PROVIDENCE -- Even as he was being honored last night for all he has accomplished in the last 50 years, Dave Gavitt poked fun at himself.

Speakers from Providence College, the Big East and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame had just showered him with praise. There were stories after stories about why Gavitt truly deserves the honor he will receive next month when he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

So, when Gavitt had his chance to speak at the dinner honoring him at the Rhode Island Convention Center, what did he bring up? He told a story about how he began his career as a college coach in 1966 at Dartmouth by going 0-9. And when he finally did get his first win, it came by one point, when a player from the opposing team tipped a missed shot into the wrong basket.

"True story," Gavitt said. "It's a long way from there to the Final Four, I'll tell you."

It's an even longer trip to the Hall of Fame, but that's exactly where Gavitt is headed.

Those whom Gavitt has worked with most closely, specifically officials of the Big East Conference, gave Gavitt a warm-up celebration. Because attendance at the Hall ceremonies four weeks from today will be so limited, they officials arranged for last night's reception to honor Gavitt.

The night, which included a 22-minute video of highlights of Gavitt's career, was impressive.

From helping Dartmouth win two Ivy League titles as a player; to coaching Providence College to the Final Four in 1974; to working to become the prime force in the formation of the Big East; to becoming U.S. Olympic coach in 1980; to becoming president of USA basketball from 1988-92; to serving as chief executive officer of the Boston Celtics; to being chairman of the board of directors of the Hall of Fame fromn 1995-2003, there is no doubt why Gavitt was the first Rhode Island native elected to the hoop hall.

Because he was a member of the board of directors of the Hall of Fame for so long, he was previously ineligible to be elected. This year was his first time on the ballot.

"Dave, you've been a legend here in Rhode Island, and now you're a legend in the nation," said Governor Donald Carcieri.

"It is because he has excelled at every level and done so with passion and incredible ability to build consensus, measured by results," said John Doleva, the president and CEO of the Hall of Fame.

The Rev. Brian Shanley, Providence College president, spoke about how he grew up watching Gavitt's Friars play other small Catholic schools, schools that did not succeed the way PC has.

"We went a different route. It has been to our benefit. We owe that to Dave Gavitt," Father Shanley said. "Dave has made some ordinarily wise decisions about basketball for Providence College."

"He was a great basketball coach, but he was an even better commissioner," said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim in the video tribute.

"Dave has had such a profound effect on so many coaches, who today are so successful," said Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese.

Still, perhaps the best tribute of all was to see the 400 people gathered on a summer weeknight, most notably a number of his former players, led by Ernie DeGregorio, Marvin Barnes and Kevin Stacom.

Current Big East coaches Jim Calhoun, Jamie Dixon, Mike Bray and John Beilein were there. So was former PC coach Rick Barnes, and former Boston College boss Jim O'Brien and University of Rhode Island coach Jim Baron.

Tim O'Shea, the former URI assistant and current Ohio University head coach, took part as did eight of the current Big East athletic directors.

Tom Jernstedt, the NCAA's chief of staff, came in and so did Greg Shaheen, the director of men's basketball for the NCAA, a host of athletic directors and commissioners of several college conferences. John Marinatto, former PC athletic director and now a Big East official, was master of ceremonies and read letters from numerous national personalities praising Gavitt.

Gavitt was touched.

"I've not been overwhelmed a lot in my life," he said. "Coaching all those years, you get used to competition. But since I was told I had been elected to the Hall of Fame, this has been both overwhelming and humbling. I've been really almost surprised by it, even to today.

"I've seen it close up all those years I was chairman of the board of the Hall of Fame. I was the guy who was inducting John Thompson and Larry Bird and Mike Krzyzewski and saw the emotion they went though. I could appreciate it.

"Still, it's really taken me aback," he went on. "A lot of it is the people I've heard from. I've heard from so many, a whole lifetime of relationships and associations, a lot of people in the game, but a lot outside the game."

"It does cause you to think about how fortunate you've been," he said. "There's an old saying, and I take this serious, "To whom much is given, much is expected.' I was given an awful lot of oportunities in athletics. So when my turn came to try to give back, I felt really motivated to do so as best I could."

The video shown at the dinner will be available for Cox Cable subscribers on the local access On Demand Channel. Also, Cox taped the event and will put together a program on the reception that will he shown on Cox Sports, Channel 3.

pkenyon@projo.com / (401) 277-7340