My Monday blog

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
I thought I broke my nose yesterday.

Playing one-on-one basketball against David Dineen at the Wiegand Fitness Center on the University of Nevada campus in Reno, I collided with David's shoulder shortly after securing a rebound off a rare missed shot from the former Division I hoopster.

Dineen is a 1995 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he started at point guard during his senior season and led the Mustangs in three-point shooting.

David's best performance at the D-1 level came in a 1994 game against LaSalle when he posted a career-high 19 points.

He maximized his potential at Cal Poly-SLO by using his sharp mind, determined work ethic and deadly-accurate shooting skills.

David performs at a much higher level than yours truly, but he's generous enough to give me an hour or two, as he says, "to get some shots up."

When I first met David in 2007 and learned of his college basketball background, I challenged him to a free-throw shooting contest and confidently hit 49 out of 50 attempts, only to watch him connect on 50 straight tosses.

I knew I was overmatched but never quit trying.

Over the past 12 years, we've played at least 100 games of one-on-one basketball (up to 11) and I've won only twice.

The details of the 98 losses are fuzzy, but my two victories -- by scores of 11-9 and 11-7 -- came at the 24 Hour Fitness Center across from Valley High School in Las Vegas seven years ago and the Stupak Rec Center near the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino earlier this year.

Not that I'm keeping track or anything.

Dineen always offers tips to improve my basketball shooting, kindly treating me more like a 16-year-old prospect than a 56-year-old "has been" who "never was."

"Be shot-ready," he likes to say.

"Have your hands out for a pass and your feet set for a shot."

And then a critical tip for all shooters, "Get the ball over the rim, short shots never go in."

My favorite admonishment this weekend came when my cellphone rang during a 3-on-3 game with a trio of UNR students of Arabian descent.

Dineen barked, "Silence your damn phone, Kelly."

The Arabs laughed at the scolding but they provided little resistance against three flat-footed Irishmen sporting last names of Kelly, Dineen and Condon.

Patrick Condon, that is.

He starred at Division II Chico State University in the mid-1990's before playing professionally in Germany.

His name still appears atop the list of Chico State record holders for "Most 3-pointers (94) in a single season."

Like Dineen, Condon's long-range shots were pure and the younger Arabs lost three straight games faster than you can say Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

"If we lost to those slugs," cracked Dineen, "I think I might have to kill myself."

Dineen is a basketball lifer.

He knows the game at a deep level from three perspectives: player, coach and most of all, gym rat.

Dineen bluntly confessed, "Like a lot of white guys, I had a Division I shot but Division II speed."

He claims the earlier a young player gets exposed to elite speed, the better.

Dineen's exposure came too late in his basketball career and besides, quick-twitch muscles are simply not part of his DNA.

As the saying goes, you can't teach speed.

Now in his mid-40's, Dineen is friendly with a lot of college basketball coaches who are just now reaching the head coaching level, including rising star Rick Croy of Cal Baptist.

Croy's stock is sky-high and many observers, including Dineen, predict he will one day serve as head coach of a Pac-12 team, similar to the career arc of another Dineen associate, Steve Lavin.

Dineen then turned his attention to the basketball program at the University of Nevada where he serves as an academic advisor after spending 14 years in the same position at UNLV.

"Credit Eric Musselman for the job he did here the past four seasons," he said.

"Musselman was not only an excellent coach but he engaged the Reno community with creative promotional ideas and brilliant use of social media."

"The Lawlor Events Center became the place to be on game night."

The 2018-19 team shattered the all-time attendance record by averaging more than 10,800 fans per game.

Musselman posted an impressive 100-30 record over four years despite a crash landing last season in a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Florida.

Dineen adds background to the upset loss, "The team was falling apart at the seams because of chemistry issues inside the locker room."

"Watch the games late in the season and you'll see no one was playing team basketball, everyone had their own agenda."

Musselman has moved on to higher ground (Arkansas) and now Steve Alford has a tough act to follow.

Will a new coach and a roster filled with new players, after seven seniors left the program, be embraced by the Reno faithful?

"I predict somewhere between 16 and 18 wins," said Dineen.

"The lesson learned last season in Reno is the revolving door that is college basketball."

Dineen concluded, "Everywhere you go, the turnover with both coaches and players is quick. Here today, gone tomorrow."

And, oh yes...about my injured nose.

Happy to report, the nose is intact with no bleeding issues or black eyes.

That's good news because my Eye On Gaming health insurance policy clearly states, "In case of injury, visit WebMD.com."
 
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jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
Looks like we'll see John Rip Kelly Hamilton in a protective mask next pick up 3 on 3 or full court game.
 

Heim

EOG Master
I worry about Musselman....when he starts losing they can get viscious in the deep South about his interracial marriage. I was hoping he'd take a asst head coaching job in NBA.
 

John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
I worry about Musselman....when he starts losing they can get viscious in the deep South about his interracial marriage. I was hoping he'd take a asst head coaching job in NBA.

Reno is not the deep South but there's a Wild Wild West element here where some minorities feel out of place.

Just left Idaho where whites represent about 90% of the state's population.

Top three athletes born in Idaho?

3. Gary Stevens

2. Picabo Street

1. Harmon Killebrew
 

ejd_5277

EOG Dedicated
Dineen concluded, "Everywhere you go, the turnover with both coaches and players is quick. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Great read, JK, but I would qualify the above statement.

At the high major level, it’s player turnover that’s the problem. (One-and-dones, disciplinary problems, academics, transfers, etc.)

The coaching turnover problem is more a mid-major issue, where bolting for greener pastures is almost a given at the first hint of success.

There are at least two notable exceptions, and they happen to be two of my favorite coaches of all time:

Bob McKillop at Davidson and the recently-retired Rick Byrd at Belmont.

Inevitably, some of the big NCAA Tournament upsets are sprung by senior-laden mid major squads against a team of talented underclassmen who haven’t quite jelled yet.
 
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John Kelly

Born Gambler
Staff member
Excellent note, EJD.

Amazing how many players transfer every season.

A lot of unhappy college hoopsters out there.

One week after the NCAA tournament ended, there were already more than 700 departures from Division I schools.
 

TobyTyler

EOG Dedicated
Excellent note, EJD.

Amazing how many players transfer every season.

A lot of unhappy college hoopsters out there.

One week after the NCAA tournament ended, there were already more than 700 departures from Division I schools.
Has spilled into high school

Kids and parents have to blame SOMEBODY.
 
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