Tom Archdeacon: Pitt coach knows Raiders well
Mar 14, 2007 23:07:53 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2007 23:07:53 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/college/wsu/2007/03/14/ddn031507arch.html
Tom Archdeacon: Pitt coach knows Raiders well
By Tom Archdeacon
Thursday, March 15, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Until one of his teammates — who happens to be from Mansfield — mentioned in Wednesday's press conference "they're from Dayton, Ohio," Pittsburgh's 7-foot center Aaron Gray said he had no idea where Wright State was from.
In fact, before the Raiders' nationally televised victory over Butler in the Horizon League tournament final last week, Gray admitted he'd never even heard of Wright State.
It was the same with Pitt's
6-foot-10 Levon Kendall.
But don't go thinking the Pitt Panthers — 10-point favorites tonight — are overlooking Wright State in the first round of the NCAA tournament here.
Some Pitt people know Wright State very well. Athletics director Jeff Long graduated from Fairmont East, and his folks live in Kettering. And Antonio Graves, that senior guard from Mansfield High, said he was "heavily recruited" by WSU.
And then there's Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who almost was the Wright State coach.
When Ed Schilling was fired in 2003, WSU athletics director Mike Cusack narrowed his candidates to Dixon, then a Pitt assistant, and Paul Biancardi of the OSU staff.
"At first I didn't know a lot about (WSU)," Dixon said. "I heard from a friend that it was a good job, kind of an untapped university for a basketball program, so I met with them and I was unbelievably impressed with people — Dr. Cusack, Bob Grant (associate AD) and Bob Noss (sports information director) — the facilities and the town. I came away knowing whoever got the job would be very lucky and have a lot of success."
Drew Burleson, the Raiders' fifth-year senior, is the only current player who was around then: "I remember him meeting with our team in the dressing room. It was pretty informal, but he seemed like a good guy."
Cusack took it further: "He was total class then and now. I remember talking to him the morning we were going to announce we were going with Paul. I told him it didn't come down to the two men, just their schools. And I felt Paul, with his Ohio State background, would have more connections in the state, more magic."
Just weeks later, Dixon got the Pitt job vacated by UCLA-bound Ben Howland. At WSU, the Biancardi move — thanks to his NCAA troubles from Ohio State — didn't work out, and last spring Cusack was looking for a coach again.
"Jamie called me on his way from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis for the Final Four," Cusack said. "He said he'd just passed the Cracker Barrel where we spoke a few years ago and we talked about things this time. The guy is special."
Dixon has a 101-28 record at Pitt, has made four straight NCAA tournaments and now has one of the nation's tallest teams.
In turn, WSU players are drawing on the example of fellow mid-major George Mason, which made last year's Final Four.
"George Mason gives us all a sense of belief," said guard DaShaun Wood, "a sense of hope."
And if his team should need more than hope, WSU coach Brad Brownell was asked if he relied on any kind of lucky charms.
"None at all," he said. Yet, that's not true. The Holiday Inn where the team is staying was told to stock his room with Mountain Dew and Snickers.
Yet, when asked about sweets, Brownell went a different direction: "Well, before each game I give my daughters ... and my wife a kiss. And right now I'm in luck. She's kissing back."
Tom Archdeacon: Pitt coach knows Raiders well
By Tom Archdeacon
Thursday, March 15, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Until one of his teammates — who happens to be from Mansfield — mentioned in Wednesday's press conference "they're from Dayton, Ohio," Pittsburgh's 7-foot center Aaron Gray said he had no idea where Wright State was from.
In fact, before the Raiders' nationally televised victory over Butler in the Horizon League tournament final last week, Gray admitted he'd never even heard of Wright State.
It was the same with Pitt's
6-foot-10 Levon Kendall.
But don't go thinking the Pitt Panthers — 10-point favorites tonight — are overlooking Wright State in the first round of the NCAA tournament here.
Some Pitt people know Wright State very well. Athletics director Jeff Long graduated from Fairmont East, and his folks live in Kettering. And Antonio Graves, that senior guard from Mansfield High, said he was "heavily recruited" by WSU.
And then there's Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who almost was the Wright State coach.
When Ed Schilling was fired in 2003, WSU athletics director Mike Cusack narrowed his candidates to Dixon, then a Pitt assistant, and Paul Biancardi of the OSU staff.
"At first I didn't know a lot about (WSU)," Dixon said. "I heard from a friend that it was a good job, kind of an untapped university for a basketball program, so I met with them and I was unbelievably impressed with people — Dr. Cusack, Bob Grant (associate AD) and Bob Noss (sports information director) — the facilities and the town. I came away knowing whoever got the job would be very lucky and have a lot of success."
Drew Burleson, the Raiders' fifth-year senior, is the only current player who was around then: "I remember him meeting with our team in the dressing room. It was pretty informal, but he seemed like a good guy."
Cusack took it further: "He was total class then and now. I remember talking to him the morning we were going to announce we were going with Paul. I told him it didn't come down to the two men, just their schools. And I felt Paul, with his Ohio State background, would have more connections in the state, more magic."
Just weeks later, Dixon got the Pitt job vacated by UCLA-bound Ben Howland. At WSU, the Biancardi move — thanks to his NCAA troubles from Ohio State — didn't work out, and last spring Cusack was looking for a coach again.
"Jamie called me on his way from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis for the Final Four," Cusack said. "He said he'd just passed the Cracker Barrel where we spoke a few years ago and we talked about things this time. The guy is special."
Dixon has a 101-28 record at Pitt, has made four straight NCAA tournaments and now has one of the nation's tallest teams.
In turn, WSU players are drawing on the example of fellow mid-major George Mason, which made last year's Final Four.
"George Mason gives us all a sense of belief," said guard DaShaun Wood, "a sense of hope."
And if his team should need more than hope, WSU coach Brad Brownell was asked if he relied on any kind of lucky charms.
"None at all," he said. Yet, that's not true. The Holiday Inn where the team is staying was told to stock his room with Mountain Dew and Snickers.
Yet, when asked about sweets, Brownell went a different direction: "Well, before each game I give my daughters ... and my wife a kiss. And right now I'm in luck. She's kissing back."