Duquesne Basketball
Inside the Dukes: Game-Set-Dixon
On countless occasions after practices over the previous two seasons were complete, there was one Duquesne Men’s Basketball player still working, and he had a helper.
David Dixon and Dru Joyce III would go to the three-point line, bounce basketballs into the other person, then rise and fire from three-point range.
As Joyce was quick to remind with his trademark wide grin, he would far more often than not get the better of his junior forward, but those moments were chances for Dixon to have a green light.
All he needed was an opportunity.
Dixon had three three-point baskets in his Duquesne career entering Wednesday night’s contest against Saint Joseph’s, but in the first half, the Hawks left him open, and he made them pay.
The far more consequential shot was still to come.
Meanwhile Dixon was burying one handed floaters, including one from the free throw line. He was all over the court, grabbing the two biggest rebounds of the first half which were important continuity plays. He blocked at least one more shot than the stats gave him credit for, including two in one overtime sequence.
Despite having four fouls, Dixon trusted himself to get a charge, one which even former Duke Marcus Weathers would have smiled at.
That play, in that particular point of the game, required full trust and self-commitment and Dixon was all in.
“He’s always since day one upon coming here, a staple of the defensive end with his rim protection and ability to step out and guard smaller guards,” observed Joyce. “He brings a lot of versatility to us on defense. I’m just proud that he battled through, he had to play some heavier minutes tonight, probably more than he’s played all season. He plays so hard, that he gets tired and rightfully so.”
Then came the play.
That play.
The one where David Dixon called game.
Photo credit: Hunter Hensel
Dixon had just pulled his ninth rebound and a timeout was called. There were 17 seconds left in overtime and Dixon had made so many pivotal plays, but now he tasked himself with one more.
The look was wide open and when the shot fell through, the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse lost it. Saint Joseph’s coach Billy Lange was momentarily deflated and minutes later would make his way through the handshake line in such a blow by style that even Jamie Dixon would have been proud.
“Screw it, we’re tied, I’ve got to do something,” Dixon figured. “Honestly they left me open, and I’ve worked on my shot a lot. I hit the first half, so I had a little confidence in myself just to try and shoot the next one. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so I was going to attempt it regardless.”
About 20 minutes after the win, Joyce was on the podium stating just how much self-confidence Dixon possession. The three pointers were nothing new to him, he has seen in practice time and again, but at the end of the game, a different level shines through, one of confidence and gamesmanship to go out and make a play.
Months ago, Dixon was sitting in Aloe Suite remarking about how disappointed he was about last season’s loss at Saint Joseph’s in which the Hawks beat the buzzer, just after Matus Hronsky had tied the game.
Now in that same room, Dixon could smile, knowing it was his late-game heroics which helped turn that negative moment into a euphoric high.
“It shows a lot of growth I’d say,” declared Dixon. “Last year in the 0-5 there were a lot of mistakes down the stretch, and we were struggling to keep the game flowing. We would turn the ball over, make bad plays and now as a seasoned veteran, I’ve learned from my mistakes and learned from past struggles that I know what to do and not to do in certain situations.”
STEP(BACK) BY STEP(BACK)
There was a lot of pride on the line Wednesday for Tre Dinkins III, not just to bounce back from Saturday’s effort at Davidson, but because the Chester native attended high school 7.3 miles away from Saint Joseph’s campus.
Everything came together and he put together a season-high 26 points, with his 10 made field goals, one away from matching a career high.
Dinkins was a spark through his 35 minutes, stepping back and finding success throughout. Often times after a timeout or after Saint Joseph’s would put a run together, it was Dinkins who responded with the basket.
“In my head I took it a little personal,” he admitted of this game. “Some things happened in the past, but it’s basketball at the end of the day. Guys are going to do whatever they do, but just glad we executed down the stretch. Definitely good to be in a groove again.”
CLEANING THE DISHES
Entering this contest, Kareem Rozier ranked 15th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio and Wednesday showed exactly why.
Rozier played 33 minutes in this game and put together seven assists and did not commit any turnovers.
It is no secret that Rozier has been Duquesne’s leader since he stepped foot on campus, but this is the second consecutive season in which his role has been to come off the bench and produce.
His response has showcased exactly why he is trusted to be a key voice on this team.
“We talk a lot about ball movement, and he’s been a leading figure in that role,” Joyce broke down. “He’s always taking great care of the ball. I think his playmaking has taken a jump. He’s starting to see the floor even better and getting ball screens. I’m excited about Kareem and how he’s played. I think early there were some struggles, but I think he’s coming into his own. He’s responding to his role of coming off the bench and hasn’t flinch. He’s playing good basketball right now. He’s confident, believes in this program, this group and he’s just a competitor. He knows that you have to value the basketball, and his fight and competitiveness will not allow him to turn it over without any reason.”
OF NOTE
Jakub Necas went down with an injury in the first half and did not return to the game. Necas went to the locker room prior to halftime and later would join his team back on the bench.
As of the presser he had no update on Necas other than “he hoped it was mild”. For Jake DiMichele, who has missed action since play concluded at the Cayman Islands Classic, he is “coming along, getting good updates.” There is a possibility that he will see the court again in the near future.
