Watched the streamed press conference. Nothing particularly startling in the presser. Took some notes, and these were some of the things I felt were worth jotting.

— The presser started with both Coach Jamie Dixon and AD Steve Pederson sitting down, followed by a minor crush of reporters rushing to the table to put and activate their digital recorders.

— Pederson speaks first, thanking everyone for showing up to the pres conference on short notice, noting that this in part is because of  “today’s speedy news cycle.” (A slight acknowledgment of the rumors and mini-crisis of yesterday?)

— Usual stuff. Lauding Coach Dixon and the job he has done. Lauding the character. Lauding. Lots of lauding.

— Saying that Pitt approached Dixon during the season about another extension and that Dixon never approached them (no mention as to whether Dixon’s agent did).

— I think AD Pederson was tired of press conferences with back-to-backs. He only spoke for some 5 minutes or so.

— Coach Dixon then had some brief comments. Lots of “thank yous” and statements of loyalty and never wanting to leave.  That he, his wife and children love it hear. Acknowledging that he is very lucky. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to go anywhere.”  Basically saying all the things that he wouldn’t say yesterday.

— Then he ended with a confused look, and said, ” I don’t know why we are here today.”

— Pederson responded saying that it was just a coincidence about things. He and Coach Dixon kind of went back and forth about how there was no great time to do this. Coach Dixon leaves for the Final Four tomorrow. Then hits the recruiting trail. Suggesting that it was now or Easter Sunday. Right.

–Questions from the media followed for about the next 15 minutes. What I hate, is that the questions never are heard. Only the responses. They really need to send an intern with a microphone around to whoever is called to ask a question. I understand Nate Byham is available.

— There were questions about yesterday’s radio days. Dixon really didn’t clarify too much. I think one of the reporters read part of his quote back to ask for clarification. Coach Dixon responded, “I think that was what I was referring to.” Thanks for clearing that up.

— Dixon did go on a bit more with whatever was asked saying that two very good friends were fired yesterday. Presumably he meant Al Skinner and Pat Kearney being fired from Boston College and Holy Cross yesterday. Not sure who else lost their job yesterday.

— Again, Dixon refused to comment Oregon or any of the jobs. Mentioning again how he just doesn’t do that.

— Dixon quote about his situation at Pitt, the administration and how lucky he is, “The most important thing in coaching is who you work for.”

— Someone asked Pederson about the rumors of the Oregon job and Dixon, “I was never nervous about rumors over the last 48 hours.”

According to new addition to the Pitt blogosphere, Every Loyal Son, the new contract is in the range of $2.5 million. Unknown at this point.

Via ESPN’s Andy Katz’s Twitter:

News conference at Pitt this afternoon to announce coach Jamie Dixon — getting an extension. Not leaving for Oregon as expected.

And, exhale.

UPDATE (2:16): Press conference is set for 3:30 PM. Here’s the link to watch it stream live.

If anyone is feeling particularly masochistic, listen to local sports talk today in Pittsburgh to find out what anyone says in light of yesterday.

I think it is rather clear that I am a big Coach Jamie Dixon fan and supporter. He is an excellent coach. He runs a clean program that does not even catch a whiff of impropriety. I like the way he handles the Pitt program. I love how it has developed, improved and gotten stronger under him. I love that what Dixon is building is not based and wrapped entirely around him. I also like that he has always been a coach that does not lie to the public.

He does not say things like, “I will never leave Pitt.” Or, “This is my home forever.” In other words, he does not lie about getting contacted and even listening to offers from other programs. Instead, he simply refuses to directly address them. Making it his long-standing approach to refuse to comment on coaching searches.

Would I prefer that Coach Dixon came out and said unequivocally that he would be the coach at Pitt and was not going to Oregon? Yes. Because I would believe him, because when he has said things in the past he has meant them.

The conflict for Coach Dixon is that such unequivocal statements also take diminishes his negotiating position — be it money or years for him, more money for assistants, better money for the program overall, or any other issues. Since Coach Dixon won’t lie about other schools being interested in him, he just won’t comment. From the absurd — DePaul — to the possible — USC — to the big money — Oregon.

Coach Dixon will instead use trusted media sources to pass things along. Andy Katz at ESPN, for example, has proven to be one of the more consistent media folk to get Dixon’s actual view out there. The fact that he has dismissed claims that Dixon would go to Oregon is a good sign.

As AD Pederson said about Dixon,

“For 11 years, I don’t know anybody who has been more loyal or has worked harder or put more of his heart and soul into the University of Pittsburgh than Jamie Dixon has,” Pederson said. “So, every time something like this comes up, I would let their actions speak for them.”

Pederson, of course, also benefits his negotiating position with the statement. While defending and protecting Coach Dixon from questions that he is dodging the question of the Oregon job, he is also reminding Coach Dixon that he has the school’s full support and they too are trusting in him.

This all re-started because Coach Dixon went on the radio — and the radio people did their job — and Coach Dixon did his usual tap dance and sidestep. He did not do it as well as he has or could.

Couple that with The Big Lead speculation that Coach Dixon would take the job. And make no mistake, TBL specifically said, “the guess here” renders that pure speculation. For the record, this morning TBL noted that other media folk have said that Coach Dixon has privately made it known that he turned down Oregon. Gary Parrish at CBS Sports and Jeff Goodman at FoxSports (previously noted here) both have said that.

Mark Madden then cribbed TBL right down to the claim that it would come after the Final Four. [Brief aside, does anyone really believe Mark Madden has “reliable sources” anywhere in college sports? Really? The Pens, sure. Maybe even the Steelers. But at Pitt? In basketball? He barely acknowledges the existence of the sport.] That confluence created the mini-issue

I spent most of the evening watching the NIT and hitting every site and news feed possible to see if there were any updates on the Dixon-Oregon stuff. Nothing. Not even additional baseless speculation.