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March 18, 2016

Once more. 6:50 PM on TNT.

I’m actually watching this game in a public place. I’ll either be completely reserved or a bit of a lunatic. There is no middle ground.

This should be a close game played. Tempo will be slow, but I expect the score to be in the 60s. Not a defensive struggle so much as efficient offenses willing to let the clock go to get their shots.  Whether it is Wisconsin with a swing style offense or Pitt with motion. Both teams depend on ball and player movement to find the best look.

I expect both teams to have a short bench tonight.

As much as the offense is going to be determined by the kind of game Jamel Artis and Mike Young have, Pitt needs a strong defensive effort from Rafael Maia, Sheldon Jeter and Ryan Luther inside and out. They are going to be expected to defend in the post and the regular expectations of Wisconsin’s frontcourt ranging outside the paint.

Pitt has surprisingly struggled to get offensive rebounds in their last four games. That really can’t happen tonight. Wisconsin is a strong defensive team, and Pitt is going to need second-chance points to win this.

Oh, and this thought after #15 Middle Tennessee State upset #2 Michigan State. No school has ever lost twice to #15 seeds. Syracuse has a chance to make history this Sunday.





Dan 72 – I texted laughing emojis but they appeeared as ??? Haha

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.20.16 @ 8:56 pm

OPG, I soured on Jamie’s recruiting several years ago, but always thought he got the most out of his players until this year.

The experiment with the transfers, an act of desperation was a terrible failure. When Johnson and Luther started to show some results, he didn’t take advantage of it.

Then he reverts back to slogball for Wisconsin, rather than play the two kids who got him to the Dance.

Add to that the complete mismanagement of Wilson and he’s lost me.

He also mismanaged Artis, Jeter and Robinson all year allowing Artis and JR way too many minutes on their off nights and only playing Jeter 20 minutes per game.

Comment by gc 03.20.16 @ 9:00 pm

Is Jamie wearing a TCU shirt or does that say Pitt backwards?

Comment by gc 03.20.16 @ 9:06 pm

Upitt,
It’s pics like that that make u an integral gog in this pathetic lot

Comment by Gasman 03.20.16 @ 9:07 pm

watcing xavier vs wisconsin..each shooting around 43%
what a wasted opportunity for Pitt.

Comment by Jerry S 03.20.16 @ 9:07 pm

see so many good players on non power 5 conferece teams
and wondering why we cant get these players
to come to Pitt

Comment by Jerry S 03.20.16 @ 9:09 pm

The Will To Win ?@TWTWsports 24m24 minutes ago
BREAKING NEWS: SOURCE CONFIRM: JAMIE DIXON INKS 10 YEAR DEAL WITH TCU

First tweet, is it true?

Comment by gc 03.20.16 @ 9:13 pm

I wish his wife’s name was Penny!! If I see Jamie in Fort Worth tomorrow I will let you know. He sure the hell wont be recruiting unless he is at the YMCA in Kittaning looking for more Maia’s!!!

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.20.16 @ 9:14 pm

10 years…wow…would be good for JD. and good for Pitt!
H2P!!!!

Comment by Jerry S 03.20.16 @ 9:18 pm

OPG, you gotta know the wife is always right! LOL

Toooo funny UPitt…

Chris Dokish ?@ChrisDokish 13 minutes ago

If Pitt could get Chris Mack we’d get Bill Murray, too. That’s enough reason to pay him a fortune.

Report: TCU close to hiring Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon

link to si.com

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:31 pm

Dokish must be reading the Blather….he just posted the Souf Oaklin fo’ Life pic.

Congrats to the gymnastic team

link to twitter.com

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:35 pm

Looks like Jamie:

1. Had his talk with Barnes

2. Is hitting the wall with recruits

3. realizes the ACC is too tough for him

4. wants to get out of Dodge before the chickens come home to roost

5. All of the Above

Comment by gc 03.20.16 @ 9:35 pm

How could Dixon pass up the opportunity to play the hoopies twice a year again? 😉 Sign on the dotted line coach…

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:37 pm

Nice flop by Wisconsin…

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:40 pm

6. He reads the Blather & Scout.com

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:43 pm

Well that Wisconsin victory does not fit the narrative on this blog…You know, Pitt sucks because they lost to a sucky Wisconsin team….Yet another Sweet Sixteen team that Pitt gave a hell of a game to.

Comment by HbgFrank 03.20.16 @ 9:44 pm

Hgb – Does it really matter. A L is a L and Jamie has a lot of those in March. I wasn’t aware Wisconsin sucked? Rookie Head Coach yes but who said they sucked?

Dixon please go to TCU.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.20.16 @ 9:47 pm

Frank, Wisconsin stunk that night. Meanwhile every other ACC team goes to the Sweet 16.

Watch ND dismantle these clowns in the round of 16.

Comment by Jackagain 03.20.16 @ 9:49 pm

Tex AM wins after down 12 points with 45 seconds left

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.20.16 @ 9:56 pm

I still think Dixon can get it done at PITT. I hope the PITT NEWS is wrong.

Artis and Young will be seniors. Jeter and Luther will be even that much better. Nix looks good in pictures. I hope he can play. Center- is a need.

Point guard- we should be okay with Wilson and some new additions. We need some heavy recruiting on the graduate and JC level.

We will be able to make the tournament again.

Beyond that we need heavy heavy recruiting!!

If “HE” thinks he can do it, Dixon will stay.

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 03.20.16 @ 10:43 pm

Good to see that some things never really change be they basketball results or blog posts. JR runs into MY while taking attempting a driving layup! Just like Jamie drew it up! We beat Cuse three times this year and Jimmie B is on his way to the Sweet Sixteen! Pitt the only ACC team bounced from the dance! Too funny! Thank God Pitt is a football school! HTP! UPone

Comment by UPone 03.20.16 @ 11:18 pm

My prediction is that Dixon takes the TCU job. The situation of working under Barnes’ terms is likely untenable to a person that makes $3MM per year – and is a control freak. Full disclosure, I am a TCU alum (MBA) so I get a second dose of Dixon. However, a program like TCU is probably a good change for Dixon. There is a ton of 2nd-tier talent in the DFW area, and Dixon could provide instant credibility for a program that is under the huge shadow of the football program. Jamie can work his defensive philosophy with full autonomy and little pressure to succeed. He can even play whoever he wants in November and December. By year 5 he will probably get them to the tournament, and the Horned Frog fans will be ecstatic. But if he thinks the ACC has tough coaches, he will be entering a league with Bill Self, Shaka Smart, Bob Huggins, and Lon Kruger; all coaches who have taken a team to the Final 4. Now here is an off-the-top of my head short list…in no particular order.

King Rice – Monmouth coach and former UNC point guard that grew up in New York. ACC ties, NY ties, and coaches fun basketball.

Archie Miller – Has taken Dayton as far as he can, and has ACC ties given his time at NC State.

Larry Krystowiak – Wild card. Current coach at Utah with an interesting personal story. Has been successful at Montana (alma mater) and then at Utah. Spent some time playing under Phil Jackson, but I doubt a native of Montana would want to trade the great vistas of the West and uproot his 5 kids for Pittsburgh, PA.

I am sure there are many others capable, just hoping Brandin Knight is never considered given his work with the guards in his tenure as assistant coach.

Comment by dallas mike 03.20.16 @ 11:23 pm

I remember when the Pitt fanatics wanted Jackie Sherrill gone so we could repeat and national champions. That worked out really well…..

Comment by Tony in Harrisburg 03.20.16 @ 11:41 pm

Sounds like this might have legs. Let me go on the record and say we may be sorry but I’ll take my chances. I think this is really happening.

Poor Paul Zeise, man who has covered infinite coaching searches on the Pitt football beat. Probably was ready for some R &R. Not so fast my friend…

Comment by Pap76 03.21.16 @ 1:19 am

I’m thinking it’s happening also. This means Dixon doesn’t see a way to get PITT back on top. That’s bad for our near future.

Everybody is talking about the $5mm to $10mm buy out. We’re all forgetting Pitt may reduce this fee at it’s pleasure.

A low or no buy out and we will know what the administration really thinks of Dixon.

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 03.21.16 @ 4:30 am

OPG – Barnes is a BB guy. He, unlike Smug Stevie, has a short list of replacements that can & will win with this current team.

There is a plan in place should one be needed.

I wish Jamie the best, whether he is leading the Horned Frogs or Pitt Panthers.

gc – you are correct regarding the Wisconsin game – no one thinks the Badgers stink, it’s the game plan Jamie chose that stunk.

Enjoy your Sping season fellas. Golf as much as you can…

HTP!

Comment by Erie Express 03.21.16 @ 4:38 am

I think your right Erie Express

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 03.21.16 @ 5:11 am

Enjoy your Spring (not Sping) – yes, I’m a Pitt grad…

Thanks to Northern Iowa’s late collapse against TX A&M (last night) in the last 44 seconds, up 12 points, Pitt has been unseated as the “goat” of this tournament.

Let’s hope the Northern Iowa coach is not on AD Barnes’ short list of candidates.

Oy vey!

Comment by Erie Express 03.21.16 @ 6:05 am

jackagain. “Wisconsin stunk that night” — maybe you have to give some credit to the opponent, don’t you think?

Yes, Friday’s loss was ugly and I, like all of you, are tired of these March losses …. but for Wisconsin to stay neck and neck with a 2 seed shows that Pitt lost to a very worthy opponent.

Comment by wbb 03.21.16 @ 6:10 am

I’m not forgiving JD for the ugly loss … but maybe you have to credit the defensive effort.

Wisconsin shot their average vs Xavier 42%, yet shot only 32% vs Pitt.

Comment by wbb 03.21.16 @ 6:43 am

Terrible news!! MLB David Adams of Central Catholic, who would have been the ideal candidate to replace Galambos, has committed to Notre Dame.

Don’t be surprised if his teammate, DT Kurt Hinish, does the same on KDKA this evening.

Comment by wbb 03.21.16 @ 6:54 am

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