all real Panther fans know what we have in Jamie. Joe Starkey is a moron.

Comment by bigslacker 03.25.10 @ 10:24 am

bigslacker,

I’m a diehard Pitt fan and think Starkey’s article was dead on. I listen to sports radio all day at work and there are plenty of fans who “question” Dixon so the debate does exist. I appreciate Jamie and think he will get us a NC soon.

Comment by Fred 03.25.10 @ 10:48 am

Generations change perspective as evidenced on this board. The litmus test for successful college sports programs has evolved into being the national champion. Anything else is considered a failure. There are some of us oldtimers however who understand that this view is destined to lead to disappointment for 99.9% of all sports fans. We choose to follow the lead of the great sports philosopher Bo Schembechler who preached conference titles as the goal – playing for a national championship was gravy but not the objective for the year. He was right then and he is right today. In that context Jamie has been and is very successful. I am not saying I don’t want Pitt to win it all. I am just saying that winning the conference is a noble goal and achievement and reflects a successful year.

Comment by wally 03.25.10 @ 11:02 am

The only reason there is a debate is because of all the dumb yinzers who don’t have jobs and call during working hours… I know this probable won’t make it on but it felt good to type.

Comment by Nick 03.25.10 @ 11:03 am

He is a good coach, once he gets to a final 4 or beyond the debate will subside!

Comment by WLAT Radio and the Big Beat 03.25.10 @ 11:23 am

Nick is not that far off in his comment. Sports talk radio thrives on controversy. If it was all rosy, no one would listen and they’d fire the host(s). They need the guy calling in to say Jamie is overrated, just like they need the guy calling in to say Jamie is the best coach in America. That’s why I like the podcasts versus the live broadcasts. You get the latest info on your teams without all the crap in between.

Chas echos a comment I made earlier in the week. Jamie is building a sustainable program at Pitt, not a flash in the pan run at a championship. He doesn’t need to change a thing.

Let’s face it, Pitt has a huge disadvantage in recruiting over many schools in both football and basketball. Some have an “environmental” advantage. If you’re a football or basketball recruit considering say Florida and Pitt, and you have no ties to either, where would you go? I’d take Florida with its weather and women (Erin Andrews is a Florida grad for example) any day. Others, like Starkey pointed out, have tradition. Pitt is just building tradition in basketball under Jamie and our football tradition was lost in the ’80s before any of the current HS kids were born. Wanny is doing a good job of rebuilding that too. The talent is taking notice and that’s why Jamie is starting to get the high-level guys like Taylor, Epps and Moore. The championship runs – plural not singular – will follow soon enough.

But most of you here know that already, so our job is to educate the impatient and short-sighted out there whenever we have the chance.

Comment by TampaT 03.25.10 @ 11:26 am

Winning begats winning. The quality of the recruits has gotten better and will continue to get better. Need proof? Do you see any Jason Mailles or Chad Vargas on this team?

Those that think that Dixon does not want high-caliber talent are pretty funny. He wants the best players he can get while running a clean program.

They will come. Just have some faith.

Comment by Chuck Morris 03.25.10 @ 11:49 am

Dixon’s pretty young in his career and life, considering this talent roster: Krzyzewski, Williams, Self, Izzo, Pitino, Calhoun, Boeheim, Howland, Donovan, Calipari. He has only been a head coach for 7 years.

I have no doubt that this decade he’ll get to the Final Four, if not win the whole enchillada.

Comment by rieur1114 03.25.10 @ 12:01 pm

Casual Yinzer Steeler/PSU football fans that only chirp about basketball from March 1st to March 31st are the ones complaining about Dixon. They are ignorant ones who only watch football, never went to PSU, bleed Black & Gold & JoePa, but jump on the Pitt bandwagon long enough to throw the zingers in at the end. To me, they are posers and no more than Ron Cook without a pen and paper to print the nonsense…

Jamie HAS BUILT a sustainable program that will consistently improve the talent from Year 1 to Year 4 and have us in the top 15 teams in the country year in and year out. Occasionaly, we will be tenured enough (and lucky enough) to make a FF run. Last year was our shot. IMHO, 2012 will be our next. The difference for NCs will be securing the offensive talent that is beyond developing in college and is truly God-given/NBA talent. That talent is coming.

Comment by Pauly P 03.25.10 @ 12:04 pm

Rice didn’t get the Fordham job. The jesuite president didn’t like his demenior. They’re loss.

Comment by alcofan 03.25.10 @ 12:48 pm

I do not know of any Pitt fan that doesn’t think that Jamie is a fantastic coach. The only controversy is coming from Hoopie fans that are still pissin & moanin over not getting a #1 seed and from PSU fans that have nothing to root for so they cast aspersions about Jamie not being able to win the big games.
Starkey floated that subject out two days ago on that weak talk show he is now on. It generated calls, so he recycled it into his column in the Rag today.
Hey, let’s face it, we haven’t been a choice destination for the elite players to date, but we are getting closer. I still remember my crappy cramped seats in Fitzgerald watching Ralphie’s team flounder. Then to the Pete with Ben’s team of guys who you didn’t know if they were going to work or coast through the game (insert Taft, Troutman, Zavakas into that spot). And worry if we had to go deeper than 6 players in a game.
Now we are getting there everfy year and soon more kids will choose Pitt over the other schools with more tradition. We need to patient and let Jamie get us there.

Comment by Fear The Mustache 03.25.10 @ 1:51 pm

doesn’t Pitt plan on bringing in 3 players that are 2011? Thus they should have 2 spots left, maybe I’m wrong on this but I always hear discussion that they’d like to bring one post player plus the best player they can get in addition to Johnson.

Comment by PITTapotamus 03.25.10 @ 2:26 pm

Just plain and simple .. Dixon is victim of his own success. The criticism he receives is due to the fact that he has raised trhe expectation level of this program … and that ain’t a bad thing!

Comment by wbb 03.25.10 @ 2:48 pm

A couple of thoughts: Dixon inspires much more confidence than Wannstedt. Over-achievement is a tag Jamie wears while underachievement is Dave’s. I’m not saying either label is correct; it is out there. In my view, Jamie is pretty much a miracle worker. Does the fact that the WPIAL plays so few high school games in a season impact the overall quality? In Texas high schools play about 30 games a season. There were WPIAL schools that were lucky to get in 18. And Penn State – their basketball program is descending faster than an out of control elevator. It is easy to see what the separation Pitt and Penn State created in 1982 made for the future. But with the 2nd or 3rd highest dollar intake from athletics in the country what justification do our neighbors to the east have for such a pathetic men’s program? I can only believe Joe’s ego has got something to do with it. Let’s Go Pitt.

Comment by TonyinHouston 03.25.10 @ 3:02 pm

Definitely sounds like that Bond kid shoots free throws like a traditional Pitt player. He would fit right in.

Comment by CB 03.25.10 @ 4:00 pm

I would say there is some debate about Dixon, albeit from the tragically misinformed/stupid. For example, the gentlemen who sit in front me. As Pitt locked up with Providence with just a minute or two left, one of them yelled “Put in Brown, you idiot!!!” Brown had 0 points and had shot poorly all game.

They also booed Dave Wannstedt when walked across the court pregame on Junior Day. REALLY hope they don’t renew next season.

Comment by Bryan 03.25.10 @ 4:21 pm

God bless America, where any rectal orifice can call a talk show and have his half-baked opinion broadcast to thousands as if it were an expert opinion. What a country!
If that qualifies as a great debate or divide, OK. But anyone that thinks there’s a better coach for Pitt than Jamie Dixon right now has not been paying attention.
Best coach in the country? Not yet. Best Pitt coach in modern Pitt history? I’d say so.

Comment by Dock71 03.25.10 @ 8:36 pm

Interesting. Maurice Walker has stated that the Pitt coaches have called him and told him that a scholarship will be available for him. This would mean that if Moore is qualifying, as many expect he will do, 2 current players will have to leave. Who would that be?
Here’s the article:
link to zagsblog.com

Comment by OntarioLettsGoPitt 03.25.10 @ 8:56 pm

Yes! Finally something juicy and interesting. Hmm, who’s it going to be?

Comment by SilverPanther in NYC 03.25.10 @ 9:05 pm

The article says player movement is expected at Pitt.

Comment by OntarioLettsGoPitt 03.25.10 @ 9:09 pm

Jamie gets us our national title when Jamie brings in a pair of legit NBA lottery picks to go with the usual cast of good, well-disciplined, smart players that he always has.

Maybe Dante (or one of the other guys on the team) can develop into that lottery pick, and maybe one of the new guys will work out like that for us.

But until we can definitively say that we have the best player on the floor 95% of the time, we may not get our national title.

Blair was the closest I’ve seen Pitt to having that guy during the last decade.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 03.25.10 @ 9:35 pm

Interesting – I still think Miller is the first one to leave. He’s been at Pitt 2 years and despite a shortage of players at the 4 position, he couldn’t crack the rotation. It’s hard to figure who a second player might be. I’m guessing either the coaches know something about Moore’s eligibility, or one of the other players has unexpectedly decided to go elsewhere without any prompting.

How about that picture of Walker…he looks a little, uh, large. 6’10”, 300 pounds? He’ll need to get in better shape than that.

Comment by Pantherman13 03.25.10 @ 9:43 pm

I have friends who are Pitt BB season ticket holders. I know lots of Pitt BB fans. I have yet to encounter any who are even slightly unhappy with Dixon’s coaching. This was a radio show manufactured controversy…

Comment by K.R.Y. 03.25.10 @ 10:10 pm

Another player rumored to be leaving is 5th year senior Gilbert Brown to play basketball in Europe.
As to Jamie keepin mind that the handful of coaches rated higher than him(ie Coach K, Boeheim, etc.) have been around a long time 25 to 30 years. Give Jamie time he is way ahead of the timeframe of the college coaching greats.
Hail to Pitt ! Hail to jamie too !

Comment by Marty 03.25.10 @ 10:11 pm

Marty: I remember reading that about Brown as well. I believe it was floated by one of the NBE guys, but I don’t remember which one. However, I do remember it was during the time that Brown was suspended and everyone was disappointed in him. Have you heard or read something more recent?

Comment by TampaT 03.25.10 @ 10:37 pm

Not that it means much, but Brown recently tweeted about playing next year at Pitt.

Comment by Pantherman13 03.25.10 @ 10:50 pm

I’m a big fan of Dixon. But simply for the sake of argument, hypothetically speaking, who could Pitt hope to bring in (aside perhaps from Sean Miller) that wouldn’t be a downgrade? No one. That to me is the bottom line.

Comment by Brendan 03.25.10 @ 11:03 pm

also, read on the free rivals board, from the Matt guy who writes for them that he spoke with Gilbert at practice for awhile today. He said there is no way Brown is leaving and that he will be the starting SF next season.

Watched some Walker highlights on youtube. He is somewhat of a project, mainly because of his weight though. He looks to have soft hands, a soft touch, and decent feet inside. Maybe could develop into a Samhan type player.

Comment by OntarioLettsGoPitt 03.25.10 @ 11:14 pm

Thanks for that info, Pantherman13 and Ontario. Like I said, that Brown rumor was old, and he seemed pretty committed to returning from what I’ve read recently. That’s why I asked Matt how fresh thar rumor was.

As far as who would leave if Walker does sign, my guess would be one of the other “projects” since he looks like one too but with a bigger upside – literally. Take your pick there. That also assumes all of the other recruits qualify.

Comment by TampaT 03.25.10 @ 11:39 pm

Anyone who watched the Xavier-Kansas State game and still thinks Pitt choked against or was upset by an inferior team is a questionable judge of talent. Dixon (Jamie, not Juan) did well to keep Pitt competitive with the Musketeers. At most, one Panther starts for that squad.

Comment by whiskeyrebellion 03.26.10 @ 12:44 am

Lots of angst for an article that was really rather effusive in praising Jamie Dixon. Hate to say it – but typical PITT fan reaction.

The reality of the PITT BB situation is this: Howland, and now Dixon, have built something that never existed at PITT before; consistently winning teams and a good sustainable program. What it isn’t (yet?) is an elite program… regardless of how much PITT fans want it to be.

Elite coaches make their programs achieve,and sometimes overachieve in crunch time – not during the almost meaningless, regular season. Elite program’s success rate in conference and NCAA tournaments are what separate them, not how many wins they can stack up against teams that are at the same level or less than they are. A four for 10 record in conference championship games isn’t placing PITT in rarefied air.

Forget about their NCAA record – one elite eight appearance in forever says it all.

PITT BB is good, no mistake about it, as is Jamie Dixon, but let’s not lose sight of why and how laurels are bestowed on elite coaches. That is their ability to rise above the pack and to compete for and win tournament championships on a consistent basis. We haven’t seen PITT do that under Dixon or any other coaches.

PITT BB is a good program, a credit to the University and great fun for its fans (myself included) but IMO PITT fans project something that isn’t there onto the coach and the program itself.

Comment by Reed 03.26.10 @ 6:17 am

I agree with whiskeyrebellion … Xavier quite simply had the better players (thanks in large part to Chas’ favorite, Kelvin Sampson). People has to realize that this was Xavier’s 3rd straight Sweet 16, and the 2nd year in a row that they just missed the Elite 8

Comment by wbb 03.26.10 @ 8:11 am

who cares if Dixon isn’t “elite” right now…he’s young, and he’s building a hell of a program that will be “elite”. If you don’t think he’s one of the absolute best coaches in the country now you will in 5-10 years.

Comment by PITTapotamus 03.26.10 @ 8:33 am

Tampa T,
A spokesman for hoopwise.com this week on 93.7 talked about the walker kid and indicated that Pitt was over their scholarship limits but was telling Walker they had made room for him, and that Brown was most likely leaving for Europe.

Comment by Marty 03.26.10 @ 8:51 am

Thanks, Marty. Sorry for calling you Matt earlier. I was typing from an iPhone which is tough sometimes. Hoopwise and NBE are the same thing, so the rumor source is the same.

OK, so Walker thinks there’s a scholarship and the rumor about Gilbert going to Europe resurfaces. Chris Dokish (NBE’s main guy on Pitt) has heard the rumblings and writes about it on his blog today. Here’s a link because it’s a long explanation:

link to bebballreportpitt.blogspot.com

Sounds like there’s some confusion somewhere. Either that or Moore may not qualify afterall.

Comment by TampaT 03.26.10 @ 9:07 am

Congrats to IUP and former Pitt Assistant Joe Lombardi for making it to the Division II National Championship game…go Indians, Bears, Hawks, Bell tower, whatever, go IUP! Seems like Joe is working the coaching ladder himself, any possibility he takes over at Robert Morris if Mike Price leaves?

Comment by Marco 03.26.10 @ 9:50 am

To follow up on TampaT’s post – Dokish seemed pretty skeptical that Brown was leaving. It also sounds like Walker’s statements caught him by surprise. As others have pointed out, Dokish is particularly good at getting inside info regarding recruiting, etc., so I wouldn’t be surprised if he is working on getting some more concrete information from his sources.

Again, I have to wonder if the Pitt coaches have some updated information regarding Moore’s eligibility.

Comment by Pantherman13 03.26.10 @ 10:04 am

Re: Coach Dixon…I give you the last minute of the Xavier Game. We had no business being close,let alone having a chance to tie, but Coach Dixon brilliantly used TO’s and set plays to get us in that position…as he has done all year.
Many thought he should have pressed but this Pitt team is not good enough to press and gives up too many layups.

Coach Dixon is a brilliant young coach and a great recruiter. PERIOD!

Comment by Dan 72 03.26.10 @ 11:13 am

Dixon is highly respected by hoop analysts. PITT is lucky to have him. He is just scratching the surface. The talent level of the incoming frosh is impressive. JJ Moore is going to be a BE star. If Maurice Walker is added to the mix, look out!

Comment by Jimmy Chitwood 03.26.10 @ 2:10 pm

I hope Moore qualifies!

link to youtube.com

Comment by Carmen 03.26.10 @ 2:42 pm

Another story on Jamie – leaving Pitt or not? – posted today on Bleacher report. Many of the points noted there have been made here.

link to bleacherreport.com

Comment by TampaT 03.26.10 @ 3:52 pm

By the way, according to Dokish, he thinks Walker misunderstood what the Pitt coach said and he thinks they want to keep him as a possibility in case somebody like Miller leaves and Moore doesn’t get the grades. Seems to make sense to me.

Comment by Mark 03.26.10 @ 4:00 pm

Friggin’ yinzers. I swear we’re only happy when we’re miserable. It’s only gonna get worse as WVU makes its Final Four run. It’s a batch of bad weather that has to be endured until, oh, the opening of Stiller’s camp.

Comment by Shawn 03.28.10 @ 12:22 am

[…] month, Coach Jamie Dixon was taking in Jaylen Bond and his high school team on their way to the PIAA AAAA […]


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