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Q: I was reading a story about the Arizona State job coming open at the end of the season. In the story it said Jamie Dixon is a West Coast guy and if offered the job would take it. It also says in this story that if Dixon goes, Barry Rohrssen would then be in line for the Pitt opening. Do you think Pitt will lock up Dixon or do you think they will wait and see what happens?
Thomas Woika of DuBois, Pa.
Fittipaldo: I think you're referring to a blurb Seth Davis from SI.com wrote a couple of weeks back, Thomas. Apparently, this is more than an Internet rumor. Some very influential people in the Big East are behind the speculation. That doesn't mean it's going to come true, but it shouldn't be dismissed, either.
There are two ways of looking at this coaching carousel rumor. The first is that the people in the Big East who floated this rumor have been losing to Dixon on a regular basis and wouldn't mind seeing him coach somewhere else. And it certainly doesn't hurt their program if Pitt's coaching situation seems tenuous. Remember, there are several high-profile coaches who are trying to snag Herb Pope, the Aliquippa High School star, away from Pitt. The second is that coaches talk to agents and agents talk to other coaches and coaches talk to other coaches. Maybe Dixon thinks it's good to have his name floated. After all, any leverage in a contract negotiation is good leverage. We shall see in a matter of weeks because Arizona State's current coach Rob Evans should be fired as soon as the season ends.
As for Pitt extending Dixon's contract, school officials in the past have waited until after the season do those types of things. I think you'll see things move quickly as soon as the season ends. Check out Ron Cook's column today. He addresses Dixon's future.
Q: What, if anything, can Pitt do to adapt to the style of officiating they will encounter in the NCAA tournament? The Big East, in general, and Pitt, in particular, have reputations for being physical. When they play in the tournament they get officials from other conferences who don't call the game the way the players are used to having it called. I see big problems for Pitt if Gray gets into foul trouble.
John Morrison of Ogdensburg, N.Y.
Fittipaldo: Pitt should not have any problem adapting to tighter officiating in the NCAA tournament because the Panthers have been playing with foul trouble all season. Center Aaron Gray and guard Carl Krauser have been the two players in foul trouble the most. Gray picked up two early fouls against Marquette and had to sit on the bench for 13 minutes in the first half. Not surprisingly, Pitt trailed, 44-41, at halftime. I think Pitt can play without Krauser more efficiently than without Gray. Pitt has plenty of good guards to step in when Krauser gets into foul trouble, but coach Jamie Dixon does not have a quality backup at center. Tyrell Biggs has been filling that role this season, but he is a power forward playing out of position and it shows. If Pitt is going to have any success in the Big East and NCAA tournaments, Gray is going to have to stay out of foul trouble.
Q: What teams would be the toughest matchups for Pitt in the Big East and NCAA tournaments? I have to think Villanova would be a nightmare for Pitt. They seem to have trouble against teams with quick guards.
Jason Ferrante of Monroeville
Fittipaldo: Based on what I have seen this season I would say Villanova, Marquette and St. John's would be teams Pitt would like to avoid at the Big East tournament. Pitt matches up well with just about any other team in the Big East. You're right, Jason, Pitt does have trouble against teams with athletic guards. Dominic James of Marquette could not be handled by any of Pitt's guards in two games this season. Villanova's guards are just as good and more experienced, so they would be big-time trouble for the Panthers. Villanova, with most of the same players on this year's team, handled Pitt easily in the first round of the Big East tournament last season. I haven't seen a lot of other teams outside the Big East, but any team with a guard who can break defenders down off the dribble will be difficult for the Panthers.
Q: Outside of Connecticut, Villanova, West Virginia, Pitt and Georgetown, which two or three other teams from the Big East will be NCAA worthy? Marquette, Syracuse?
Thomas Reynolds of Jefferson Hills
Fittipaldo: Marquette is in unless the Golden Eagles collapse and lose every game the rest of the way. They beat Connecticut, Georgetown and Pitt. Marquette has an RPI of 21. Seton Hall has a strong resume with victories over West Virginia and North Carolina State, but the Pirates have lost a few in a row now and are on the bubble. Syracuse and Cincinnati are on the bubble, too, and could get left out if they don't finish strong.
Q: I just searched the Big East schedule and Pitt does not have a game with Villanova this season. How does the Big East let this happen?
Bill Ciao of Sultan, Wash.
Fittipaldo: Bill, every team in the Big East does not play two teams from the conference this season. Pitt does not play Villanova or South Florida. Because the Big East has 16 teams after taking Marquette, DePaul, Louisville, South Florida and Cincinnati from Conference USA, the league had to devise a schedule around existing television contracts. The TV executives have no interest in carrying a Pitt-South Florida game, but they do have an interest in carrying Connecticut and Syracuse, maybe even twice. The league is working to fix the problem and could go to an 18-game schedule so that each team plays at least one game against every other team, but nothing has been decided and won't be until the spring or summer.
Q: What do you make of the close road losses to top 25 teams in relation to Pitt's chances in the NCAA tournament. The Panthers seem very dependent on their home court.
Dave DeBlasio of Houston
Fittipaldo: I don't look at it that way, Dave, because Pitt won't be playing an opponent on its home floor in the NCAA tournament. There won't be any home-court advantage once the tournament commences. It will be which team is better on that day. Those close losses against Connecticut, Georgetown and Marquette are nothing to be ashamed of. Those three teams are in the NCAA tournament and all could make the Sweet 16. The only bad loss is the St. John's game. I think Dixon and the players are still trying to figure out how they lost to those guys.
Q: I have heard several local sports talk shows talk about Pitt's rotation when the NCAA tournament starts. They say Pitt should go to an 8- or 9-man rotation instead of the current 10-man rotation. Should Pitt continue to use 10 players during the NCAA tournament?
Michael of Prospect
Fittipaldo: I don't see Dixon changing his rotation now, Michael. Pitt's bench is perhaps its biggest strength this season. I don't see who could be eliminated from the rotation. Tyrell Biggs is probably the least efficient of the reserves, but he has to play because he is Aaron Gray's backup. Otherwise, every one of Pitt's reserves has stepped up and produced big games this season. You need contributions from everyone in the postseason. The more options the better, I say.
Q: What are the NBA prospects of some of Pitt's younger players? Players like Keith Benjamin, Antonio Graves and Sam Young. They all seem to have the athleticism while guys like Ronald Ramon and Levance Fields seem to have the shooting touch and ball-handling but not the size. Have any scouts offered their speculation on their NBA chances.
Chris Scott of Bethel Park
Fittipaldo: Truth be told, Chris, I haven't really heard any of those names mentioned in connection with the NBA. That's because it might be too early for them or they're simply not NBA players. The only player who looks like he can play in the NBA down the road is Young, who is supremely gifted. He is, however, very raw. As for the others, Fields and Ramon don't have the size and Graves and Benjamin are not even starters, so it's premature to speculate on them.
