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March 21, 2016

Dixon Watch 2016

Filed under: Basketball,Coaches,Dixon — Chas @ 7:26 am

I don’t know.

Just get that out of the way now. I don’t know if Jamie Dixon will leave Pitt for TCU.

Here I was trying to decompress for a couple days with the end of the season. Just trying to enjoy the games that were playing and regroup. Nope.

I thought it was absolute silliness a week or two ago. Now, it seems to be a real possibility.

Now, from the Pittsburgh media, there is definitely a sense of being unsure, but leaning towards: nah.

Pitt is coming off a tough loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament, and several people around Dixon said he has felt the criticism from fans and media members and knows he has become a victim of his own success.

The position at Pitt also is different than the one he took in 2003 because the Panthers are in the ACC not the Big East and he has admitted that the transition has been a little tougher and taken a little longer than he first anticipated.

Still, one source close to the situation said that while Dixon “hears and reads what people are saying,” the source believed it is “unlikely” Dixon is going to take the job, considering what Dixon has built at Pitt and what it would take to be competitive in Fort Worth.

TCU fired Trent Johnson after four seasons in which he was 50-79 overall and 8-64 in Big 12 games, which is the lowest winning percentage for a coach (.111 in conference games) in conference history. The Horned Frogs also have not made it to the NCAA tournament since 1998 and have played in the tournament only seven times in their history.

In Dallas-Ft. Worth area, the feeling is a bit more optimistic.

At TCU, it is believed the feeling is mutual. Sources close to the discussions indicated Sunday night that the sides were closing in on a deal and that Dixon was trying to assemble a staff with Texas ties. An announcement could come Monday or Tuesday, one person close to the TCU program said.

TCU apparently is willing to be competitive in a salary offer for Dixon, sources said. Dixon is under contract at Pitt until 2023. His buyout is believed to be $10 million. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Dixon’s salary is $3.2 million.

I’m having trouble with parts like: trying to assemble a staff. That seems a little too sudden.

I just don’t know. I do know that this story on Buzz Williams leaving Marquette for VT has stuck with me, and may seem apt.

He made five NCAA Tournaments (in his first six seasons), advanced to the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight once before the age 40, and most young coaches would become intoxicated with that success. Not Williams, though. He instead identified it as the bar set, then assembled “facts and data” in an attempt to determine whether it was reasonable to expect to maintain that level of success in a less-attractive Big East while playing league games off of ESPN and on Fox Sports 1. He concluded it probably wasn’t. And what would happen if he didn’t? Answer: Williams would fall out of favor with his own fans the same way Ben Howland once did at UCLA, the same way most coaches who stay too long at any basketball-centric school eventually do. Consequently, Williams determined it was wiser to jump while he was still ahead, and though his contract at Virginia Tech is technically for less money on a per-year basis, it’s a seven-year deal with an automatic rollover clause that will never allow it to be less than a five-year deal, meaning the security provided makes it a better deal for a man openly planning for the day he’s fired.

Beyond that, the bar he set at Marquette no longer exists.

He has a fresh contract and fans with fresh sets of expectations.

Williams’ move ensures he doesn’t have to make three Sweet 16s over the next six years to prove to the world he isn’t slipping. He’s now in charge of a program that’s been to exactly one NCAA Tournament since 1996, that’s made just one Sweet 16 ever, and that won a mere two ACC games last season. In other words, the bar is really, really low. And Williams is more likely to spend the next six years outperforming his predecessors at Virginia Tech than he would’ve been to spend the next six years outperforming himself at Marquette.

[Emphasis added.]

That is so reasonable and logical when you look at it as a career or job. Not our passion. Not as simply winning it all.

If the situation with Dixon is reaching a Walt Harris level where the fans may not have turned on him, but are getting closer to a tipping point of dissatisfaction. Well, then, this is one of his last chances to jump before being pushed.

The last four years have been disappointing, frustrating and maddening at times. They haven’t matched the success that preceded them in the regular season or post-season.

At the same time, we’ve seen this before. Dixon has been pursued. Dixon has listened and considered numerous jobs.  He has a choice. Every other time, he has chosen to stay.

TCU is a full-on rebuild. Texas may have talent throughout the state, but there is a ton of competition for it. It is not an easy job, let alone one where success can be easily maintained if achieved.

It is also a fresh start at similar salary. A reset of expectations.

Personally, I would like Jamie Dixon to remain as Pitt’s head coach. I don’t feel this is an irrevocable slide to mediocrity or worse. Obviously there need to be some changes with assistants and recruiting. But it doesn’t feel beyond fixing yet.

 





Barnes just said they enlisted a search firm a couple of days ago….. Hmmm

Comment by Dan 72 03.21.16 @ 4:41 pm

Bye Bye Jamie.

It was fun for most of the time. But not the last 3-4 years. As some of us could see the trend downward several years ago and called for some action, back then Slice did come back, but only stayed 1 year and when Slice left we also lost Mustafa Heron and other top tier players who would have come with him. Now whether Dixon would have been able to coach them is another story as his record with Blue Chippers was dismal. Sleepy anyone. Birch… oy vey. Adams….meh.

So the time had come. The program had become stale and stagnant. Recruiting had become a fiasco every year just to get enough bodies to fill out the recruiting class. Last year’s was the worst, for besides Damon Wilson, we had to scrape the bottom of the D1 barrel for the 3 Graduate Transfer stiffs who added about nothing to the team. If you didn’t know the program was in trouble before then, you should have known certainly AFTER then.

While we do have fond memories of the first 8 years of Dixon’s tenure, like everything we seem to focus more on……what have done for me lately.

And lately it wasn’t too hot. For not only was the recruiting 2nd rate, but the heart and desire of the team seemed to be lacking as well. As Pitt was not only getting beat with much more frequency, they were getting blown out in many of the losses.
Even at The Pete, a place at one time Pitt was near unbeatable. Now we were even to losing to teams like Wagner and getting pushed by Detroit and other lightweight rent-a-wins. The home swagger was gone.
Embarrassing blowout losses this year that shake a team’s confidence.
As well as a fan base’s confidence that things could ever be turned around without making major changes.

So we wish you well Jamie, for we will also remember the good times, of winning BigEast tournaments and Regular Season Conference titles. Being in the Tournament Championship games, 4 out of 5 years and winning our 2nd BigEast Tournament title in 2008. And we will remember the two NCAA #1 seeds under your direction, Pitt’s first #1 seeds ever. And much more like #11 Pitt beating #6 Duke at MSG in Overtime in 2007 and of you owning Syracuse and Boeheim for 13 years.

We wish you and your family much success at Texas Christian University.

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 4:42 pm

Scott Barnes just said he wants a coach who can “recruit his off tail”

Comment by NickC 03.21.16 @ 4:42 pm

Great presser. Night and day better than Mr Pondscum SP!

Great to hear from you EMel!

Comment by Dan 72 03.21.16 @ 4:47 pm

Interesting that it was the players that got Jamie his first head coaching job, but for whatever reason, he could not recruit enough elite players to take him to the next level.

Really don’t think he would have left if he thought the future was bright here.

My guess is we get a guy that is tied in with Nike or Under Armour. Pretty much a must if you want to get elite players.

Comment by gc 03.21.16 @ 4:48 pm

And TCU has already released their 2016-17 non con schedule: Savannah St,, St. Francis, Md Eastern Shore…and Syracuse.

Comment by Iron Duke 03.21.16 @ 4:48 pm

Welcome back Emel…. 🙂 Well said…

Comment by Jackagain 03.21.16 @ 4:48 pm

welcome back Emel … thought this may do it

In addition to Barnes saying he wanted a guy who can recruit, loved that he said that “any AD worth his salt has a list of replacements in his back pocket” …. not sure if he realized that was a shot against his predecessor

Comment by wbb 03.21.16 @ 4:49 pm

Dokish is smoking the same weed as UPitt. F the great Millers they already fled Pitt once and they both were out in the first round this year (isnt that all of your standard?)- yeah splash hires (sarcasm). Third on Dokish list Xavier coach who lost to the offensive juggernaut of Wisconsin. Howland – really UPitt? put Pitt on the mat but how many NCs? Thanks for being a class act JD. Pass the pipe UPitt.
Dan 72 for HC, he knows all.

Comment by rkb 03.21.16 @ 4:50 pm

Banner day, Jamie gone, Emel back

Comment by gc 03.21.16 @ 4:51 pm

~ Dan72

Thx, bro. Kind of interesting that Wisconsin again figured into a Pitt coaching change. ha

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 4:51 pm

Yikes!!! Some of you guys think the only place to find quality basketball talent is in NYC and vicinity. You do realize that all teams are limited to 3 to 4 recruits per year. Finding 3 to 4 quality BB players any place in the country is possible outside the NY area. And now that Pitt is in the ACC ,there are too few games in the East to attract that level of recruit who thinks he will be playing in front of his family several times a year. The ACC should be enough of a draw for any talented athlete that thinks he may end up in the NBA some day.—So I’d be looking for a Pat Narduzzi look alike to coach the BB team.

Comment by jrnpitt 03.21.16 @ 4:52 pm

This blog makes me laugh my ass off. We should pay Chas for this entertainment.

Emel – Get your ass to Fort Worth!! Let’s watch Dixon’s first TCU practice!! Kidding of course but we can get a good steak and a Scotch and cigar!!

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 4:54 pm

Fled Pittsburgh??? When did Pitt ever express interest in either of them?? They didnt! I see Sean taking the job to be honest. They will match his money. Search Firms my ass. They know the 2-3 they want and will take a search firm candidate just because. Pay a 250k so they can call the candidates we already know but Barnes hands stay clean. Barnes and Dixon it is obvious were not tight and Im loving Barnes more because of it now. Maybe he has chutpza!!

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 4:57 pm

Now, we’re going to find out just how much Scott Barnes knows Basketball.

Comment by PittofDreams 03.21.16 @ 4:57 pm

Sean has lots of kids and this is the only job he leaves AZ for. Search over in my opinion. He will want a bigtime package. Archie takes NC St in 2 years and they will coach against each other for a bunch of years.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 4:59 pm

Emel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swish, 3!!!!!

Comment by Dan 03.21.16 @ 4:59 pm

No I think Barnes liked Dixon and would have moved the program to help Dixon succeed. But Barnes also acted in Pitts interests with respect to financial issues. Took less then the buyout but still got a good check I guess. He also got Pitt off the hook of a seven year contract. He said he had a search firm on call. All in all, The next staff will have some work to do.

Comment by Chethejet 03.21.16 @ 5:03 pm

Thank You kind sirs. (jack, wbb, gc, upitt)

I hope all of you are doing well.

Figured I better show up on this magnanimous day in Pitt sport’s history.

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:03 pm

UPitt…. Can I get in on that?

Comment by Dan 72 03.21.16 @ 5:04 pm

And my man Dan-o. lol TY

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:05 pm

Dan 72 – Absolutley! Give me some sales tips over our Fangelica!

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 5:08 pm

Wishing Jamie Dixon and his family the absolute best.

It was NEVER anything personal.

It was always about reaching for something better than MEDIOCRITY!

Now, Pitt has a chance to do just that.

Comment by PittofDreams 03.21.16 @ 5:12 pm

Pitt is still pretty relevant nationally if number of comments on CBS Sports is any indication.

link to cbssports.com

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:15 pm

Can we include dollar slots in the package?

Comment by Dan 72 03.21.16 @ 5:15 pm

Yes sir!! Emel – someone thoght you were dead! 🙁

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 5:23 pm

In hindsight you wonder if our BB players heard whispers of JD leaving many days ago. Did it affect their play. It reminds me of the WI – OSU B10 Chanpionship game a couple of years ago where WI lost like 55 – 0 and their coach left immediately after.

Comment by Frank MD 03.21.16 @ 5:23 pm

POD maybe you can email Pitt once again and get back on that Basketball mailing list. 🙂

Comment by jrnpitt 03.21.16 @ 5:27 pm

Thought I was dead or wanted me dead ? ha

Been involved in getting someone elected President and winning North and South Carolina.

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:27 pm

Ditto POD….

As for Barnes liking Dixon….then why did he just say he wants a high energy guy who can recruit? The very antithesis of Dixon.

The sleepy duo, Potato Paul & Dixon are gone and 2 dynamic recruiters will be head coaches here. Someone pinch me….

I was listening to the FAN after the presser and Starky said Brandon Knight is very interested in the job. LOL…I almost feel off my chair. I have a better chance at the job…

Comment by Jackagain 03.21.16 @ 5:27 pm

With Sean going out in the 1st round and never getting UA to the Final 4.

He might be ripe for exiting Tuscon. Where I just flew in from this morning.

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:31 pm

Dixon’s best moment was willing an inferior Pitt squad to a double overtime come from behind victory at the Pete against WVU. He was the difference against a better team that night. He ran a clean program and gave us all dozens of great memories. I wish him success and much happiness. All that being said I couldn’t be more excited, because we needed a change. Do you think the Ollie guy from UConn would consider coming here? I think we should set our sights high. We are an inner city school in an inner city sport. We are in the best conference and have a great facility and fans. We are already paying top 20 money. I see no reason why we can’t hire a big time coach.

Comment by spiritofsection22 03.21.16 @ 5:32 pm

Syracuse should kick in to pay Jamie’s buyout. He owned the Orange.

Comment by spiritofsection22 03.21.16 @ 5:34 pm

Dixon just endorsed Knight for the job…not a joke. Now he has zero chance…(thank God)

Comment by Jackagain 03.21.16 @ 5:35 pm

Ollie would be sweet hire….and sweet revenge against UConn too.

Was just thinking…Ollie or Curley would be better here than Dixon by a mile…..in all seriousness…

Comment by Jackagain 03.21.16 @ 5:38 pm

Per Jon Rothstein of CBS.

“Pitt wants to win at all costs ” according to sources at Pitt

“Looking to make a Monumental Splash with Dixon’s replacement.”

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:40 pm

Knight would not qualify as a Pond Splash, so he has no chance.

New coach might keep him on, just because.

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 5:50 pm

Hinnish to Notre Dame. Not a good start to ’17 class

Comment by Pap76 03.21.16 @ 5:52 pm

Emel – Better be Trump and not Hillary! LOL

Sean Miller accepts by April 1.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.21.16 @ 5:53 pm

Well, I hate to bust Scott Barnes’ bubble but the reality is the reason TCU went out and got Jamie was because of me! Yes, that’s right, Pittman4ever.
You see a few years back I accompanied my wife to an education seminar in Austin, TX. There was another guy there sitting around like me and we began talking. He was a tall lanky retired Texan who’s only meaning in life was to drive a large electric train whistle on a trailer in order to blow it at every TCU game. (I’m not making this stuff up!). Anyway, we began talking college sports and he started lamenting on how bad their basketball program was. I mentioned to him that our Pitt coach was a former TCU BB player by the name of Jamie Dixon. The tall Texan knew Pitt had been very successful in Big East and he wrote Jamie’s name down and said he had a lot of PULL with the AD at TCU and that if Jamie was a TCU grad he should be coaching at TCU and not Pittsburgh.
….I’m still waiting for Scott Barnes to send me a commission for putting the deal in motion!

Comment by pittman4ever 03.21.16 @ 6:00 pm

Upitt, you could well be correct….But why do I have this feeling that if you were an Arizona fan you would be saying the following about Miller: “We need a coach that can win the big one and sweats less than a sumo wrestler in an over heated sauna”.

Comment by HbgFrank 03.21.16 @ 6:03 pm

Cruel cut coming. Just like he couldn’t manage the situation vs Villanova when the final 4 was beckoning or vs Butler when a deep run was there for the taking he will freeze and be unable to act. We’re stuck with him and the program will be sedimentary bottom of ACC. Maybe he reads blogs, maybe he knows we know how massive his weaknesses are. Please leave Jamie.

Comment by Old School Panther 03.21.16 @ 6:05 pm

Just get a top notch coach that will allow the players to play and not to micro manage. No more raging maniac as the 6th man on the court. Good day for Pitt.

Comment by JP 03.21.16 @ 6:08 pm

Hinish to ND hurts. It’s still very early so I’m sure the staff has many options but sounded like the kid was solid. On a different note heading home to the burg this weekend is there anything exciting going on downtown?

Comment by shawn 03.21.16 @ 6:11 pm

~ upitt….you should know better. lol

Having just come back from Tuscon, Pittsburgh has it all over that hayseed place.

link to phxtaco.com

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 6:14 pm

the only good thing about Adams and Hinnish going to ND was that Franklinstein hired two Central Catholic grads as assistants in the past few months, and they obviously struck out

Comment by wbb 03.21.16 @ 6:17 pm

~ Old School.

Your wishes have come true. (and alot of ours)
link to cbssports.com

Comment by Emel 03.21.16 @ 6:19 pm

I was just glad that Hinish didn’t pick the pedos.

pittman4ever….we all owe you one….

Comment by Jackagain 03.21.16 @ 6:26 pm

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