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There is a calmness, a serenity about this Pitt basketball team, a condition owing at least in part to the new guy on the bench.

Where former coach Ben Howland's demeanor changed with the postseason, as intensity boiled to the surface and produced both gruffness and a hair-trigger temper, first-year head coach Jamie Dixon remains the low-key, generally soft-spoken guy who's more like an older brother than a father figure to his players.

These players respect Dixon, but don't necessarily fear him, which could be a good thing.

Howland's way was good enough to get Pitt teams to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Dixon's way could enable the Panthers to plow beyond that with a win Thursday night against Oklahoma State.

If you believe that a coach's state of mind filters down to his players -- and many do -- it's fair to suggest that the soft-spoken Dixon has helped the Pitt players show ample poise under pressure.

Already this tournament, the Panthers won an unexpectedly tough struggle with Central Florida, 53-44, then outlasted Wisconsin, 59-55.

The previous two years, Pitt had waltzed through easy wins in rounds one and two of the tournament, then fell in their first stiff tests, a 78-73 overtime loss to Kent State in 2002, and a 77-74 setback at the hands of Marquette last year.

Do not underestimate the contribution of a calming Dixon presence on the bench to Pitt's success this tournament in a couple of competitive games.

"That's coach's M.O. He's a calm guy who doesn't get fired up. He's never nervous," point guard Carl Krauser said Tuesday afternoon, standing beside the bus that would whisk the Panthers away from the Petersen Events Center and to the airport to begin their journey to East Rutherford, N.J.

"When you get to this type of game, that helps."

The bigger the game, the more important it is that the coach keeps his team from getting caught up in the moment. That begins with the coach maintaining perspective, which Dixon seems able to do with ridiculous ease.

The man has earned a buck or two as an actor, but if this relaxed demeanor is no more than a total act, well, he chose the wrong profession.

Dixon is a first-year coach, at the helm of 31-4 team knocking on the door of the Elite Eight. The stakes are getting huge. And he was asked if he's having any trouble avoiding getting caught up in the situation.

"I hadn't thought about it until you just asked, so I guess not," Dixon replied. "We're not surprised by where we're at. We went in expecting to be here."

This quiet confidence, this mixture of expectation and preparation, runs from Dixon through his team.

"He definitely has an impact on the way we carry ourselves," senior guard Julius Page said. "There's times when he comes into practice and starts yelling at us and everybody starts yelling at each other. Whatever mold he's in, it carries over to the rest of us."

More often than not, when it counts, Dixon is a calming influence.

Page and fellow senior Jaron Brown both were expecting yet another close game when they face Oklahoma State. Both also were expecting the Panthers to win it.

"If it's close, we should be confident about coming out with the win," Brown said.

Dixon will be confident. His team will feed off that.

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