It was not more than an hour after the NCAA Elite Eight game in March that Jermaine Dixon's harshest critic called him on his cell phone. Big brother Juan of the Washington Wizards was calling to offer his condolences after Villanova beat Pitt to advance to the Final Four.

"He told me, 'don't worry about it, it was a good game, you guys fought, you played well, don't let it get you down,'" Dixon recalled. "Then he told me, 'You know you messed up.'"

Jermaine, of course, did not need to be reminded. He had just lived through one of the most excruciating experiences that a college athlete could endure. Dixon made not one, but two, critical mistakes that turned the game in Villanova's favor.

With Pitt leading, 67-63, with 3:05 remaining, Dixon was stripped by Dwayne Anderson, who broke to the basket and converted a three-point play after Dixon fouled him.

That play allowed Villanova to seize momentum, but it was only the second-most important play of the game. Dixon also was primarily involved in the most important play of the game and the season, too.

After Pitt had tied the score with five seconds remaining on two Levance Fields free throws, it was Dixon who was responsible for keeping Villanova's Scottie Reynolds in front of him on the inbounds play.

"When they were inbounding the ball it was looking like they were going to get a five-second count," Dixon said. "I was kind of getting excited. At that point, I didn't want Scottie Reynolds to get the ball and I tried to deny him. And then it happened."

"It" is one of the best NCAA tournament buzzer beaters of all time. Reynolds, without Dixon to stop his progress, weaved through the entire Pitt team and lofted a shot over Gilbert Brown in the lane with 0.5 remaining on the clock.

The shot denied Pitt its first appearance in the Final Four in 68 years and Dixon's roles in those game-turning plays haunt him to this day.

It has been more than six months since that heartbreaking loss, and Pitt's only returning starter still struggles with what happened. Fields is one of Dixon's best friends, and he can't seem to get over the fact that Fields and the rest of last year's senior class were denied their dream of reaching the Final Four.

"I was getting over it, but the thing that always held me back was Levance stayed in his house for a month after that," Dixon said. "He didn't come out. He was hurting and that kind of hurt me. I was getting over it, but his pain still stays with me."

Dixon and Fields, who is playing professionally overseas, remain close. They communicate daily via Facebook or Skype, and they are able to make light of their misfortune now.

"He reminds me of it all the time," Dixon said. "He's always bringing it up. He just says make sure it doesn't happen this year. The only person he makes fun of more is Gilbert for not blocking Scottie's shot. I mean, Gilbert just stood there."

Dixon was smiling a wide smile and laughing at the thought of Fields tormenting Brown. Dixon wasn't the only player wearing goat horns after that game. All-American DeJuan Blair traveled when Pitt trailed by two with 1:10 remaining after a poor entry pass from Fields. And there were countless lapses in the earlier stages of the game, including missed free throws and missed opportunities on offense.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon understands that and has the utmost confidence that Dixon will turn the page and continue to be a big contributor to his team.

"He knows we have confidence in him," the coach said. "He knows that when anything goes wrong with the team it's our fault. It's never anyone's fault. But if you're a competitor and good teammate, you want to take that on yourself."

The coach's words don't give Jermaine much solace. He knows the only way he can completely get over the Villanova game is by starting a new season.

The new season does not start until Nov. 13 and it is unknown if Jermaine will be able to take the court. He is rehabilitating from September foot surgery and trying his best to get healthy.

When he's not rehabbing or helping the younger players at practice, Dixon spends his free time watching the Villanova game, which he recorded from his Pittsburgh apartment. It's somehow therapeutic for him to relive the game rather than forget it.

"You're only as good as your last game and that game is still in my head," he said. "That's the only game I have, so I sit there and watch it sometimes. I like to critique myself and see what I did wrong, so I can get better."

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