Weighing everything.... I'm ok if he stays or if he goes

[UPitt '89]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

 

[BFo8]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

I am 100% in agreement with you on this.

I think most rational people probably feel pretty much the same way.

 

[PittPoker]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

I think you are missing the big picture here. Yes, admirable man, no cheating, kids graduate...but is that what this is all about? The game friday night was difficult to watch, that team, is better than what they showed. Dixon is not going to bring this program to the next level. I am surprised that you are still okay with him staying. It's like you are ready to accept mediocrity. If he stays, what will change next year? .500 in the ACC, struggle to get into the NCAA tourney, and then one and done if they get in. Stop looking at the past and look at the future. He did do well, but that was a long time ago...The players are not responding well to his coaching as it shows its ugly face on the court time and time again. Yes Dixon is a good man, class act, kids graduate...but as a fan, I want more from a coach who makes the kind of money that he does. Wouldn't you agree?

 

[FourPanthers]

I think you are missing the big picture here. Yes, admirable man, no cheating, kids graduate...but is that what this is all about? The game friday night was difficult to watch, that team, is better than what they showed. Dixon is not going to bring this program to the next level. I am surprised that you are still okay with him staying. It's like you are ready to accept mediocrity. If he stays, what will change next year? .500 in the ACC, struggle to get into the NCAA tourney, and then one and done if they get in. Stop looking at the past and look at the future. He did do well, but that was a long time ago...The players are not responding well to his coaching as it shows its ugly face on the court time and time again. Yes Dixon is a good man, class act, kids graduate...but as a fan, I want more from a coach who makes the kind of money that he does. Wouldn't you agree?

Half the teams that played Friday lost. Every fan thinks their team shouldn't have lost. That doesn't mean you blow up the program. Everybody outside of Pitt fans think we are insane for wanting Jamie to leave.

 

[KiwiJeff]

I think you are missing the big picture here. Yes, admirable man, no cheating, kids graduate...but is that what this is all about? The game friday night was difficult to watch, that team, is better than what they showed. Dixon is not going to bring this program to the next level. I am surprised that you are still okay with him staying. It's like you are ready to accept mediocrity. If he stays, what will change next year? .500 in the ACC, struggle to get into the NCAA tourney, and then one and done if they get in. Stop looking at the past and look at the future. He did do well, but that was a long time ago...The players are not responding well to his coaching as it shows its ugly face on the court time and time again. Yes Dixon is a good man, class act, kids graduate...but as a fan, I want more from a coach who makes the kind of money that he does. Wouldn't you agree?

Making the tourney 11-13 years is not mediocre. That is a false statement.

 

[paulbl99]

He should stay but if he leaves could it be:
He did not want to go to the ACC , really dislikes the ACC and wants no part of the ACC in his future

Or

Barnes has had some frank discussions with him which have not sat well.
Never had that with SP and wants out of here on account of it

 

[bobfree]

Half the teams that played Friday lost. Every fan thinks their team shouldn't have lost. That doesn't mean you blow up the program. Everybody outside of Pitt fans think we are insane for wanting Jamie to leave.

Bet you did a real thorough poll on that. I've seen some unlv and tcu fans not exactly thrilled to see his name linked

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Making the tourney 11-13 years is not mediocre. That is a false statement.

That's a great accomplishment but its almost the same as going 7-5 or 8-4 on the football side.

I dont care that there are 351 teams. There are only 10 multi bid leagues. 45 or so bids come from those leagues. So, 45 out of 121 and that includes the MW, WCC, A10, and American. Still, a great accomplishment but all it requires is you be a little better than average.

 

[storrsroars]

Half the teams that played Friday lost. Every fan thinks their team shouldn't have lost. That doesn't mean you blow up the program. Everybody outside of Pitt fans think we are insane for wanting Jamie to leave.

Programs that are below Pitt would certainly think you're crazy. But for some of those above, maybe not so much.

At this point in time, Dixon is kind of like Mick Cronin. Recruits 3-stars, gets them to perform well within the system, gets to the Dance, doesn't coach a pretty game - in fact it can be quite ugly.

Given the conference, the facilities, the fan base, Pitt should expect more from Dixon (or any hoops coach).

As a UConn guy and an outsider - but one who follows Pitt because I live here - I've seen what Pitt can be and most UConn fans consider the Blair era as Pitt being our most challenging opponent in conference (until Louisville joined), yet one that consistently underachieved in the tourney. And now you're merely at, "Same ol' Pitt" standards.

You guys are blessed in the fact that all you need to do is finish .500 in conference and win 20 games and you're pretty much assured of getting into the Dance most every year. But if you're going to go out in the first weekend every time, what's the point?

There should be an expectation to finish at least in top 4 in the ACC and get in the 3-6 line in the tourney at least 5-7 times each decade. You're likely not going to become UNC or Duke, but the best of the rest of the field shouldn't be out of reach.

I'll add that making the tourney every year is OK if you're a high mid-major like the Zags or even Cincy. But it's also OK if you miss every 3 years while you're recruiting high with an aim for a deep run in every class or two. And Pitt simply isn't recruiting to win, they're recruiting to remain "above average".

Given what recruits see of Dixon and Pitt's style of play, I don't know if Dixon is capable of doing better in recruiting at this point.

 

[PantherO]

Making the tourney 11-13 years is not mediocre. That is a false statement.

The goal should not be just making the tournament. It should be making a run. Every year there are teams that are lower seeds that make a run. This program under Jamie never does. Other than the year we lost to Villanova(as a 1), we never made a run, and that year still ended prematurely.

Look, I don't know if this program would be better or worse without Jamie, but what it currently is should not be acceptable to anyone. We are an average Power 5 team with below average tournament results. Since Pitt put all the money into the Pete, then they have to do better than this.

 

[PittPoker]

The goal should not be just making the tournament. It should be making a run. Every year there are teams that are lower seeds that make a run. This program under Jamie never does. Other than the year we lost to Villanova(as a 1), we never made a run, and that year still ended prematurely.

Look, I don't know if this program would be better or worse without Jamie, but what it currently is should not be acceptable to anyone. We are an average Power 5 team with below average tournament results. Since Pitt put all the money into the Pete, then they have to do better than this.

Totally agree. Jamie has a bad postseason record and his teams for the most part have all underperformed. Add to that what has happened the past 5 years and really no end in sight and it is not upsetting at all if Dixon leaves.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

Can I clap? Bravo. Bravo. I feel the same way, but in saying what you are saying, you are saying what I am saying. Bye. This has grown stale. I am not even sure Dixon may leave for more money. I am thinking Jamie isn't happy anymore and this is a new administration, maybe they all feel this would be a neat time to make a change.

I guess I am saying since it has gotten to this point, no I am not fine with him staying. He is obviously thinking about leaving, and leaving seems to be more motivation than just getting a raise. For the love of god, please do not give him a raise or an extension. Enough is enough. There are just as good if not better coaches out there.

 

[Jeffburgh]

Programs that are below Pitt would certainly think you're crazy. But for some of those above, maybe not so much.

At this point in time, Dixon is kind of like Mick Cronin. Recruits 3-stars, gets them to perform well within the system, gets to the Dance, doesn't coach a pretty game - in fact it can be quite ugly.

Given the conference, the facilities, the fan base, Pitt should expect more from Dixon (or any hoops coach).

As a UConn guy and an outsider - but one who follows Pitt because I live here - I've seen what Pitt can be and most UConn fans consider the Blair era as Pitt being our most challenging opponent in conference (until Louisville joined), yet one that consistently underachieved in the tourney. And now you're merely at, "Same ol' Pitt" standards.

You guys are blessed in the fact that all you need to do is finish .500 in conference and win 20 games and you're pretty much assured of getting into the Dance most every year. But if you're going to go out in the first weekend every time, what's the point?

There should be an expectation to finish at least in top 4 in the ACC and get in the 3-6 line in the tourney at least 5-7 times each decade. You're likely not going to become UNC or Duke, but the best of the rest of the field shouldn't be out of reach.

I'll add that making the tourney every year is OK if you're a high mid-major like the Zags or even Cincy. But it's also OK if you miss every 3 years while you're recruiting high with an aim for a deep run in every class or two. And Pitt simply isn't recruiting to win, they're recruiting to remain "above average".

Given what recruits see of Dixon and Pitt's style of play, I don't know if Dixon is capable of doing better in recruiting at this point.

Tremendously good post from an objective view.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

No it's not. It's really not. That is really dumber than most of what you post. You clearly didn't think that through.

Try again Kiwi. For Pitt to make the tournament, we need to finish in the Top 45........out of 121. What exactly dont you agree with? That's absolutely true. We arent competing with Morgan State and Southern for bids.

 

[Delpanther]

Going into this season I was beginning to get antsy about Dixon but after friday night, I'm done with him. As a result of this latest in a long line of orchestrated flirtations with other schools, he deserves to be fired but we know he won't because of the length of his contract. But all that aside, this guy's delusional if he thinks he can once again come to Pitt to sweeten his package after the egg he laid friday night and in light of the decline in the program the last 5 years. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he and his agent are rational which to me says he's definitely gone. He can't believe things will ever be the same with the fanbase and the administration after this latest stunt.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Going into this season I was beginning to get antsy about Dixon but after friday night, I'm done with him. As a result of this latest in a long line of orchestrated flirtations with other schools, he deserves to be fired but we know he won't because of the length of his contract. But all that aside, this guy's delusional if he thinks he can once again come to Pitt to sweeten his package after the egg he laid friday night and in light of the decline in the program the last 5 years. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he and his agent are rational which to me says he's definitely gone. He can't believe things will ever be the same with the fanbase and the administration after this latest stunt.

The funny thing is that if Dixon leaves a pretty good job at Pitt for possibly the worst P5 job in TCU because he went to school there and knows the AD, people will continue to believe Miller leaving AZ for Pitt is some kind of fantasy. AZ and Pitt are much closer in the bball pecking order than Pitt and TCU. And Miller not only went here, he is from here, his wife is from here and a Pitt alum, and his parents still live here. For the right price, we get him.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Jamie had the best record in the Big East Conference when he was there. That meant we were beating Syracuse, UConn, Nova, Marquette, L'ville, Georgetown, etc...with regularity. More than they were beating us. Because of this, we were also going to the NCAA's every year, going deep in the BET, and at least winning a couple of games in the NCAA (Sweet 16).

Jamie is .500 in the ACC. We have not played past the first weekend since Dejuan Blair was here. We don't make the NCAA's every year.

If you were tracking this mathematically, a chart, there is an obvious step down, a trend down, where even the mean has moved from 26-28 wins and a Sweet 16 to 22 wins and a first rd NCAA exit.

There is nothing that indicates Jamie has an ability to turn this around. In fact, when this season started anew (meaning the NCAA's) Jamie showed he is a panicked coach and coached his team to a completely outlier of a performance where they yes, "played good defense", but appeared slow, passive, confused and tight, and lost to a Wisky team who was equally bad. Now you can take this game and dismiss it as "ONE OF THOSE DAYS" and point to the other upsets, but when you are laughing at the Millers, or Xavier, or Michigan State, let's not forget that they have had real success recently and this "ONE OF THOSE DAYS" was merely a continuum of March tournament basketball ala Dixon style.

The Storrsfan (UConn guy) was right. We should expect more. We should expect better. It doesn't matter that Pitt stunk in the 60's and 70's. In the 90's. That is irrelevant. Jamie's first 7 years here was fantastic. It was fun. But things change. Dan Bylsma won a Stanley Cup in 2009, that doesn't give him a lifetime pass, even with some ubersuccessful regular seasons. This happens in coaching in all sports, sometimes, at some point, the relationship reaches a point where it ends.

Look at the positive in this. "Jamie isn't going anywhere" crowd mostly says this because of the buyout clause. If that can be bridged and TCU is willing to go there, then guess what, there are no barriers. I think it is time to embrace the opportunity to change. Even for the most ardent of fans, the most avid of dribblers on here, wouldn't you be excited about a possible change? Something new? Sure it could be the next Ralph Williard. But what if it is the next Tony Bennett?

 

[KiwiJeff]

The goal should not be just making the tournament. It should be making a run. Every year there are teams that are lower seeds that make a run. This program under Jamie never does. Other than the year we lost to Villanova(as a 1), we never made a run, and that year still ended prematurely.

Look, I don't know if this program would be better or worse without Jamie, but what it currently is should not be acceptable to anyone. We are an average Power 5 team with below average tournament results. Since Pitt put all the money into the Pete, then they have to do better than this.

You think the team has a goal not to go far? Who said it was acceptable? But a medicore team does not make the tourney 11-13 years, that was my point. And to-a this, there is-a no debate!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

You think the team has a goal not to go far? Who said it was acceptable? But a medicore team does not make the tourney 11-13 years, that was my point. And to-a this, there is-a no debate!

There' always a debate until there's just one person left on the earth! Even then some of the people posting here could still have a debate.
I thought most of you were calling Cuse mediocre??? They made the tournament and sweet 16.

 

[PantherO]

You think the team has a goal not to go far? Who said it was acceptable? But a medicore team does not make the tourney 11-13 years, that was my point. And to-a this, there is-a no debate!

So you think 9-9 in conference and losing to the only P5 team you played in non conference is NOT mediocre? The last 5 years have been the definition of mediocre. And he underachieved in the tournament when he did get a one seed. There is NO debate for that!

 

[KiwiJeff]

There' always a debate until there's just one person left on the earth! Even then some of the people posting here could still have a debate.
I thought most of you were calling Cuse mediocre??? They made the tournament and sweet 16.

Who is most of you, and why addressing it to me? You post here a lot too, maybe you are part of most of you? So why did YOU think Syracuse is mediocre. Huh? Huhhhhhh?

Clearly, Middle Tennessee State is one of the best 32 teams in the country, right?

 

[PantherO]

You picked 1 data point. I picked 13. I suggest getting a dictionary that defines what mediocre means. The statement I am refuting is that 11-13 is mediocre. It is not. You keep wanting me to be saying something that supports your point. I have not, and am not. And you clearly are not a Seinfeld fan, so why am I even talking to you?

Serenity Now!

Actually I picked 5. You can look at the combined conference record and NCAA tournament results and for that time period and say MEDIOCRE!

And yes, you are going to pick a time frame that supports your argument. So you pick 13.

If we go back and say over the last 36 years, we can conclude that PSU is relevant in football with 2 National Championships. At some point you have to look at the most recent history. There is a reason it is the past.

What has Pitt Basketball achieved in the last 5 years to proclaim it is not Mediocre?

Looking at Statistics is like looking at the Sun. You don't want to look at is too long. You just want to glance at it, get an idea, and then look away.

 

[KiwiJeff]

Serenity Now!

Actually I picked 5. You can look at the combined conference record and NCAA tournament results and for that time period and say MEDIOCRE!

And yes, you are going to pick a time frame that supports your argument. So you pick 13.

If we go back and say over the last 36 years, we can conclude that PSU is relevant in football with 2 National Championships. At some point you have to look at the most recent history. There is a reason it is the past.

What has Pitt Basketball achieved in the last 5 years to proclaim it is not Mediocre?

Looking at Statistics is like looking at the Sun. You don't want to look at is too long. You just want to glance at it, get an idea, and then look away.

Much like cleavage.

 

[PantherO]

Much like cleavage.

That was in response to your Seinfeld fan comment. You can challenge my Basketball opinion all you want, but please don't attack my Seinfeld fandom.

 

[steel_curtain]

Jamie had the best record in the Big East Conference when he was there. That meant we were beating Syracuse, UConn, Nova, Marquette, L'ville, Georgetown, etc...with regularity. More than they were beating us. Because of this, we were also going to the NCAA's every year, going deep in the BET, and at least winning a couple of games in the NCAA (Sweet 16).

Jamie is .500 in the ACC. We have not played past the first weekend since Dejuan Blair was here. We don't make the NCAA's every year.

If you were tracking this mathematically, a chart, there is an obvious step down, a trend down, where even the mean has moved from 26-28 wins and a Sweet 16 to 22 wins and a first rd NCAA exit.

There is nothing that indicates Jamie has an ability to turn this around. In fact, when this season started anew (meaning the NCAA's) Jamie showed he is a panicked coach and coached his team to a completely outlier of a performance where they yes, "played good defense", but appeared slow, passive, confused and tight, and lost to a Wisky team who was equally bad. Now you can take this game and dismiss it as "ONE OF THOSE DAYS" and point to the other upsets, but when you are laughing at the Millers, or Xavier, or Michigan State, let's not forget that they have had real success recently and this "ONE OF THOSE DAYS" was merely a continuum of March tournament basketball ala Dixon style.

The Storrsfan (UConn guy) was right. We should expect more. We should expect better. It doesn't matter that Pitt stunk in the 60's and 70's. In the 90's. That is irrelevant. Jamie's first 7 years here was fantastic. It was fun. But things change. Dan Bylsma won a Stanley Cup in 2009, that doesn't give him a lifetime pass, even with some ubersuccessful regular seasons. This happens in coaching in all sports, sometimes, at some point, the relationship reaches a point where it ends.

Look at the positive in this. "Jamie isn't going anywhere" crowd mostly says this because of the buyout clause. If that can be bridged and TCU is willing to go there, then guess what, there are no barriers. I think it is time to embrace the opportunity to change. Even for the most ardent of fans, the most avid of dribblers on here, wouldn't you be excited about a possible change? Something new? Sure it could be the next Ralph Williard. But what if it is the next Tony Bennett?

-FINALLY. You guys are starting to see the light. FINALLY. Pitt EXPECTS and DEMANDS more.

 

[KiwiJeff]

-FINALLY. You guys are starting to see the light. FINALLY. Pitt EXPECTS and DEMANDS more.

AND MORE SEINFELD QUOTES!

 

[FreeportPanther]

Well, in order to make a "run" in the tourament, you first have to Get there!
Once you get in, anything can happen.
Just look at how things are playing out.....Pitt needed to make a layup, or any of a number of wide open looks to advance. Sometimes you just need some luck.

Wisconsin looked like dog shit against us, and is now on the verge of making it to the Elite 8.

Gonzaga, a team we hung with, and many think we would have beat early on is also in the Sweet 16.

Syracuse, a team we beat 3 times this year is in the Sweet 16 and needs to beat said Gonzaga team to advance.

A lot has to do with matchups, and how the tourament/seeding plays out. Upsets create opportunities for less regarded teams.

Who saw MSU, KY, and a lot of other good teams getting upset? A lot of other teams were a buzzer beater away from going home.

This tournament is fun to watch, but it is a total crap shoot. That's why getting in is so important. Once in, anything can happen.

If it was so easy to predict success, why is everyone's brackets so blown up? How many actually predict the Champion? It isn't close to 100%.

Pitt under Dixon is a good, but not great program. He needs some better players, some kids who are basketball smart, who have the desire to improve. He used to get these kids regularly, but has struck out the past couple of years. That's all we really need to go back to being like Virginia. If we could do that, that would be pretty decent.

 

[steel_curtain]

Well, in order to make a "run" in the tourament, you first have to Get there!
Once you get in, anything can happen.
Just look at how things are playing out.....Pitt needed to make a layup, or any of a number of wide open looks to advance. Sometimes you just need some luck.

Wisconsin looked like dog shit against us, and is now on the verge of making it to the Elite 8.

Gonzaga, a team we hung with, and many think we would have beat early on is also in the Sweet 16.

Syracuse, a team we beat 3 times this year is in the Sweet 16 and needs to beat said Gonzaga team to advance.

A lot has to do with matchups, and how the tourament/seeding plays out. Upsets create opportunities for less regarded teams.

Who saw MSU, KY, and a lot of other good teams getting upset? A lot of other teams were a buzzer beater away from going home.

This tournament is fun to watch, but it is a total crap shoot. That's why getting in is so important. Once in, anything can happen.

If it was so easy to predict success, why is everyone's brackets so blown up? How many actually predict the Champion? It isn't close to 100%.

Pitt under Dixon is a good, but not great program. He needs some better players, some kids who are basketball smart, who have the desire to improve. He used to get these kids regularly, but has struck out the past couple of years. That's all we really need to go back to being like Virginia. If we could do that, that would be pretty decent.

-Pitt is the biggest underperformer in the NCAA Tournament since 2001 per seed line. 15 years worth of data, we are dead last in division 1 basketball in Ncaa Tournament appearance per seed line. Ill let that sink in for a moment. Luck does happen. You dont get unlucky 15 years in a row.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Serenity Now!

Actually I picked 5. You can look at the combined conference record and NCAA tournament results and for that time period and say MEDIOCRE!

And yes, you are going to pick a time frame that supports your argument. So you pick 13.

If we go back and say over the last 36 years, we can conclude that PSU is relevant in football with 2 National Championships. At some point you have to look at the most recent history. There is a reason it is the past.

What has Pitt Basketball achieved in the last 5 years to proclaim it is not Mediocre?

Looking at Statistics is like looking at the Sun. You don't want to look at is too long. You just want to glance at it, get an idea, and then look away.

2011-2012 was an aberration (you can toss it from the equation mostly) due mainly to an injury destroyed backcourt (Sagarin #59) but also due to having no rim defender.

Finished as the Sagarin #11 team in 2012-2013 and the Sagarin #20 team in 2023-2014. Both finishes were fully consistent with Pitt's average finishes prior to the last 5 years and both were due to having a good to respectable rim defender (Adams; RS Sr Zanna, rspectively).

2014-2015 was bad--again due to no rim defender. (Sagarin #79).

This year was actually a slight improvement (Sagarin #38) but again held back by having no rim defender (Maia and Ododa only helped a tiny bit--and mostly against weaker opponents).

So, IMO, it is very very clear that the realistic criticism of the Past 5 years is the failure to be able to recruit a decent rim defender.

If Dixon stays, that will be the main obstacle again next year unless a combo of Nix + Manigault combined yields that rim defender/rebounder needed; or, somehow a decent one is found with that last open ship.

If Dixon goes, the new guy won't fix anything unless he arrives with that rim defender in his back pocket.

 

[FreeportPanther]

-Pitt is the biggest underperformer in the NCAA Tournament since 2001 per seed line. 15 years worth of data, we are dead last in division 1 basketball in Ncaa Tournament appearance per seed line. Ill let that sink in for a moment. Luck does happen. You dont get unlucky 15 years in a row.

Link?

 

[Bradlib Zannamaker]

Making the tourney 11-13 years is not mediocre. That is a false statement.

68 teams make the tourney. It isn't some great honor to be included in the field.

 

[KiwiJeff]

68 teams make the tourney. It isn't some great honor to be included in the field.

Don't tell me. Tell the teams that don't make it 11-13 years.

 

[FreeportPanther]

68 teams make the tourney. It isn't some great honor to be included in the field.

Aren't there more like 36 At large bids? 68 includes automatic qualifiers from some pretty mediocre/bad conferences. The kind of teams Dixon gets criticized for scheduling OOC!

 

[UPitt '89]

68 teams make the tourney. It isn't some great honor to be included in the field.

That's misleading.

only 36 teams each year are at-large. Only one auto-bid is available to Pitt.

That means only 37 of those 68 spots are available to Pitt. If you don't win the ACC, you have to be one of the best 36 at-larges.

Since about 30-32 of those at-larges typically go to a Power Conference team.... We're competing with about 120 teams for about 30 spots.

People who throw out the "68" number are clueless, or disingenuous. It's not the "best 68 out of 351". It is the best "30-35 out of 120-130 after the auto-bids are won."

 

[Pittx9]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

I want him to stay, but I think what you said has to be the scenario on Pitt's end. Jamie is great, but has not earned another raise. If he leaves I hope they make a smart hire, but there is no way they can get into a bidding war this time. If Jamie wants to stay, fantastic. If not, well it might suck but at a certain point Pitt can not let him hold them hostage.

 

[pittbb80]

But if he stays, I want it to be with his current contract. *NO* raise. None. He hasn't earned another raise.

And if I'm Barnes, I put another condition on him staying. Shake up the staff. What you have isn't working on the recruiting trail.

If TCU makes him an offer than he likes, and he comes back to Pitt asking for more.... If I'm Barnes I say no. Your contract is your contract this time. Get Pitt back up to where we think they should be, and we'll talk raise next year.

And if that's not good enough, Jamie can decide to leave.

I'm ok with either result. If he stays, I'm support him. If he leaves, I'll wish him luck and support the new guy.

Agree with this but given JD bristled at having his independence limited by Long, I doubt he agrees to the first part. I think hes gone. I surely hope Barnes doesn't give in and rearrange his contract unless it is for a far shorter period such that if JD doesn't get things changed, it makes it easier for him to go in another direction. Yeah hed have to pay him more up front but that could be something that works out for both parties. JD gets more money and Pitt gets out from under a long term contract.

 

[PittPanthers90]

Half the teams that played Friday lost. Every fan thinks their team shouldn't have lost. That doesn't mean you blow up the program. Everybody outside of Pitt fans think we are insane for wanting Jamie to leave.

Of those teams that lost, most didn't lose to a team that played like DOG CRAP!
Losing is one thing, especially as a lower seed. Losing to a team that played as bad as Wisky did, that is a totally different thing!