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Chat Reel: Trevor Diggs
UNLV senior guard ready to take Rebels on a run
Posted: Monday October 30, 2000 6:09 PM
Updated: Monday October 30, 2000 6:30 PM
Trevor Diggs has made the adjustment from junior college basketball to Division I.
Now his challenge is to take the UNLV Rebels to a Mountain West Conference championship and a run in the NCAA tournament.
Diggs spent some time chatting with CNNSI.com users on Monday, Oct. 30. He talked about his new teammates and the expectations for UNLV this season. Keep reading for a transcription.
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's chat with UNLV senior guard Trevor Diggs. Welcome, Trevor. Thanks for being here.
Trevor Diggs: How is everybody doing today in the chatroom? Great to be here.
From Rob Jarosh in Laramie, Wyo.: Trevor, assuming everyone stays healthy, which team in the MWC scares you the most and why?
Trevor Diggs: Scares me? I don't think any team really scares me. If I had to pick one team that will be a big challenge, it'd be New Mexico. That's basically it.
From Patrick Foley in Las Vegas: How are we going to replace Mark Dickel and his loss in regards to your positioning as the outside shooter. Will you assume the leadership role along with Kas (Kaspars Kambala)?
Trevor Diggs: It's hard to replace a guard such as Mark Dickel, because he brought so much to the team -- so much more than just being a great point guard. He practiced hard everyday. Me and Kas are going to have to take on that leadership role, and hopefully we'll have a great season.
From Rob Jarosh in Laramie, Wyo.: Trevor, since Utah's run into the national championship game a few years back, the teams that now comprise the Mountain West have disappointed once they reached the Dance. Will things be different this year, what teams will make that difference, and why?
Trevor Diggs: Hopefully, it's going to be us that's making a difference. I don't know why teams get to the Dance and fold. Last year was my only year here and it was a good experience. And we have the same team as we did last year, except for Dickel, so hopefully we should make some noise in the Dance this year. I'm not sure, but that's not really up to me.
From rebel: Trevor, will you see any time at the point guard spot this year?
Trevor Diggs: If coach asks me to, I'd guess I have to. But if not, I'll have my same role as shooting guard.
From Preston Ivory in Atlanta: Trevor "Ice" Diggs, I know you have come a long way from Brooklyn to Kilgore to Vegas, how does it feel to be playing with two of your juco teammates your senior year? Is "Dot" going to produce? How is "J-Lew"? P.S.: No braids or puffs this year.
Trevor Diggs: It's going to be great playing with my old teammates that I played with in junior college. I've known them for two years now, and we come basically from the same team. It'd be harder coming from a junior college without them. As for the hair (laughing), I'm not going to wear braids this year.
From Phil Van Boven in Woodland Hills, Calif.: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make in the jump from JUCO ball to Division-1? Thanks and good luck this year.
Trevor Diggs: The biggest adjustment I had to make was, being in juco, I was in a smaller town and there wasn't as much exposure. And here, it's a bigger city with a lot more fans. That was the biggest adjustment, was coming from a small town to a big town such as Las Vegas.
From Phil Van Boven: Do you feel more comfortable and is there less pressure on you now that you're not the only long-distance threat with the additions of Jermaine Lewis, Lafonte Johnson, and a healthy Lou Kelly?
Trevor Diggs: Yeah, I feel more comfortable and there isn't that much pressure because there are two more shooters with me. It's not all on me. I'm not the only guard that is taking shots.
From Len: This is Dustin from Kilgore, Texas. How has your and Sylvester's games progressed since Kilgore College?
Trevor Diggs: Our game got a lot better. I can't speak for Sylvester. But everybody at this level is real good and you have to be stronger and be in shape. But we got better because we had weights and played against good competition in practice every day. In games, we played against teams that have a whole bunch of talent with them.
From Gerry: What game do you think will be the biggest of the season?
Trevor Diggs: Probably, Illinois and the Maui Tournament. They're ranked No. 4 or 5 and every team that we've played in the Top 25, we've lost to -- to Cincinnati, for one. And every game in the tournament is going to be real tough.
From unlvgirl: Have you practiced your "in the paint" shots over the summer? You already have the outside shot down most of the time.
Trevor Diggs: Yeah, my mid-range game. I worked on all aspects of my game this summer. All I did last year was shoot 3-pointers, but I've improved my in-between game too.
From Elnardo Webster in the Bronx, N.Y.: Fordham fans have been keeping track of you; will we ever see you at MSG?
Trevor Diggs: I don't know -- hopefully! If I play up to my capability, I hope I'll make it to the NBA, so I should be back to Madison Square Garden. But I don't know.
From rebel: Out of the new guys, who's looking the best so far?
Trevor Diggs: Jermaine Lewis -- of course I'll say him since he played at my JUCO. I knew what kind of player he was before he got here.
From Led: Do you still keep an eye on old teammates like Nolan at OU?
Trevor Diggs: I haven't spoken to Nolan since I left JUCO, which is sad because we were real tight in JUCO. But every time I see him on ESPN, I try to sit down and watch him play.
From Brigham Asay in Boise, Idaho: Trevor, two questions, I know I'm only supposed to get one, but what would you think about playing the tournament any place other than Vegas? As a Wyoming Cowboy fan, it is hard to swallow those tough losses at the Thomas and Mack. Second, I think this could be the most competitive conference in the nation, what do you think?
Trevor Diggs: As for playing the tournament at home, I understand it's not fair to have the home-court advantage, but I can't be mad because I play here. I think it should be one of the most competitive conferences, too, but our teams don't get much exposure like the Big XII and the Big East. But I think our conference is one of the toughest in the nation.
From rebel: Is there a lot of competition between you and Lewis, and how has it effected you knowing that there's another great two-guard on the bench behind you?
Trevor Diggs: Not competition towards each other, but we practice hard together. To me, it's fun knowing I have someone behind me. He can come in and make shots for me and I can do for him. If I'm missing my shots, we didn't have a good chance to win since I was the only outside shooter.
From Charlet Dyckman in Pahrump, Nev.: What did you to help your game in the off-season? I hope you had a good one and I hope to see you on the first. Bye for now, see you soon. By the way, do you know how cute you are?
Trevor Diggs: This offseason, I practiced hard on my game. I got stronger and, basically, I just practiced my game and I practiced with my teammates. As far as me being cute, thank you.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with UNLV senior guard Trevor Diggs. Thanks again for your time, Trevor. Good luck this year.
Trevor Diggs: Thank you, good to be here. I appreciate all the questions and I look forward to talking to you soon.
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