Jermaine Dixon out -- Now what?

            Pitt coach Jamie Dixon has proven over the years that he is quite capable of cobbling together talent and earning victories when outsiders did not believe it was possible. 

            Dixon did it two years ago when Levance Fields went down with a broken foot for seven weeks, and it looks like he’s going to have to do it again this season. 

            Jermaine Dixon, Pitt’s only returning starter from last season, will be out a minimum of eight weeks after undergoing successful surgery this morning to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. That means the Panthers likely will take the floor for the Nov. 13 season opener against Wofford with no returning starters on the floor.

            This latest news comes on the heels of the news that Gilbert Brown, the projected starter at small forward and the most experienced player on the team, will be out until Dec. 20 because of an academic suspension.

            This is really going to test the depth and talent that Dixon has assembled.

            Dixon will be sorely missed. He is one of the team’s top defenders and created offense with his ability to drive to the hoop. The good news is if there is one position where Dixon has stockpiled talent it is at guard.

            Jamie Dixon can play Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker at shooting guard and transfer Chase Adams and redshirt freshman Travon Woodall at point guard. That’s more quality depth than most teams in the Big East enjoy.

            The bad news is there is absolutely no senior leadership on this team for the next two months. Jamie Dixon is going to have to look to senior transfer Chase Adams and junior Brad Wanamaker to be stabilizing forces on this team while Jermaine rehabilitates.

            It’s a lot to ask of a newcomer to assume leadership duties when he has known his teammates for about a month, and Wanamaker has never started a game, so how much clout will he have in the locker room?

            The best case scenario is for Jermaine to return to the team before the O’Reilly Auto Parts Classic in late November and have him ease back into things throughout the rest of the non-conference schedule. But in the interim, many of the younger players on this team are going to have to grow up sooner than expected.