FSNP: Jamie Dixon heading to Arizona State

[cojac]

good, mentions Calipari as very interested

[Draftnik]

good, mentions Calipari as very interested

I think Cal makes over $1.5M at Memphis. A mid major price tag like Sean Miller would be more in Pitt's price range.

[pfim]

good, mentions Calipari as very interested

I think Cal makes over $1.5M at Memphis. A mid major price tag like Sean Miller would be more in Pitt's price range.

They could if they wanted to. They had this same opportunity 3 years ago and didn't. Dixon is making an awful mistake, it's one thing to leave a program like Pitt for UCLA, quite another to leave for ASU, whose b-ball program is best known for point shaving and porn star cheerleaders than actual basketball.

[Goalie]

good, mentions Calipari as very interested

I think Cal makes over $1.5M at Memphis. A mid major price tag like Sean Miller would be more in Pitt's price range.

They could if they wanted to. They had this same opportunity 3 years ago and didn't. Dixon is making an awful mistake, it's one thing to leave a program like Pitt for UCLA, quite another to leave for ASU, whose b-ball program is best known for point shaving and porn star cheerleaders than actual basketball.

You think they could get Calipari to come? It seems to me that they would have to break the bank for him to get there and I can not see them doing that but I am not claiming to be an expert on what they would or would not do.

I do not understand Dixon unless he is dying to be on the West Coast. Yes, he will make more money but lets not act like he would be hurting for cash in either situation. I also do not see Arizona State as his dream job, maybe it is, then again I do not know what his dream coaching job would be. Maybe he plans on using Arizona State as another stepping stone to what he wants his final destination to be.

Listening to Ellis Cannon today he brought up a good point, if the Pitt players had not spoken so loudly for Dixon to stay, Dixon is probably still an assistant to Howland but at UCLA. He may have ended up at Arizona State anyways but something tells it probably would have been for less cash.

[pfim]

You think they could get Calipari to come? It seems to me that they would have to break the bank for him to get there and I can not see them doing that but I am not claiming to be an expert on what they would or would not do.

I do not understand Dixon unless he is dying to be on the West Coast. Yes, he will make more money but lets not act like he would be hurting for cash in either situation. I also do not see Arizona State as his dream job, maybe it is, then again I do not know what his dream coaching job would be. Maybe he plans on using Arizona State as another stepping stone to what he wants his final destination to be.

Listening to Ellis Cannon today he brought up a good point, if the Pitt players had not spoken so loudly for Dixon to stay, Dixon is probably still an assistant to Howland but at UCLA. He may have ended up at Arizona State anyways but something tells it probably would have been for less cash.

Pitt can offer him a few things he values that Memphis can't. All things being equal, he'd rather be in a big conference than CUSA, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind being in Pittsburgh.

At the same time, the feeling was not mutual 3 years ago, when he did want the Pitt job. Ellis has a short memory as no matter what the players said, Skip Prosser was the administration's first choice. Dixon was at least the second choice and Calipari did not even get a phone call, despite strong alumni support.

Honestly, I'm not sure they wouldn't make another run at Prosser, who was put off by the fact that he didn't know his boss would be (Pederson was gone, Long was not there yet) amongst other things. If they really wanted Cal (I don't think Nordenberg wants any part of him), they could make the money work.

As far as Dixon, ASU is what Pitt was 7 years ago. At best, he can make ASU what Pitt is right now. I'm not really sure what the motivation is here, I don't think it's money.

[Draftnik]

good, mentions Calipari as very interested

I think Cal makes over $1.5M at Memphis. A mid major price tag like Sean Miller would be more in Pitt's price range.

They could if they wanted to. They had this same opportunity 3 years ago and didn't. Dixon is making an awful mistake, it's one thing to leave a program like Pitt for UCLA, quite another to leave for ASU, whose b-ball program is best known for point shaving and porn star cheerleaders than actual basketball.

It would be quite a statement if Pitt paid that kind of $$$. They've never been known to do it. There must be some kind of problem behind the scenes such as lack of support from the administration. On the surface it does seem like a step down. Bill Frieder left a soon to be national champion in 89 and never did a thing there. Pittsburgh is a barren area for HS talent. I'm sure Phoenix must have more good HS players. That is the only advantage I see. Olson has a perennial power with Arizona and Howland/Romar are building strong programs at UCLA/Wash. I don't see how he could be any better than the 4th best program in the Pac 10. I guess they'll always be behind UConn and Scuse here so maybe it is the same from that perspective.

I also heard SHall wants to talk to Roehrson. Pitt could be doubly screwed if they lose their NY pipeline.

[Goalie]

Pitt can offer him a few things he values that Memphis can't. All things being equal, he'd rather be in a big conference than CUSA, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind being in Pittsburgh.

At the same time, the feeling was not mutual 3 years ago, when he did want the Pitt job. Ellis has a short memory as no matter what the players said, Skip Prosser was the administration's first choice. Dixon was at least the second choice and Calipari did not even get a phone call, despite strong alumni support.

Honestly, I'm not sure they wouldn't make another run at Prosser, who was put off by the fact that he didn't know his boss would be (Pederson was gone, Long was not there yet) amongst other things. If they really wanted Cal (I don't think Nordenberg wants any part of him), they could make the money work.

As far as Dixon, ASU is what Pitt was 7 years ago. At best, he can make ASU what Pitt is right now. I'm not really sure what the motivation is here, I don't think it's money.

I think Cannon's point was that Pitt probably never would have turned to Dixon even after Prosser said no without the players asking for it so loudly.

I think Calipari would be more inclined to jump ship to a big conference if he was having trouble attracting bigtime talent but he really does not have that problem.

Like everyone has alluded to there has to be something more to Dixon leaving Pitt than simply wanting to go to the West Coast. One argument I do not want to hear more of though is fans saying well Pitt gave him his first job he owes them something. How many people in the world would stay at their first job when an offer they wanted somewhere else came along just because it was their first job?

That all being said if Dixon goes I am not sure he is making the right decision.

[pfim]

Like everyone has alluded to there has to be something more to Dixon leaving Pitt than simply wanting to go to the West Coast. One argument I do not want to hear more of though is fans saying well Pitt gave him his first job he owes them something. How many people in the world would stay at their first job when an offer they wanted somewhere else came along just because it was their first job?

I've been having this argument with Pitt fans this entire week. Dixon got his first job, but Pitt got a coach who sells out the arena, has improved talent, been to three tournaments (with disappointing results twice, but still), and a boatload of revenue at a discounted price. It's a two way street.

The whole thing is moot now, he made the right decision (I'm not just saying that as a Pitt fan). I thought throughout the entire process that he was using ASU as leverage, which is fine.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2383591

[pfim]

It would be quite a statement if Pitt paid that kind of $$$. They've never been known to do it. There must be some kind of problem behind the scenes such as lack of support from the administration. On the surface it does seem like a step down. Bill Frieder left a soon to be national champion in 89 and never did a thing there. Pittsburgh is a barren area for HS talent. I'm sure Phoenix must have more good HS players. That is the only advantage I see. Olson has a perennial power with Arizona and Howland/Romar are building strong programs at UCLA/Wash. I don't see how he could be any better than the 4th best program in the Pac 10. I guess they'll always be behind UConn and Scuse here so maybe it is the same from that perspective.

I also heard SHall wants to talk to Roehrson. Pitt could be doubly screwed if they lose their NY pipeline.

Pittsburgh isn't barren for top talent in the next few years, there are some very high level players coming through the WPIAL, and there's only one Pitt...Antigua also recruits NYC and will be taking that over when Rohrssen leaves, whenever that is. This was all about getting more money for Dixon.

[Draftnik]

Pittsburgh isn't barren for top talent in the next few years, there are some very high level players coming through the WPIAL, and there's only one Pitt...Antigua also recruits NYC and will be taking that over when Rohrssen leaves, whenever that is. This was all about getting more money for Dixon.

I've heard of Pope and Pryor. Other than that I'm not aware of any top 50-100 type guys. For a metro area the size of Pittsburgh there is no explanation about how little talent this area generates other than the best athletes don't play hoops. It will always be a handicap. I forgot about Tim Floyd going to USC. He will elevate that program as he did at ISU. Phil Knight is probably a year away from throwing big $$$ at somebody to replace Kent, so as you say the ASU pitch was all about more $$$ unless he had a burning desire to live in Phoenix.

[pfim]

Pittsburgh isn't barren for top talent in the next few years, there are some very high level players coming through the WPIAL, and there's only one Pitt...Antigua also recruits NYC and will be taking that over when Rohrssen leaves, whenever that is. This was all about getting more money for Dixon.

I've heard of Pope and Pryor. Other than that I'm not aware of any top 50-100 type guys. For a metro area the size of Pittsburgh there is no explanation about how little talent this area generates other than the best athletes don't play hoops. It will always be a handicap. I forgot about Tim Floyd going to USC. He will elevate that program as he did at ISU. Phil Knight is probably a year away from throwing big $$$ at somebody to replace Kent, so as you say the ASU pitch was all about more $$$ unless he had a burning desire to live in Phoenix.

DJ Kennedy and Dejuan Blair from Schenley will be playing at a major conference, Pitt likes both but may not have room. Steve Sweich from EF will be a division 1 player. Relative to what Pittsburgh has been, this 2-3 year group of players is huge.

[ExPatriatePen]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06084/676716.stm

[jdev28]

Its about time Pitt shows some commitment to a coach. It shows the current players and recruits that they're committed to winning. I think this will be great for recruiting. I hope their whole staff stays put though, since some of them are being considered for head coaching jobs.

[Kicksave]

Its about time Pitt shows some commitment to a coach. It shows the current players and recruits that they're committed to winning. I think this will be great for recruiting. I hope their whole staff stays put though, since some of them are being considered for head coaching jobs.

About time? When DIDNT they show commitment. They gave Howland a fat contract and he left for more green the next year anyway. They then promoted fro within, supporting the current coaching staff. They've said all along that his future was not in question. It was the fans/media that created the rumors about him going elsewhere.