Perhaps my words sound too unequivocal and that's not my intention. But Dixon will get things back or he won't. If he needs a better staff to help get back there, that's on him.
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Perhaps my words sound too unequivocal and that's not my intention. But Dixon will get things back or he won't. If he needs a better staff to help get back there, that's on him.
Yes, I'm agreeing that this team does not appear to be coached well, but that does not mean I think it's time for Dixon to be fired.
JD is not a good recruiter. Without good assistants he will not bring this program back to where it once was.
Honestly, beside notre dame who have we beaten on the road? Because, quite frankly that's how you determine a quality team. Boston college almost beat North Carolina at home. Kansas state bear Oklahoma at home. As much as SOME people want to laud Dixon he had preyed off a weak non conference schedule and wins his home games.
Ok but I will just say this. The last 2 games there were glaring deficiencies in Jamie's in-game adjustments(not going inside more with foul happy refs) and the end of today's game. That to me is worrisome my friend.
Dixon is just a self-contradiction currently. He earned his reputation w/ 3-star guys like Wanamaker, Brown, Fields, etc. and really turning them into complete players (as much as that is possible). You compare that w/ a guy like Artis who continually refuses to exert effort on the defensive side of the ball. In years past - this guy would be gone. Now, he's the guy being the spokesman for the team to the press. What is wrong w/ this picture?
Ouch! Not good Zeke. Thanks for the reply.
A hoop team needs to be a family for it to succeed.
And I won't disagree that it's worrisome. But it's not as if Dixon doesn't know what to tell a tell to do during a game.
He's proven that he's excellent as this.
However, lately his team have not executed, and that is on him too.
I also wondered why after putting on a press that I believe resulted in a timeout and then a turnover and two easy points for Pitt, it was called off, GT looked confused, was this discussed at all?
Because you really didn't need to press after cutting the lead to 2 with 1:39 remaining. You just needed to play defense, and that actually what happened. Ga Tech missed on that possession and we had the ball with a chance to tie (or lead) with over a minute to go and Sheldon missed a three on Pitt's following possession.
Shere -- I don't think it's a good idea to get into the Jamel rumor, whether it's true or not. But a team does need to be a family to succeed. From everything I've heard, there are not disagreements among the teammates.
But there's no denying that the chemistry is not what it needs to be, whatever the reason.
I agree with your key word...disappointing. I thought this team had a chance at the beginning of the year to be pretty good....not great mind you, but pretty darned good. Obviously, that hasn't happened.
I would add a second word that comes to mind right now regarding this program...disturbing. Disturbing because we're seeing teams that simply do not get better as the season progresses. In fact, they get worse. Disturbing because our recruiting is way below what one could reasonably expect from a program in a premier conference, with great facilities, and at least some history of success. Disturbing because the program is clearly in a downward trend and it's not just this year. If Pitt were a stock, we have already crossed our 200 day moving average.
You mentioned that it's not time for Dixon to go and I agree with that for at least two reasons; first, it's not clear that anyone who would be a significant upgrade is chomping at the bit to come to Pitt. Secondly, it's a moot point because Pitt isn't about to buy out the remaining years on Dixon's contract. My biggest fear is that we simply have to sit and watch as the program slowly deteriorates while Dixon plays out his final years.
Sorry to be so grim, but nothing I'm seeing right now gives me cause for optimism. I pray that I'm completely wrong.
Cruzer
thanks for the response, I don't agree though, still down two and the press was working, I would have kept it on,but, thats why Jamie gets the big bucks.
Agree, it just seemed like the press was working and I consider that playing good defense. O well.
A greater point is that it shouldn't have come to that.
I don't know what the solution is, but this is the most disillusioned I've ever felt with the basketball program. I wasn't a Pitt fan until I graduated from HS in 2001, so no, I didn't experience the dark years, but things are not good regardless.
No, its really slipped and Pitt's perception is starting to take a hit. It can be turned around, but they really need to pull something out of a hat asap. Disappointing.
There should be a thread put out on this topic alone.
Levance Fields was the NY State player of the year and his team won the toughest high school basketball league in the country.
Brad Wanamaker did the same thing at Roman Catholic.
Sam Young did the same thing at Hargrave Military.
There is a fine line difference between a 3 star recruit and what they accomplished at the high school level, and another 3 or even 4 star recruit that accomplished much less.
You knew ahead of time these 3 players coming into the Pitt program were the real deal. And for the flack Wanamaker took as a freshmen, he by no means sucked as a freshmen or sophomore.
You look at the players we have brought in these recent years and they aren't even close to having accomplished the same thing as the 3 above in high school.
It is one of the the primary reasons people should be jacked up about Kithcart coming in. He is in line with those 3 above in terms of accomplishments entering Pitt.
Good stats vs good competition and winning State Championships mean winners.
Average stats with a average high school record with giving up 100 points per game on defense means red flag entering Pitt.
Fine line difference.
Another thing-when we are losing a very close game under a minute, we aren't able to play fast enough at the offensive end, primarily because of our PG. We take way too much time, too many guys handle the ball, and we don't get the ball to the rim where we can at least draw contact, get to the line and extend the end of the game. We just don't seem to be capable of that. This team, from the PG on down, is not built to finish a tight game, especially if we're behind.
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