Diggin' Diss: A Closer Look at Nick Dissly
2/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The relief was palpable.
It was easy to hear in Mick Durham's voice. It was plain to see on Nick Dissly's face. Two months after Montana State's starting small forward exploded for 21 points to lead the Bobcats to their first win of the season, a home win over scrappy Utah Valley State, Dissly finally broke through again.
"I hate playing bad," a relieved Dissly said after scoring a team-high 18 points, all in the second half, to lead Montana State to a 78-65 home win over Idaho State last Thursday. Dissly's reference to his play before halftime notwithstanding, Bobcat coach Mick Durham was just as cognizant of his powerful forward's play. "I think all the guys knew how important Nick was (on Thursday), and how good it felt for him to break out a little."
That Dissly was not forced to assert himself offensively during MSU's 7-2 start to the Big Sky season is more a testimony to the team's balance than to anything the sophomore from Bozeman had failed to do, Durham said. "Nick has done a good job fitting in and doing what we need him to do," Durham said, pointing out Dissly's broad skill base. "He's our best passer, he has played well defensively, and when he gives us some rebounds it really helps us. He doesn't need to score 20 points every game to really help this team."
His reduced burden is not lost on Dissly. "Last year I was kind of the second or third option on offense," he said. "This year the team doesn't have to rely on me. We have a lot of guys that can score."
After feeling its way through a difficult non-conference schedule, Nebraska belted the Bobcats 78-45 on the second day of 2005. That, Dissly says, turned MSU's season around. "That game showed us how bad we were playing, how selfishly we were playing."
The change, Dissly said, was a matter of acceptance more than anything. "We knew we had the guys to win, it was just a matter of were we going to do it, or were we just going to say we were going to do it and not really change."
The team's recent success, Dissly says, hasn't changed much on the team. And that, he says, is the good news. "We're just a bunch of laid back guys playing together."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat forward Nick Dissly...
WHAT'S IN THE I-POD RIGHT NOW?
Everything. I have rap, country, rock. I like a little of everything.
YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE?
What the flip is Grandma doing at the sand dunes?
BETTER SHOOTER: MICK OR CASEY?
The way Mick is hitting those half-courters right now, I have to say Mick.
GAME-WINNING DUNK, OR GAME-WINNING THREE?
Three.
WERE YOU A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER OR BASKETBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Basketball.
FAVORITE MOMENT FROM BOZEMAN HIGH'S UNDEFEATED SEASON YOUR SENIOR YEAR?
Just winning the championship and not losing a game.
FAVORITE PRO SPORTS TEAM?
The Lakers.
PERKINS OR I-HOP?
Perkins. (For pre-game meals) I get the country club melt, no tomatoes, with a salad and lemonade.
BEST THING ABOUT BOZEMAN?
Being close to my family.
ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOBCAT?
Danny Sprinkle or Jason Erickson.
ARE YOU EVER AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO HURT CASEY DURHAM DURING YOUR STARTING LINEUP CHEST BUMP?
One time I almost knocked him over, but I'm not too scared of hurting him.
THE GREATER BOZEMAN HIGH LEGEND: DANNY FAABORG OR KATI BURROWS?
I have to say Kati Burrows.
It was easy to hear in Mick Durham's voice. It was plain to see on Nick Dissly's face. Two months after Montana State's starting small forward exploded for 21 points to lead the Bobcats to their first win of the season, a home win over scrappy Utah Valley State, Dissly finally broke through again.
"I hate playing bad," a relieved Dissly said after scoring a team-high 18 points, all in the second half, to lead Montana State to a 78-65 home win over Idaho State last Thursday. Dissly's reference to his play before halftime notwithstanding, Bobcat coach Mick Durham was just as cognizant of his powerful forward's play. "I think all the guys knew how important Nick was (on Thursday), and how good it felt for him to break out a little."
That Dissly was not forced to assert himself offensively during MSU's 7-2 start to the Big Sky season is more a testimony to the team's balance than to anything the sophomore from Bozeman had failed to do, Durham said. "Nick has done a good job fitting in and doing what we need him to do," Durham said, pointing out Dissly's broad skill base. "He's our best passer, he has played well defensively, and when he gives us some rebounds it really helps us. He doesn't need to score 20 points every game to really help this team."
His reduced burden is not lost on Dissly. "Last year I was kind of the second or third option on offense," he said. "This year the team doesn't have to rely on me. We have a lot of guys that can score."
After feeling its way through a difficult non-conference schedule, Nebraska belted the Bobcats 78-45 on the second day of 2005. That, Dissly says, turned MSU's season around. "That game showed us how bad we were playing, how selfishly we were playing."
The change, Dissly said, was a matter of acceptance more than anything. "We knew we had the guys to win, it was just a matter of were we going to do it, or were we just going to say we were going to do it and not really change."
The team's recent success, Dissly says, hasn't changed much on the team. And that, he says, is the good news. "We're just a bunch of laid back guys playing together."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat forward Nick Dissly...
WHAT'S IN THE I-POD RIGHT NOW?
Everything. I have rap, country, rock. I like a little of everything.
YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM NAPOLEON DYNAMITE?
What the flip is Grandma doing at the sand dunes?
BETTER SHOOTER: MICK OR CASEY?
The way Mick is hitting those half-courters right now, I have to say Mick.
GAME-WINNING DUNK, OR GAME-WINNING THREE?
Three.
WERE YOU A BETTER FOOTBALL PLAYER OR BASKETBALL PLAYER IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Basketball.
FAVORITE MOMENT FROM BOZEMAN HIGH'S UNDEFEATED SEASON YOUR SENIOR YEAR?
Just winning the championship and not losing a game.
FAVORITE PRO SPORTS TEAM?
The Lakers.
PERKINS OR I-HOP?
Perkins. (For pre-game meals) I get the country club melt, no tomatoes, with a salad and lemonade.
BEST THING ABOUT BOZEMAN?
Being close to my family.
ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOBCAT?
Danny Sprinkle or Jason Erickson.
ARE YOU EVER AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO HURT CASEY DURHAM DURING YOUR STARTING LINEUP CHEST BUMP?
One time I almost knocked him over, but I'm not too scared of hurting him.
THE GREATER BOZEMAN HIGH LEGEND: DANNY FAABORG OR KATI BURROWS?
I have to say Kati Burrows.
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