About Me:
Writing is like painting or music. It's an art. If you've got a knack for it, it demands you devotion. Ignore it and it will haunt you. Most writers are poor and hungry. Not me--I'm not the guy on the corner with the sign that states "Will Write for F
About Me:
Writing is like painting or music. It's an art. If you've got a knack for it, it demands you devotion. Ignore it and it will haunt you. Most writers are poor and hungry. Not me--I'm not the guy on the corner with the sign that states "Will Write for F
About Me:
Writing is like painting or music. It's an art. If you've got a knack for it, it demands you devotion. Ignore it and it will haunt you. Most writers are poor and hungry. Not me--I'm not the guy on the corner with the sign that states "Will Write for F
(Bloomington, Ind.) Former Indiana Hoosier Cem Dinc, playing his first college basketball game since December 31, 2005, registered a double-double in leading the Marshalltown Community College Tigers to a 74-65 overtime win over the Iowa Community College Tritons Wednesday night in Marshalltown, Iowa. Dinc, a 6'10" 250 pound center scored 16 points, yanked down 13 rebounds and blocked 5 shots in helping the Tigers improve their record to 12-5 on the season. The Tigers, playing before a packed house, outscored the Tritons 18-9 in the extra period.
Dinc was the key to Marshalltown's victory. The Tigers started out playing their characteristic run and gun brand of basketball, but, after a long holiday break, their perimeter shooting was as cold as the chilly January air. At the end of the first half, Marshalltown had managed only 24 points, far off the pace of their 113 points per game average. In the second half, Marshalltown Coach Brynjar Brynjarsson opted to slow the pace and run more half court sets to get higher percentage shots. That decision paid dividends. Dinc, instead of trailing the break as he did in the first stanza, set up in the post and the Tigers rewarded his hard work in getting open by feeding him for several inside baskets, including two monstrous dunks that left the stanchion shaking. Dinc also also scored six of the Tigers' 18 overtime points.
For Dinc it was a breakout performance, but one he took in stride. "It felt good to be on the court again and I'm just happy we won," he said. "Our team is improving day by day and we're ready for conference play. We want to give Coach Brynjarsson his first conference win Saturday." If the Tigers are to do so, they'll have to do it on the road against the powerful Iowa Western Community College Reivers. The Reviers are 17-3 on the season and edging their way into the national rankings.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 11:36 AM EST
[General]
HOLMAN DECISION DELAYED AGAIN
(Bloomington, Ind.) Eli Holman will have to wait through the weekend to learn his fate on his prep basketball future. The 6'10" Holman and Richmond High School administrators met this morning with California Interscholastic Federation Executive Directivor Marie Ishida as planned, but, according to a school offical, a ruling on his appeal for reinstatement has been delayed until Monday.
Holman has been under suspension since December 2005 for shoving a referee. His appeal for reinstatement was denied last month, but contained inaccurate information showing he was failing two classes, had 66 unexcused absences and had not completed anger-management counseling. Orlando Ramos, Richmond's principal, attributed the error-filled appeal to the three-month absence of an employee responsible for record maintenance.
This most recent delay appears to be the last. Ishida informed Holman she will issue her ruling on Monday, which is when this semester's grades come out. Based on that, it would appear she is inclined to reinstate Holman if his grade point average is 2.0 or higher.
(Bloomington, Ind.) Marie Ishida, the executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation, has delayed until tomorrow her decision on whether to reinstate Richmond High School prep star and '07 Indiana recruit Eli Holman. She had indicated last week she would issue a ruling today after considering corrected information submitted by Richmond Principal Orlando Ramos on stipulations Holman was to have satisfied prior to seeking reinstatement.
Holman, who has neither practiced nor played for Richmond since being suspended four games into his junior season for pushing an official, had hoped for a favorable ruling that would allow him to play tonight. Instead, Ishida plans to travel to Richmond tomorrow to meet with Holman and Ramos at the school. The delay means the earliest Holman would be eligible to resume his high school basketball career would be Thursday, which is when Richmond plays next.
(Bloomington, Ind.) Cem Dinc's much anticipated return to college basketball has been delayed. The winter storm that has gripped the northern part of the midwest and moved on to the northeast plastered the plains with ice, sleet and snow, preventing the Hamilton Aliens from making the journey to Marshalltown.
The Marshalltown Tigers will take the court Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. local time for a game against Iowa Central Community College.
CEM DINC'S READY TO ROCK Former IU player about to "Lace 'em up" Again
(Bloomingon, Ind.) Ask Cem Dinc if he's ready to "rock JUCO" and he laughs heartily and exclaims, "Oh Yeah!" He'll get his first chance to do just that at 2:00 p.m. local time this Saturday when the Marshalltown Tigers tip off against the Hamilton College Aliens in Marshalltown, Iowa.
For Dinc, who was playing for the Indiana Hoosiers a year ago, it will be his first collegiate basketball game since December 31, 2005, when he played five minutes at Ball State. "It's been a long wait," says Dinc.
Indeed it has been a long wait and the circuitous route Dinc traveled to wind up in Marshalltown took him to Germany, back to the United States, over to Istanbul, throughout Europe, and then on to Japan. During that time, he worked out with an NBA personal trainer, played for the Turkish National Team, and briefly considered turning pro and playing in Europe. All the while Dinc was racking up the frequent flier miles, though, he had one overriding desire. "I wanted to be in Bloomington," he said. "I love the town and the people are so friendly. I love the way the crowd really supports the team and, of course, I wanted to keep playing for Indiana."
That didn't happen, obviously. After Indiana hired Kelvin Sampson to replace Mike Davis as head basketball coach, Dinc was told in no uncertain terms that he wasn't wanted. According to Dinc, "there wasn't any attempt [on Indiana's part] to look for a solution or compromise that would have let me back on the team." Nor was there even a hint of a promise for the future. "Coach Sampson told me he might be interested if I "go rock JUCO."
"I was crushed," Dinc says about his meeting with Sampson in September 2006. "I went over to my girlfriend's house to lie down. I didn't want to see anyone or talk to anybody." When he did, though, he called Jason Smith, his high school coach at the Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The next day his cell phone started ringing. "I got offers from a lot of Division I and II schools and most of them said they had a scholarship available if I wanted it."
So, with all the offers, why Marshalltown? "I like Coach (Brynjar) Brynjarsson,' Dinc said. 'He was up front and told me he wasn't going to make any promises." According to Dinc, Coach Brynjarsson said, "if you want to work hard, I'll give you a second chance, but you'll have to make it happen once you're here."
That's precisely what Dinc has done. He's worked long and hard both on the court and in the classroom to earn the opportunity. He's grateful to Coach Smith and Coach Brynjarsson and feels a lot of personal satisfaction from accomplishing what he has since being forced out at Indiana. "I was disappointed, sure, but I don't have any ill will towards Coach Sampson or Indiana. I never did. I was unhappy with myself and wanted a chance to prove I belong, but, you know, that's the way it goes sometimes."
Dinc feels he is in the best shape of his life. In Atlanta, his trainer worked with him on toughness, speed and battling through fatigue. "He kept telling me, 'don't just take the shot, make the shot!'" Then, training with the Turkish National team, Dinc developed the endurance he now uses to combat fatigue by long-distance running. "We ran and ran and ran," he said. "It wasn't fun."
Since arriving at Marshalltown, Dinc has hit the weight room and further honed his basketball skills. "When I came to Bloomington in September 2005, I weighed 240 pounds. By the time I left, I'd lost 35 pounds." Now, thanks to a steady diet of barbells, he's increased his muscle mass and tips the scale at 250 pounds.
Dinc will start at center for Marshalltown come Saturday, replacing Abraham Ramos, a 6-9, 220 pound freshman from Venezuela, who ranks among the rebound leaders in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. The Tigers average an astonishing 113 points per game. Their top three scorers come from the point and wing slots. "I'm out there to play tough defense, crash the boards and make some moves in the post," said Dinc. "This team really needs an experienced big guy to compliment the guards. My jobs are to wipe the defensive boards clean, hit the outlet man to start the break and then hustle down as one of the trailers on offensive to maybe get a long rebound on my way to the glass or spot up for a pass and hit a three if I'm left open."
Dinc, who earned a 4.0 grade point average this past semester, will earn his degree this May. He credits his setback at Indiana with creating a "fear of failing" that has motivated him to work hard. "I was really down when I left Indiana this past September, but it's amazing how fast that feeling vanished after I got to Marshalltown. By building on every small success here, I've regained my confidence."
So, what does the future hold for Dinc? "I'll be playing D-1 ball next fall for sure," he said. "Iowa State, Miami (Fla.), Boston University, Utah State, Nevada, Marist, Rhode Island and Binghampton are teams who have called recently. Has he heard from the Hoosiers? "Nope,' says Dinc with a hint of sadness, but then, laughing, adds, "I may wind up back in Indiana, though, because Indiana State and Evansville have been in touch, too."
Dinc doesn't really have a favorite among all the suitors. He just appreciates every call he gets. He said some of the smaller schools that have called think he's looking for "something big," but he maintains that's not necessarily the case. "Recruiting,' he says, is 'all about building relationships." He's become "buddies" with Iowa State coach Greg McDermott since enrolling at Marshalltown, but he's really just "looking for the right fit." Dinc wants teams interested in him to know that he's a "strong guy-on and off the court." Right now, though, he's thankful just to be playing college basketball again-even if it's not in front of a "big crowd like at Indiana."
Send Message
Add Friend
Block User
Invite to Group
Report User 