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.
