Tepper: Dixon needs to change strategy to avoid early tournament exits

There’s no harder sports team to be a fan of than Pitt. Sorry, you can’t tell me otherwise.

While some teams deal in extremes, either consistently successful or consistently awful, Pitt’s two primary sports programs — football and basketball — are in a sort of limbo: They’ll often give you hope, but never break through.

This is especially the case with the men’s basketball team. There’s no doubt that head coach Jamie Dixon’s team has had tremendous regular-season success, frequently finishing near the top of the conference standings and making nine of the last 10 NCAA tournaments. But those quality regular seasons only make the disappointing postseasons more painful.

Despite consistently entering the NCAA tournament with a high seed, Pitt has only made it to two Sweet Sixteens and one Elite Eight under Dixon. That’s it.

The question, of course, is why?

First, we have to figure out what a team needs to make a long tournament run, but there’s no exact formula on how to win multiple tournament games. Many people will say you need exactly this or exactly that, but there are always exceptions. My rule, in general, is that a team needs to be efficient defensively, to be efficient offensively (or cause enough turnovers to generate more possessions to score) and to have a go-to scorer. So far, Pitt has had only one team that fits these criteria: the 2008-2009 team that featured Pitt greats DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Levance Fields. As expected, that team made it the Elite Eight.

Besides that, all other teams have suffered in one or two of those categories.

This year’s team was no different. Although the team operated efficiently on both ends of the court, it lacked a go-to scorer. Oftentimes, the offense would go stagnant and no one stepped up. Although Pitt’s offensive system changes slightly year to year, there is a constant: It’s predictable. When Pitt comes across a very good defense, chances are the Panthers will struggle. That’s where the go-to player comes in. Pitt needs someone who can get good shots consistently and make them or generate multiple looks for others when the offense is reeling.

Until Pitt finds another playmaker like that and supports him with a more-than-capable offense and defense, they’re likely not winning a championship, or even making a Final Four.

So where does the program go from here?

For the first time, I’m truly questioning Coach Dixon, who received a lengthy extension this week. He’s an excellent coach, there’s no question. But I speak for many Pitt basketball fans in saying I yearn for a championship. I’m tired of early tournament exits. Before this past decade of Pitt hoops success, which Dixon is largely responsible for, most fans would have been happy with regular-season success, despite the tournament failures.

Things are different now.

No longer is Pitt basketball a bottom-feeder program. The Panthers boast a consistent top-25 program. And top-25 programs expect to contend for championships every year.

With coach Dixon’s recent extension, he’ll now be Pitt’s coach for the next 10 years, which comes with a salary of approximately $1.6 million per season. Especially with Pitt moving to the more offensive-based Atlantic Coast Conference, I hope he slightly adapts his coaching style.

First and foremost, he needs to let his players “just play.” They need to be loose and have some more freedom and fun. If they turn the ball over or take a bad shot, Dixon can’t be there to give them a quick hook. Additionally, a faster-paced offense would be nice. Pitt has some great athletes that would thrive in such an offense, namely J.J. Moore and Durand Johnson.

Although it seems Pitt is at a bit of an impasse, all is not wrong. Actually, things are looking up — at least for next season.

The 2013-2014 Panthers will be headlined by sophomore center Steven Adams, who I expect to be a bona fide star after a year of experience. Additionally, sophomore point guard James Robinson should do an admirable job of handling the ball. On top of that, the team will feature leadership in seniors Talib Zanna and Lamar Patterson — who should be above-average starters — and one of the best benches in the conference.

One thing’s missing though: A shooting guard who can be that go-to scorer. Pitt’s hope lies in Johnson, who has the raw skills to fill the role.

Without that piece, Pitt fans will still be in purgatory, questioning the future of the program.

Write Jeremy at jat140@pitt.edu.