I have been a Pitt basketball for as long as I can remember(early 80's) and have watched the team go through the ups and downs that all programs endure at some point in time. I have had my moments of emotion-based posts ripping Dixon, the players, recruiting, etc etc, but I have always stood firm in my support of Pitt basketball. I have no true connection to the university other than I have always been a Pitt sports fan (regardless of performance).
The last few years of Pitt basketball have been a struggle as a fan. On any given night, we can donkey punch Duke and follow it up with a 15 pt loss to The Sisters of The Poor University. The polarizing performances have become all to common and like many, I have allowed the lows to impact my Saturday afternoons all too many times.
Dixon has been a great coach for the better part of his tenure at Pitt, NO ONE can deny that, but there comes a time when coaches need to realize that the simple evolution of today's basketball player require coaches to adjust their principles and philosophical approach to the game (I know, some are going to disagree with me).
Dixon has long tried to recruit players that FIT his approach to the game- the problem is, those players are few and far between. Athletic, run and gun offensive minded players, rule the game of basketball, but Dixon doesn't recruit too many of those types (1 here and there maybe, not not consistently). I truly believe that Dixon in his heart thinks the Big East mentality is enough to win in the ACC- I personally disagree.
While I would love to watch this team late into March and maybe into the 1st week of April just as much as anyone on this board, I do realize that the reality of the program is that, it's probably not going to happen on an annual basis. I am ok with that.
Pitt has some solid players, players that are good enough to compete every night in the ACC. They just need to be let lose. I remember a few years back (Woodall days) when the players were becoming very concerned with the style of play. On a particular night, Dixon let the kids play (loosen up the playbook) and the team responded with an impressive win (I wish I could recall the specifics, but i am sure many on here probably know what i am talking about). I think we have some solid recruits coming in who will do their due diligence while the impending coaching search takes place. Fortunately for us, their all signed and cant just up and leave. I think they all find their way onto campus next year.
The future is definitely cloudy and it could easily send us back into the pre-Howland days or it could be the beginning of a new and improved era. Only time will tell. I know I am willing to wait and see. Regardless, I'll still be a Pitt fan moving forward.
In conclusion, I am definitely a little down to see Dixon go, as he ran a clean program and did some great things (me made men out of boys and gave a lot of young men the opportunity to live out their dreams)- for that I commend him. I'm also excited to see how the next chapter in Pitt basketball begins.....
Cheers all!
The last few years of Pitt basketball have been a struggle as a fan. On any given night, we can donkey punch Duke and follow it up with a 15 pt loss to The Sisters of The Poor University. The polarizing performances have become all to common and like many, I have allowed the lows to impact my Saturday afternoons all too many times.
Dixon has been a great coach for the better part of his tenure at Pitt, NO ONE can deny that, but there comes a time when coaches need to realize that the simple evolution of today's basketball player require coaches to adjust their principles and philosophical approach to the game (I know, some are going to disagree with me).
Dixon has long tried to recruit players that FIT his approach to the game- the problem is, those players are few and far between. Athletic, run and gun offensive minded players, rule the game of basketball, but Dixon doesn't recruit too many of those types (1 here and there maybe, not not consistently). I truly believe that Dixon in his heart thinks the Big East mentality is enough to win in the ACC- I personally disagree.
While I would love to watch this team late into March and maybe into the 1st week of April just as much as anyone on this board, I do realize that the reality of the program is that, it's probably not going to happen on an annual basis. I am ok with that.
Pitt has some solid players, players that are good enough to compete every night in the ACC. They just need to be let lose. I remember a few years back (Woodall days) when the players were becoming very concerned with the style of play. On a particular night, Dixon let the kids play (loosen up the playbook) and the team responded with an impressive win (I wish I could recall the specifics, but i am sure many on here probably know what i am talking about). I think we have some solid recruits coming in who will do their due diligence while the impending coaching search takes place. Fortunately for us, their all signed and cant just up and leave. I think they all find their way onto campus next year.
The future is definitely cloudy and it could easily send us back into the pre-Howland days or it could be the beginning of a new and improved era. Only time will tell. I know I am willing to wait and see. Regardless, I'll still be a Pitt fan moving forward.
In conclusion, I am definitely a little down to see Dixon go, as he ran a clean program and did some great things (me made men out of boys and gave a lot of young men the opportunity to live out their dreams)- for that I commend him. I'm also excited to see how the next chapter in Pitt basketball begins.....
Cheers all!
