Dixon continues to prove coaching genius

Jamie Dixon is at it again. Like the wife of former president Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter,… Jamie Dixon is at it again. Like the wife of former president Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, told us, “You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.”

Dixon is extremely confident. Sure, he coaches the No. 2 basketball team in the country, he’s 82-22 since replacing Ben Howland after the 2003 season and he’s been to the Sweet 16.

But he’s made all Pitt fans aware of his ability — his ability to create a beehive-style defense that smothers opponents, his ability to convince his players that they are in the right system and his ability to win, this year as an aberration, with relatively limited offensive firepower.

How does he do it?

When a player is recruited by Pitt, he knows one thing — he will have to defend, rebound and pay his dues. In other words, a Pitt fan will rarely see a big-name recruit headed to Oakland.

Yet, somehow, Pitt keeps winning. Dixon keeps churning out defensive teams with one of the nation’s most successful runs in the last few years. He creates a Pittsburgh mindset for his team, and they buy right into it.

Dixon has proven he is tough enough to follow through. And with the 2006 recruiting class looking like another hardworking, tough-as-nails group of kids, he will keep that confidence in his ability to develop players.

The 2006 class of recruits includes five players, all of whom will enroll at Pitt in the fall of 2007. There is one recruit ranked in the Top 150 by ESPN.com, and he lives less than two miles from the Pitt campus.

DeJuan Blair, a 6-foot-7 power forward from Schenley High School, is rated 44th by Scout.com. His wingspan, rebounding ability and the combination of power and speed make him an ideal Dixon-style player.

Blair is gritty and tenacious, loves defense and might have to contribute right away. With seniors Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall graduating and freshman Austin Wallace appearing as though he’ll need another year of weights and hard work, Blair could get plenty of action right away.

The frontcourt for the Panthers will receive a massive injection of size. As the remaining post players include sophomores Sam Young and Tyrell Biggs and the young Wallace, three new players will beef up the inside presence for the 2007-08 team.

Along with Blair, 6-foot-10 junior college transfer Cassin Diggs and 6-foot-10 high school senior Gary McGhee will replace Gray and Kendall.

Diggs weighs in at 270 pounds, and the left-handed monster is expected to instantly produce, likely as a role player. He was named a National Junior College Athletic Association preseason All-American prior to the 2006-07 season.

He possesses great hands, obvious size and a nose for the pill. He almost definitely won’t start for the Panthers in his first season, but his presence on the bench will give Dixon above-average options at center.

Dixon can show us his magical development touch through his training and teaching of Diggs. The big guy only has two years of eligibility, but if Dixon’s regimen and style get to him quickly enough, Diggs can slim down and become meaner than he already is.

Pitt also added two wing players over the fall signing period.

At 6-foot-7, Darnell Dodson is the kind of player capable of taking games over. He fills stat sheets, getting buckets from deep or off the bounce. But buried in the scouting reporters of the youngster is the thought that he might become a great asset to Pitt with the right development and coaching.

In the same category of Dodson in terms of potential, 6-foot-4 shooting guard Bradley Wanamaker is ranked 104th by Scout.com. People compare Wanamaker to junior transfer Mike Cook, saying the Philadelphia native possesses a determined attitude, physical style and that Pittsburgh mentality.

Sounds like someone Dixon could develop.

So after Pitt graduates seniors Gray, Kendall, Antonio Graves and Doyle Hudson, have no fear. Dixon has the confidence in his style and the confidence in his ability to develop kids into great players.

Even without McDonald’s All-Americans or shoe companies breaking down the doors in Pittsburgh, the 41-year-old coach has Pitt at the height of its success.

The 2006 recruiting class has more than enough potential to continue the run, and we know Dixon will follow through.