The Handle Podcast – Joe Hassett: 07/15/16
By Reinis Lacis (@LamarMatic)
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Providence Friars legend Joe Hassett came on the podcast to talk about his successful NCAA career, being the most prolific 3-point shooter during the first years of the line’s existence in the NBA and how it was to be a long range shooter back then.
Topics discussed in the podcast:
02:30 – Joe learning the set shot from his father, the growth spurt he had while growing up;
04:50 – His 1975 Pan American Game USA team (featuring Robert Parish, Ernie Grunfeld, Otis Birdsong, Leon Douglas, Tree Rollins, Johnny Davis) beating the 1975-76 Phoenix Suns (who would go on to lose in the Finals to the Celtics) and Denver Nuggets in their preparation for the tournament;
07:38 – The greatness of Marvin Barnes and Ernie DiGregorio, Providence’s 1972-73 season during which they reached the National Semifinal, their popularity at Providence, Rhode Island;
08:40 – Joe joining a team with six seniors, getting to play and shoot thanks to the attention Barnes and Kevin Stacom received from defenses, that 1973-74 team losing to David Thompson and North Carolina State in the tournament;
10:10 – His game of 9/10 shooting against St. Joseph’s, many of the shots being threes and earning the nickname Sonar from a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter;
13:17 – A story about Marvin Barnes arriving for a game vs. Austin Peay at the last possible moment, then scoring 52 points (a school record which still stands) and getting his car towed;
16:35 – A classic Providence Friars victory over the #1 seeded Michigan team in double overtime, the 14-game winning streak and great shooting on that year’s PC team;
22:40 – Being a Third Team All-American with Larry Bird and getting drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in the third round of the NBA Draft;
24:40 – How underrated Jack Sikma is, the story of Don Nelson slamming him, yet trading for him years later on, Jack not being in the Hall of Fame;
27:10 – Paul Silas being the veteran leader of the young Seattle Supersonics, a team on which everyone got along;
29:10 – The Indiana Pacers signing Joe, Slick Leonard using the 3-pointer to the fullest in its first year of existence in the NBA;
30:50 – The fans at MSG leaving a game against the Pacers with the Knicks being up by 3, Joe knocking down an unexpected 3-pointer for the overtime and then receiving interest from national media outlets afterwards (boxscore for the game; The New York Times recap of the game);
34:50 – Being drafted by the first-year Dallas Mavericks in the expansion draft, swaying Al Attles and the Golden State Warriors front office that he can shoot threes, being able to get good looks off Bernard King and Purvis Short;
39:30 – Some of our remarks about Pat Riley and late 90s basketball;
41:25 – The four threes in five possessions he made at the Forum against the Los Angeles Lakers, being able to talk with the court-side Jack Nicholson as a reserve with Seattle, then receiving acclaim from him later on when he got to play and knock down shots;
44:25 – Dislocating his shoulder in a collision with Mike Gale in practice, the injury effectively ending his career during Joe’s prime years;
47:15 – Joe’s successful career in the business world following his NBA career, New Jersey Devils’ Lou Lamoriello persuading him to call Friars games.
The media related to the podcast:
Notable snippets of the interview:
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Thanks to Joe for coming on the podcast, being so jovial and sharing his memories!
Reinis Lacis's Basketball Blog 
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