Okay, guess it’s time to clear some links. Not really any need for game recaps, right?

So, um, congratulations Coach Dixon on being named Sporting News Coach of the Year.

Coach of the Year honors go to Pitt’s Jamie Dixon, whose philosophy of player improvement led Pitt to a 27-5 record, 15-3 Big East record and Big East regular-season championship. The Panthers have won at least 20 games and 10 in the Big East in each of Dixon’s eight seasons and few of his players transfer if their careers start slowly. Never once have you heard of his team splintering because players were focused on their draft statuses.

“I think that’s the type of sacrifice you have to make to become a Pitt player,” senior forward Gilbert Brown says. “If you sacrifice for the team, you’ll have the outcome. I think that’s the environment Coach brings to the team.”

Outstanding timing.

(more…)

As just about everyone is aware of by this point, Ashton Gibbs has been cleared to play for tomorrow’s Nooner at MSG.

“I was probably the happiest man in the world when they gave me the OK to play,” said Gibbs, Pitt’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game. “I’m feeling good.”

The 6-foot-2 Gibbs, injured Feb. 5 against Cincinnati, took part in his first full-contact practice Thursday.

He said he didn’t feel any soreness after practice. And following a visit with Pitt trainer Tony Salesi, Gibbs, who grew up in West Orange, N.J., was cleared to play in his hometown.

“I went all-out (at practice),” he said. “I felt good. It’s not sore or anything. It feels normal. (Salesi) told me everything was fine.”

Gibbs, who may wear a small brace or tape his knee as a precaution, said his rehab consisted mainly of icing the knee, riding a bike and strengthening his quadriceps.

He was expected to miss 10-14 days and returned right on schedule.

“It’s close to 100 percent,” he said. “I can feel it a little bit, but it’s nothing major.”

I take it, this means he hast to return that bowtie to Orlando Antigua.

(more…)

For whatever it is worth, ESPN.com recently updated their basketball recruiting rankings and Pitt is now ranked 14th.

Jamie Dixon is one of the best coaches in the country at recruiting to his personality and style of play. Originally, we didn’t think Malcolm Gilbert (Philadelphia/Academy of New Church) had the right makeup to play for Dixon, but as his game and personality evolved we’ve come full circle. Gilbert is now an ESPNU 100 prospect and a big reason for the Panthers ascent in the rankings. This class is highlighted by five-star PF Khem Birch (Montreal/Notre Dame Prep), who reclassified to the 2011 class and signed with Dixon a year early. Birch is an off-the-charts athlete who can change the game on the defensive end of the floor with his ability to block shots and rebound. He is a big-time, clear-path finisher, and when his offense catches up to his defense his game will go to the next level. Gilbert is a rare player who can change a game without having to score a point, and he has all the physical tools needed to play the game at the highest levels. Jaylen Bond (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh Sr.) is a blossoming frontcourt player with good athleticism, while SGs John Johnson (Philadelphia/Life Center Academy) and Durand Johnson (Baltimore/Brewster Academy) round out this class.

What should speak volumes about how tough it is in the Big East. Pitt’s recruiting class is only 4th best in the Big East. St. John’s (#2), Syracuse (#8) and Louisville (#9) are ahead of Pitt.

(more…)

Pitt sits at 12-1 overall and 1-0 in Big East play. The team is ranked #6 and will probably move up a spot next week. The team just came off of a strong team performance against the Kemba Walker Huskies that reminded everyone that Pitt hasn’t gone away. Despite all the accolades to the surprise teams, players and where the attention is in the conference — Pitt is on top and quietly worrying every other team.

So everyone is feeling good about Pitt and the players. There’s no one star or standout, other than by default.

(more…)

Merry Post-Christmas. Been down at the in-laws and it’s enough of a rural area that the local Starbucks was actually closed on Christmas Day. Caught me off-guard as I figured on at least having the early morning to glom on the wifi.

Obviously Pitt won before Christmas, knocking off American to give Coach Dixon his 200th win. Pitt’s offense was meh, but the defense did a good job on all but Vlad Molodveanu who had 23 of American’s 46 points. It has to be noted that Moldoveanu has done this in just about every game this season according to the announcers. Just going off in the second half, and hitting shots regardless of the defense. That’s what he did against Pitt.

Dante Taylor was aggressive on the boards, going after rebounds. He’s really embraced going for rebounds. Realizing it is the key to staying on the court and being a part of the offense. The scary was that the big guys  (McGhee and Taylor)  continue to be a purely random adventure at the FT line. This time 2-8. Coupled with Zanna and Robinson also being 50-60% FT shooters on most nights, and I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see a 4-guard lineup out there late in some games if Pitt is clinging to a lead.

(more…)

Tonight Pitt will go for their 12th win of the season and close out the non-con part of basketball season. It’s against American, and no one is expecting much of a problem.

That, of course, isn’t what makes this game kind of big. The expected win, will be Coach Jamie Dixon’s 200th win as head coach at Pitt.

With the firing and hiring on the football side, Dixon’s hire has gotten a bit of a second look. It has paid off in a way I know I never expected.

(more…)

You can bet this is going to get beaten into the ground during the many national appearances Pitt will have this season, so this is probably the last time I will post about Coach Dixon helping at the scene of the car accident.

Here’s the video of Coach Dixon’s ESPN First Take appearance talking about the accident.

(more…)

Coach Dixon spoke about the incident, and in a completely unsurprising way, downplayed his involvement or that he did anything special.

“I did what anybody else, I think, in Pittsburgh would have done in given the situation,” Dixon said at a news conference at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. “I think a number of people would have done the same thing. In fact, I know they would have.”

In fact, he said that he others did pull over to help. It was just that he was the first there because he it happened right in front of him.

“I was driving home around 9:30 or 10 p.m. from the office after we practiced and watched film when I saw a car in front of me going in the fast lane and then veer to the right and hit the wall,” Dixon said of the crash. “It flipped a few times. There weren’t a lot of people on the road.

“I pulled over and ran to the car. There was smoke coming out, which I was later told by the firemen … was from the air bags being deployed,” Dixon said.

Coach Dixon also did an interview about the incident on ESPN’s painful to watch “First Take.” I’m sure they will post the clip in time.

Seriously, at the very least he has already lapped the field.

State police said a vehicle flipped over while travelling outbound on I-279 North near the Mcknight Road exit.

The car hit a jersey barrier and landed on its side in the road.

Two people were inside the car. One person fled from the scene while the other remained trapped inside.

Jamie Dixon, head coach of the Pitt men’s basketball team, witnessed the accident and pulled over to help get the victims out of the car.

The story has “raw video” from the accident. A little more than halfway through you see the back of Coach Dixon’s head in the ambulance. Then he emerges, walks out –looking fine — and gets to his car and drives off.

He was treated for minor injuries he received while assisting at the scene.

Big East basketball media day is tomorrow. Geez. I never even got to Pitt Basketball media day. Going to have to do this briefly.

Andy Katz at ESPN.com refreshed his preseason top-25. Pitt was put at #4 — but that was before Purdue’s Robbie Hummel went down for the season (Purdue was #2).

The Panthers don’t have the star power of the aforementioned top three. But this Panthers team is like an old-school Big East team that has experienced players who have been together and found roles. The summer trip to Ireland provided more positive bonding time for Jamie Dixon’s crew as it takes on the role of Big East favorite. There were no flaws this summer, making it more palatable to move the Panthers up a few spots.

Odd factoid. In the entire top-25, only Pitt’s blurb is without any mention of a specific player.

(more…)

Did you know that today is Pitt’s Media Day? And I didn’t get an invite. Shocking, I know. Well, that means there should be some more local stories tomorrow. In the mean time, here are some other things to note.

Everyone has probably seen, read and digested the Jamie Dixon piece from the P-G over the weekend. Nice one. I hope Coach Dixon stays a long time at Pitt, not just because he is an excellent coach and appears to be a great guy. But because it would mean Pitt basketball is still thriving. Check out Pitt Script’s take on things.

(more…)

Time has become an extremely limited commodity for me since September. So, there have been some basketball links piling up for the last few days.

Ashton Gibbs., now a Wooden Award nominee, made the regional cover for USA Today’s basketball preview, along with a featured article on him and Pitt’s team.

Jeff Goodman at FoxSports did an article on Coach Jamie Dixon and the expectations of this team.

(more…)

Well, maybe a little more than one more thing.

I also want to point out this post from Ray Merangh talking about how smart Coach Dixon is about hiring assistants and how coveted getting the job is these days.

Which brings us back to the point when Herrion left and Dixon went into action. Everybody wanted that job because Dixon has become a coach who’s assistants get head coaching opportunities. Dixon was deluged with calls and resumes. Guys were even reaching out to know-nothings in the media to see if they knew anything! But Dixon had a plan.

He saw the talent in New England’s coming classes (the 2012 and 2013 classes each has potentially five top-25 guys)

He saw the potential problems at Connecticut.

Finally, he saw the guy involved with most of that talent — Pat Skerry, then at Providence — and went and got him.

Pitt pays well enough for assistants to be competitive, but there are plenty of other programs out there that pay far better. Pitt and Coach Dixon, though, offer the assistant who comes aboard more than just the money.

(more…)

That’s some good company.

In case you still haven’t heard, Khem Birch committed to Pitt late last night.

“I chose Pittsburgh because I really feel comfortable with Coach (Pat) Skerry and Coach Dixon, and I feel that they can help me develop,” Birch told FOXSports.com

The 6-foot-9, 200-pound Birch, who hails from Quebec, spent last season at Winchendon School (Mass.) and has transferred to nearby Notre Dame Prep this year.

Birch is a long and extremely athletic frontline player who can change the game on the defensive end with his shot-blocking ability. If his ranking holds up, he’d be the highest regarded player ever to sign with the Panthers.

“Khem’s long-term goal is to be a pro,” Notre Dame Prep coach Ryan Hurd told FOXSports.com “Coach Dixon has done a terrific job developing pros, and he’s also made it clear the door is always open for Khem to return and finish getting his degree.”

“He hasn’t even scratched the surface,” added Expressions coach Todd Quarles, who runs Birch’s summer league. “He’s got so much upside and wants to be great.”

Birch is ranked #4 by Scout.com and Rivals.com. ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. has him as the #2 overall player. All three recruiting sites, though, rank him as the #1 power forward in the 2012 class.

(more…)

Not exactly sure why it is being reported like it is new information. The home-and-home and even road-home games for all teams were announced at the end of June., but the Big East home-and-homes were reannounced (or announced according to ESPN). I suppose there is some tidbits, like the possibly syphilitic induced dickery of Rick Pitino.

Pitt and Villanova received 13 of the 16 first-place votes. One of the three first-place votes went to St. John’s. Louisville coach Rick Pitino admitted he gave the Red Storm and new coach Steve Lavin a first-place vote May 14. “I was debating between St. John’s, Pittsburgh, Villanova and Cincinnati, but I didn’t want to put that on Mick [Cronin, Pitino’s former assistant] so I went with St. John’s.”

Pitino told ESPN.com Wednesday that he was sticking with St. John’s, saying in a text: “Nine seniors. Everyone but Pitt and Villanova lost key players.”

St. John’s was picked in the ballot to finish anywhere from first to 13th while Cincinnati’s range spread from fourth to 13th. Coaches couldn’t vote for their own teams.

Also worth noting that Providence mafia/Big East nepotistic associate commish Dan Gavitt’s comments about the tiers that go into setting the home-and-homes.

(more…)