2015 Panthers Poised to Regain Dixon Magic

Pitt Head Basketball Coach Jamie Dixon

Jamie Dixon failed to make the NCAA Tournament last year for just the second time in his coaching career. However, going into the 2015-16 season it appears Dixon wants to get back to old ways of gritty defense and tough rebounding.

Dixons’ Panthers were uncharacteristically poor in those two areas last year, as they only grabbed 71.8% of defensive rebounds, good for only 138th in the country and allowed 65.6 points per game – the worst of his tenure.

The offseason looked like a back to the basics as they landed three new big bodies for the frontcourt. All three came by way of transfer – 7’0″ Rozelle Nix is a junior college transfer, then 6’9 Rafael Maia is a Brown University graduate transfer, and finally 6’9 Alonzo Nelson-Ododa is a graduate transfer from Richmond.

The idea is clearly to bring in someone who can anchor down the paint. Last season, Pitt had to use an undersized Michael Young at the five spot and even though he had a tremendous year ultimately for Dixon’s brand of basketball, a big body is a necessity. Maia looks to have the initial edge at the starting spot after posting 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in his last season at Brown.

The Panthers did not stop there as they added four-star guard Damon Wilson Jr. and graduate transfer Sterling Smith. Wilson still has to develop some, but provides a good 6’5 frame who could become a nice contributor once he adjusts to the collegiate level. Smith is exactly what the Panthers needed on the perimeter, a shooter. Even though he played for Coppin State of the MEAC for the first three years of his college career expect him to be invaluable off the bench. Last season he shot the ball efficiently from three nailing them at a 41.8% clip, that shooting will provide James Robinson an excellent kick-out option. Also, Michael Young and Jamel Artis will have more room to operate which will benefit them greatly.

Speaking of Artis and Young they both looked poised to take the next step going into this season. They are coming into their junior season and after each of them averaged just over 13 points per game, it seems assured they will be focal point of the offense. Their defense should improve too, since they will no longer be playing out of position. Young will most likely play power forward and Artis will start at small forward.

James Robinson will lock the point guard position down for his final year. Even though he went through surgery this offseason, it appears as if he will be ready for tip off.

Robinson’s role on this squad needs to be that of a Levance Fields. He will need to command the offense, protect the ball, and play solid perimeter defense. Robinson will not need to rack up a ton of points, since Artis and Young should have that job. Chris Jones will most likely be paired opposite of Robinson, unless Smith or Wilson are too good to pass up. Jones needs to become more consistent, especially from three, in order for him to play substantial minutes.

The bench for the Panthers will provide Dixon with a lot of lineup possibilities. Sheldon Jeter showed a ton of upside last year and Ryan Luther could be a good floor spacer in limited minutes. Those two along Newkirk’s craftiness give the Panthers depth to compete with the top teams of the ACC. Also, do not forget Pitt will have two other big bodies to throw in depending on which of the new transfers wins the starting job.

The schedule will not start easy, as they will take on a surefire top five team in Gonzaga to tip off the season. From there the road does not get much easier as Pitt is looking at one of their toughest schedules in recent memory taking on Purdue out of conference, as well as Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, NC State, Notre Dame and Miami in conference.

All of those teams could be ranked when they play, so the Panthers are looking at plenty of resume-building opportunities. The good news is that Purdue, Duke, Louisville Virginia, and NC State all have to come to the Pete. With more depth, a better defense, and experience on their side this year there is good reason to believe the 2015-16 Panthers will provide the spark the program was lacking last year.