http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11316/1189429-175.stm

(11-15-2011 12:12 AM)Shannon Panther Wrote:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11316/1189429-175.stm

Dixon is to Pittsburgh, what Boeheim is to Syracuse. He'll put you on the map. I honestly don't know if that's the greatest comparison, as Syracuse was pretty good before Boeheim took over as coach, but you get what I'm saying.

Syracuse and Pitt both bringing in strong classes next year. Likewise Maryland, Wake Forest, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech all have good classes it looks like. Can't wait to start competing in the ACC.

What Dixon has accomplished this far is phenomenal. He is getting better talent and with that talent comes ego and a certain sense of entitlement. It will be interesting to me to see how Jamie handles that. If he can get these kids to ease back on the ego and play together like his teams usually do, He could definitely be something special.

(11-15-2011 12:34 AM)OrangeCrush22 Wrote:  

(11-15-2011 12:12 AM)Shannon Panther Wrote:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11316/1189429-175.stm

Dixon is to Pittsburgh, what Boeheim is to Syracuse. He'll put you on the map. I honestly don't know if that's the greatest comparison, as Syracuse was pretty good before Boeheim took over as coach, but you get what I'm saying.

Syracuse and Pitt both bringing in strong classes next year. Likewise Maryland, Wake Forest, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech all have good classes it looks like. Can't wait to start competing in the ACC.

Your analogy may be accurate. Prior to Dixon, Pitt had Ben Howland, and it was Howland that originally put Pitt into the category of a good program. Dixon was an assistant to Howland before taking over. Another interesting analogy for Howland/Dixon coaching combo to me is Majors/Sherrill. Howland was a lot like Majors by taking over a listless BB program and turning it into a national power. Howland never won a title like Majors did, so that part of the analogy is not accurate 100%. But I thought Sherrill was a better coach than Majors and helped to take Pitt football a little further sans a title. Dixon, IMO, is a better coach than Ben Howland and he has taken Pitt further than when Howland left. Hopefully, Dixon stays long term and doesn't leave like Sherrill did. I believe Dixon will be a lifer though.

I can't imagine Dixon would want to leave Pitt. He's got great facilities and the support of the athletic department behind him. At the current time he's not playing second fiddle to anyone. There are only a few jobs in the country, I think, that would be better than the Pitt job at the current time. The coaches in those positions aren't likely to leave them, either.

I also don't think he'll leave. Pittsburgh is a member of the Big East, as of now, the best basketball conference. With the move to the ACC, Pitt will have additional revenue to entice Dixon to stay. Pitt will also still be competing in the top basketball conference. Every year he'll get to coach against Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse 3 programs in the top 5 of all time wins. If that's not enough to keep a coach of his stature hungry, then nothing will. Pitt's arena has one of the best home court advantages in the country, etc, etc.