Dillon's Career Comes to an End Tonight
Frank Vitovitch
March 30, 2000

New York, NY - When Jimmy Dillon puts on his #21 jerseytonight for the Irish's NIT Championship game against Wake Forest, he will be playing inhis final game for the Blue and Gold.  His first three years at Notre Dame may havebeen less than spectacular, but he left a huge mark on the Irish basketball team thisseason and will be remembered by Irish fans for his all out effort.

Jimmy Dillon came into the 1999-2000 season starting onlytwo game sin his previous three years at Notre Dame, but he will leave being one of onlytwo players to start every game for the Irish this season along with Troy Murphy.  Healso finished the season with some nice numbers.  His 67 steals is a Notre Damerecord, and his 209 assists ranks in the top five single season performances for NotreDame. 

His numbers weren't what made his senior season memorablethough.  It was his toughness and hard work that made him stick out in the 2000season.  He wasn't the most talented guy on the team, but not many would argue thathe was one of the hardest working guys on the team.  He ran on all cylinders everytime he was out on the court and left nothing on it at the end of any game.

He also is one hell of a competitor and a true warrior.  When he sprained his ankle against Penn State, he wanted back in the game twominutes after it happened.  You could see him telling the trainer to hurry it up whenhe was getting his ankle tapped.  He had to be in pain, but he wanted to be out onthe court and he wanted to play.

Dillon exemplifies what Notre Dame is all about.  Hardwork, commitment, tradition, respect, and the never say die attitude.  He representedNotre Dame just about as good as a person can while he was at the university.  It isjust a shame that it took until his senior year for him to get the chance to show what hecould do.

His career may be over already since his condition fortonight's game is still uncertain.  He wanted to play right after it happened, butsprained ankles hurt more the morning after the sprain occurs.  Once the ankle isjust sitting still for the six to eight hours you are sleeping, the muscles get much moresore.  He was probably in a lot of pain Wednesday morning when he woke up.  Since he knew he sprained it and had ice on it the swelling and pain will probablybe reduced, but he will still be feeling pain.

Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall missed his team's gameagainst Oklahoma State because of a sprained ankle suffered against Temple.  Sprainsvary though, so Jimmy might play.  Whether or not he plays he gave a greatperformance this season and played with a ton of heart in each game.

It would be a real shame if he had to miss the NITChampionship game after starting the other 35 games, but nothing will take away from theperformance he gave this season.  Despite taking a lot of heat from Irish fans earlyin the season, he came through and played very well.  In the beginning of the seasonpeople were hard on Jimmy for having some turnovers early and making some bad decisions,but by the end of the season he was running the offense like a general.

Whatever endeavors Jimmy takes on after college, we wishhim all the best of luck in.  With his attitude he will probably do well in whateverhe does after he graduates from the University of Notre Dame.