He Didn't Go Out His Way
Frank Vitovitch
Thursday, March 2, 2000

Notre Dame, Ind - Prior to the 1999-2000 basketball season, there was a lot of criticism of Jimmy Dillon around the board.  People didn't think he had the talent to start, but now that the season is over, Dillon proved that he does have the talent to start and he did a fine job of it this season for the Irish which made a lot of people, myself included, feel bad when he fouled out with under a minute to go in his last home game of his career, in a close game, against a top ranked team.

His numbers may not jump out at you, but he played with everything he had and left nothing on the floor.  He only averaged 4.1 points per game, but did dish out 6 assists a game as well.  He didn't clean up on the glass either.  He did however direct the Irish offense and started all 29 games after starting only 2 game in his previous three seasons at Notre Dame.

Dillon's game came a long way from last season to this one.   He cut down his turnovers, made better decisions, and overall played very well throughout the season.  Against Syracuse he finished with 9 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds - not outstanding numbers, but he came up huge when he was needed.  With the Irish on a roll and on fire from outside, Dillon popped a long three pointer.  HE was well beyond the three point line and would have been well beyond the NBA three point line.   The ball hit nothing but the bottom of the net getting the crowd into a frenzy.

He didn't come to Notre Dame with the accolades of a Troy Murphy, but he played through criticism and developed his game to the point where he started every game this season.  Murphy, Carroll, and Graves get a lot of the attention, but Dillon was as big a piece to the puzzle this year as anybody.

It was great to see everyone in the Joyce Center standing and clapping when Jimmy Dillon walked off the court for the last time at Notre Dame after fouling out.  You could also tell that he was devastated by the fact that he ended his last home game that way.  I am sure there is nothing more he could have wanted at that moment then to still be out on the court until the clock read 0:00.00.

He still has one more regualr season game, plus the Big East Tournament, and any post season games to play.  He and the Irish will wrap their regular season up with a game at Georgetown.  You can count on seeing Dillon give another 110% effort when the Irish play the Hoyas and in what ever other games Notre Dame plays in this year.

It's a shame his last home game had to end that way, but it doesn't take anything away from what he accomplished this season.  Dillon won't be drafted by any NBA team when the NBA Draft comes around this summer, and he knows that.   He showed true heart this season however and I wish him luck in what ever endeavor he takes on after graduating from the University of Notre Dame.