2008 Woodie Awards
Dietz steps up to starting line
Chris Benini
Issue date: 12/1/06 Section: Sports
Originally published: 11/30/06 at 9:20 PM EST
Last update: 11/30/06 at 9:19 PM EST
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As if changing lifestyles from the large, chaotic city of Queens, N.Y. to the rural town of Plattsburgh wasn't challenging enough, Michael Dietz, small forward of the Plattsburgh basketball team, looks forward to his next challenge, moving to the starting lineup.
Dietz, an alumni of Archbishop Molloy, was recruited two years ago by Plattsburgh State University College and played for the team last season.
Archbishop Molloy is one of the top basketball schools in New York. A couple of Dietz's teammates were recruited by division one schools such as Georgia and Kansas.
Dietz's first big opportunity came last year when small forward Kris Gibbs Smith went down with an ankle injury and Dietz slid into the starting lineup.
Before Gibbs Smith's injury, Dietz was coming off the bench and getting a considerable amount of playing time.
The 6-4, 200 pound swingman got his debut in the starting lineup on Dec. 2, 2005 when he started for the injured Gibbs Smith.
Dietz stared in the game with 23 points, going 9-13 from the field and five-for-seven from three point range.
He also contributed with five rebounds, three assists and a block.
"Although it was tough losing one of our top veterans I knew that this was a great opportunity for me and I had to make the most of it," Dietz said.
The 23 points that Dietz put up against Brockport would be his highest total on the season.
With Gibbs Smith out, Dietz continued his strong run of play in the starting lineup netting totals of eight, 11, 12 and 14.
Dietz finished out the 2005-2006 with a 6.2 points per game average, and grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game in only 15 minutes of action per game.
Dietz was a much larger part of the 2005-2006 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Champion team than his numbers would indicate.
Dietz was called upon when Plattsburgh's best scorer went down and responded with a 10.2 point per game average during that stretch.
Dietz, an alumni of Archbishop Molloy, was recruited two years ago by Plattsburgh State University College and played for the team last season.
Archbishop Molloy is one of the top basketball schools in New York. A couple of Dietz's teammates were recruited by division one schools such as Georgia and Kansas.
Dietz's first big opportunity came last year when small forward Kris Gibbs Smith went down with an ankle injury and Dietz slid into the starting lineup.
Before Gibbs Smith's injury, Dietz was coming off the bench and getting a considerable amount of playing time.
The 6-4, 200 pound swingman got his debut in the starting lineup on Dec. 2, 2005 when he started for the injured Gibbs Smith.
Dietz stared in the game with 23 points, going 9-13 from the field and five-for-seven from three point range.
He also contributed with five rebounds, three assists and a block.
"Although it was tough losing one of our top veterans I knew that this was a great opportunity for me and I had to make the most of it," Dietz said.
The 23 points that Dietz put up against Brockport would be his highest total on the season.
With Gibbs Smith out, Dietz continued his strong run of play in the starting lineup netting totals of eight, 11, 12 and 14.
Dietz finished out the 2005-2006 with a 6.2 points per game average, and grabbed 2.9 rebounds per game in only 15 minutes of action per game.
Dietz was a much larger part of the 2005-2006 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Champion team than his numbers would indicate.
Dietz was called upon when Plattsburgh's best scorer went down and responded with a 10.2 point per game average during that stretch.
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