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Sports TwitterPitt coach waffles on benefits of playing at UD
Dixon, a WSU coaching finalist in 2003, doubts tough road games help at tourney time, but he respects Flyers' loyal fans.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
DAYTON — Pittsburgh has been more willing than most upper-echelon Big East teams to venture into opposing arenas during nonleague play, but fifth-year coach Jamie Dixon wonders whether his team might be better off with a schedule that's not so daring.
The sixth-ranked Panthers will put their undefeated record on the line at Dayton tonight, a game reportedly arranged by former Pitt AD and Kettering native Jeff Long before he left to take the AD job at Arkansas.
Extras
Asked if his team draws any benefit at NCAA tournament time by playing an Atlantic-10 foe on the road, Dixon said in a phone interview: "I go back and forth on that. Our conference is tough with 18 games in January and February. Does a road game in November or December have as much effect as 18 in January and February? I think you can weigh those against each other.
"But I look at it more as a game against a quality opponent in a historically well-known arena. Any place that can host the (NCAA) play-in game six straight years speaks volumes about the city and the arena — especially when you have NCAA tournament games being played in front of empty seats."
While maybe not as skilled as the Panthers, the Flyers, who will be playing before a capacity crowd at UD Arena, do have a similar style. Both teams rely more on brute strength and competitive fire than finesse.
"I think that stands out — how physical they are," Dixon said. "When you watch them, they play with a purpose. They bang cutters, they're physical on their drives and they really defend."
UD is second in the 14-team A-10 in scoring defense, giving up 60.5 points per game, while Pitt is third among 16 schools in the Big East with a 59.1 average.
Dixon, who has a 115-30 career record and is among the top three active coaches nationally in winning percentage, was one of two finalists for the Wright State opening in 2003, a job that went to Paul Biancardi.
But Dixon said he gained lasting friends through that process, and he has no reason to look back.
After all, his current gig is working out rather well.
Next game
Who: Pittsburgh (11-0) at Dayton (10-1)
When: 8 p.m. today
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
