Men’s basketball gets Winn

Editor’s Note: This story is part of the April Fools’ issue and is not to be taken seriously…. Editor’s Note: This story is part of the April Fools’ issue and is not to be taken seriously.

Replacing Carl Krauser on next year’s Pitt men’s basketball team won’t be easy for head coach Jamie Dixon. But he’s got a pretty good idea on who he’d like as the successor.

And it’s not freshman guard Levance Fields.

During a press conference held inside the Petersen Events Center yesterday, Dixon expressed his interest in recruiting Pitt women’s basketball sensation Mallorie Winn.

The announcement shocked those in attendance, but he quickly provided his reasoning behind the decision.

“She’s a great player,” he told all the reporters in attendance. “There’s something wrong with you if you wouldn’t want her running the point on your team.”

Winn, who transferred to Pitt from Georgia Tech with women’s head coach Agnus Berenato, helped lead her team to the WNIT Final Four this past season, averaging 15.8 points and 3.9 assists per game.

Along with center Marcedes Walker, Winn is one of the players the women’s basketball team can’t afford to lose.

So convincing Berenato to let Winn switch from the women’s side to the men’s won’t be easy for Dixon. Though he is confident he’ll be able to work out a deal with the third-year head coach.

“I’m willing to make a trade,” he said, “but Agnus seemed reluctant at first.”

When questioned later, after given some time to think, Berenato responded, “I’m open for discussion, but Mal isn’t going to come cheap. I’m expecting at least Fields and future recruit coming my way in exchange.”

The loss of Krauser’s team leadership is what Dixon is most worried about. For the past three years, Krauser anointed himself as the team’s vocal leader on and off the court — a role Winn currently holds for the women’s team.

Winn also has the type of experience Dixon needs. With her trip to the WNIT Final Four, she made it further in a national tournament than Dixon or any other Pitt men’s player or coach in recent memory.

“So you see what I’m saying,” Dixon asked the reporters. “It makes just too much sense for this not to work.”

Having previously played at Georgia Tech in the ACC, which features three teams in this year’s women’s NCAA Final Four, Winn isn’t too concerned about transitioning to the men’s Big East, which failed to represent itself in the men’s Final Four.

“I don’t see how it could be any tougher,” Winn said. “I mean, Ivory Latta [UNC women’s point guard] has got to be up there with Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Marcus Williams and the rest of the great guards in the men’s Big East.

“I think I could definitely hold my own,” Winn said.

Dixon added that he’d like to have a deal done within the next week, so Winn could familiarize herself with Dixon’s offense and the rest of the team.

Further speculation bounced around on numerous Web sites after the announcement. One quoted an anonymous source close to the University as saying, “Berenato will hold out until she gets what she wants. And she wants a lot in return.”

Word also leaked that the discussions were causing turmoil between the two coaches and Athletic Director Jeff Long said he wanted this to just be over as soon as possible.

“I love our coaches,” Long said, “but I just hate to see them not coming to an agreement on a player.”

Whatever may happen between the two, Berenato is expecting a lot of her team next season. And a trip to Pitt’s first ever women’s NCAA Tournament is the top goal on the list.

“If we lose Mal, OK,” she said. “We’ll be getting something back, and we still have Tay-Tay [Shavonte Zellous].”