FORT WORTH — TCU’s 1983 freshman basketball class under Jim Killingsworth turned out two pretty good coaches, both coincidentally from California.
One stayed all four years and played under Killer’s best team three years later, making himself memorable with a heroic heave against Texas. The other left after his freshman season.
He loved the school, Killer said, but the state, not so much.
The guy who stayed, Jamie Dixon, won his 400th career game on Thursday night, his TCU Horned Frogs edging Cal Irvine — Scott Brooks’ eventual college destination — 59-58 at Schollmaier Arena.
Brooks, as God would have it, was eventually sentenced to seven years of hard labor in Oklahoma, coaching the NBA’s Thunder. Granted, he was doing it for more than books and tuition.
“I heard it when I was walking off. I felt like I hadn’t given it much thought,” Dixon said of his landmark victory. “I did hear [the public address announcer announce it] coming off, so I recognize it.
“I’ve been at great places. That’s probably what it says. I’ve been very lucky. I’m lucky to be here. That’s what it means. I’m very fortunate and thankful.”
Dixon got No. 400 by the skin of his teeth.
Guard R.J. Nembhard’s 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left accounted for the final difference mere moments after Anteaters forward John Edgar Jr. gave his team a lead on a dunk off a stolen Diante Smith pass.
“I love these moments,” said Nembhard. “When I was playing at Keller our team wasn’t picked to win [many] games. We had to gut it out a lot. It kind of reminds me of this team. People aren’t really respecting us right now. We haven’t even played our best ball yet.”
Nembhard, who has clearly made strides from a year ago, had a career night in points with 20 and 3-pointers made with five.
“We have found some ways to win down the stretch,” Dixon said. “We’ve made plays. So that’s a good sign.”
Dixon became the 48th active NCAA Division I coach with 400 career victories, all at Pittsburgh and TCU.
He is 52 shy of his college basketball mentor, Killingsworth, who finished with 452 at Idaho State, Oklahoma State and TCU, where he coached from 1979 to 1987.
Brooks, who had stints in Texas as an NBA player, has more than 460 career victories as a coach in the Association. They play 82 regular season games a year over there, as opposed to 30-something in college.
Brooks had a promising freshman season in 1983-84, pushing guard Tracy Mitchell for playing time at point guard.
He quietly left during the summer, never to return. After returning home for a stint in junior college in the San Joaquin Valley, Brooks reappeared at Irvine, where he starred in the Big West.
That TCU team in 1983-84 was led by Dennis Nutt, whose concern for the game was clearly weighted on one end.
“Now if we can just get Nutt to play defense like he shoots, we’ll have us something,” Killingsworth said.
That sounds a lot like the current coach, who also showed promise throughout an inconsistent season, typical for freshmen.
“If he ever settles down and shoots like he does in practices, look out,” Killer said of Dixon, the player. “If Nutt makes 10 of 10, Jamie will make 11 of 10.”
Dixon the coach has the clear edge on Nutt, who registered 72 victories as a Division I coach, plus now more than 108 at Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas.
(Photo by TCU Athletics)
