Dixon Gets Tough
Pitt's Head Coach Takes the Gloves Off
By Tony DeFazio

Jamie Dixon is a good guy. The Pitt head basketball coach is also as genuine as they come - the image of Dixon kneeling next to a devastated and hurting Mike Cook after the senior tore his ACL in Madison Square Garden last season tells that story better than any column can.

But the world of college basketball isn't always pretty; at times it can be downright ugly. Sometimes the gloves have to come off.

And to that end, Dixon's critics-yes, they are out there-will tell you that Jamie's "too nice" and not "hard-nosed enough" to succeed at the highest levels, both on the hardwood and on the recruiting trail.

Blaming Dixon's shortcomings, however few, on a "nice guys finish last" persona is not a fair assessment.

Yes, the real Jamie Dixon is the same guy who held Cook's hand while his Pitt basketball career flashed before his eyes in the moments knee ligament was torn.

Yes, the real Jamie Dixon seldom-almost never-says a negative word about an opponent. Dixon seldom-almost never-criticizes his team publicly. He seldom-almost never-rips into a player on the bench.

But don't believe for a second that Dixon is "too nice."

His practices-closed to the media-have been known to be intense affairs; what Dixon won't say in public he seems to get across to his players when the doors are closed.

But it's not only behind closed doors that Dixon is willing to drop the gloves.

Recently, Dixon has shown more willingness to make the hard decisions that coaches at his level must make in order to remain at that level. The types of decisions that hurt feelings and often bring criticism.

When Dixon felt his team would need more help replacing the now-departed Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin, he went out and landed junior college guard Jermaine Dixon - even though Pitt didn't have room to add a recruit.

So Dixon made room.

Reserve forward Cassin Diggs was ushered out the door, and viola, Pitt had room to add another player. Diggs told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he didn't want to quit, but that coaches wanted him out so they could add another player.

Lancaster McCaskey High School's Lamar Patterson, a Pitt recruit, won't be finishing his career at McCaskey. With Pitt's blessing-and likely at Pitt's direction-Patterson will transfer to St. Benedict's, a prep school in Newark, N.J..

St. Benedict's just happens to be coached by Dan Hurley, who just happens to be a close friend to the Pitt staff.

Playing at St. Benedict's figures to be a major boost for Patterson's development. He'll be living in the environment that's similar to college, he'll be traveling and playing-and practicing-against elite competition. It should be a big plus for Patterson - and, of course, for Pitt.

Moving a kid from his home to a "basketball factory" - strictly for basketball reasons - is something Dixon may not have done a few years ago, but it's something that happens all the time at elite college basketball programs.

And it's another that Dixon is willing to do what needs to be done.

The challenge is walking the fine line between the genuinely "good guy" Dixon truly is, and making the tough decisions that top-level college basketball coaches must make.

It's a balancing act, to be sure-and Dixon, working without a net, is off and maneuvering across that high-wire.