Pitt’s blowout loss to Wichita State a real shocker to Jamie Dixon
SALT LAKE CITY -- Wow, that was one lousy job audition for Pittsburgh Coach Jamie Dixon.
Dixon, a potential candidate for the USC basketball opening for what seems like years now, left it all over the floor Thursday at EnergySolutions Arena.
No. 9 Wichita State embarrassed No. 8 Pittsburgh by a 73-55 score that will haunt Dixon for weeks and months.
Wichita State, from the Missouri Valley Conference, thoroughly roughed up a team from the rough-and-rugged Big East. Pittsburgh was outrebounded, 37-32, and made only one of 17 three-point attempts in the West Regional loss.
The loss reduced Pitt guard Tray Woodall to tears at the postgame podium.
Someone asked Dixon if he expected to be back at Pittsburgh next season.
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“Well, yes,” a somewhat shocked Dixon responded. “I just had my point guard break down here. That’s the farthest thing from my mind.”
The Big East put eight teams into this year’s NCAA tournament field, but Pittsburgh may not be remembered as one of them. Then again, the Big East is breaking up and Pitt is leaving for the ACC.
“We simply weren’t playing the right way from start to finish,” Dixon said.
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