Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1067075
38 FEBRUARY 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED MEN'S BASKETBALL BY COREY BODDEN I t was a rough two-day stretch for the Notre Dame men's basketball program Dec. 14-15. Even though the Irish ended a two-game losing streak by defeating Purdue in the 2018 Crossroads Classic Dec. 15, head coach Mike Brey's team departed Indianapolis with a Pyrrhic victory after losing a second player to a season-ending injury. The bad news started Dec. 14, when freshman guard Robby Carmody an- nounced he had suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder that would require surgery and ultimately end his rookie campaign in South Bend. In nine games, Carmody averaged 3.7 points off the bench for the Irish and provided quality backcourt depth for Brey. Luckily for the Pennsylvania product, he qualifies for a medical red- shirt and will still have four years of playing eligibility when he returns to the court in 2019. "I believe God has a plan," Carmody wrote in a Twitter message. "… I want to thank all of my coaches, teammates, training staff and family for all their support. This is just a minor setback for a major comeback! Looking for- ward to supporting my brothers this season as we #RiseTogether. Go Irish." While losing Carmody was a jolt to the team, an even bigger loss occurred the following day. During the second half of Notre Dame's 88-80 win over the Boilermak- ers in Indianapolis, Irish senior guard Rex Pflueger jumped in the air on de- fense and came down grabbing his left knee. He was in obvious pain, and Brey noted in his post-game press con- ference that the worst was feared — an ACL tear. On Dec. 17, Pflueger announced the unfortunate news that he did in fact tear his ACL and would be out the remainder of the 2018-19 season. "You develop a close relationship with your guys when you have them for four years," Brey said in a state- ment. "Rex Pflueger is like a son to me. I'm extremely disappointed that he won't be able to continue this season. "He has been an unbelievable win- ner and leader for us. He has continu- ally helped me endorse our culture here at Notre Dame. I look forward to him continuing to lead and giving me great feedback the rest of the season." Pflueger is a captain and provided quality play in multiple areas on the court. The California native averaged 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the team's first 10 games, including a 20-point game against UCLA and then 10 assists versus the Boilermakers before the injury. Notre Dame men's basketball sports information director Alan Wasielewski PLAYING HURT For the second straight year, the Irish must fight through key players getting sidelined Senior guard Rex Pflueger — who averaged 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists in Notre Dame's first 10 games — will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season with an ACL tear in his left knee. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN 2018-19 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Nov. 1 Central State! W, 76-54 Nov. 6 Illinois-Chicago# W, 84-67 Nov. 8 Chicago State W, 89-62 Nov. 14 Radford# L, 63-60 Nov. 17 William & Mary# W, 73-64 Nov. 20 Duquesne# W, 67-56 Nov. 24 DePaul W, 95-70 Nov. 27 Illinois& W, 76-74 Dec. 4 vs. Oklahoma+ L, 85-80 Dec. 8 at UCLA L, 65-62 Dec. 15 vs. Purdue^ W, 88-80 Dec. 18 Binghamton W, 69-56 Dec. 20 Jacksonville W, 100-74 Dec. 29 Coppin State W, 63-56 Jan. 1 at Virginia Tech* (ESPNU) 1 p.m. Jan. 5 Syracuse* (Raycom) 12 p.m. Jan. 12 Boston College* (RSN) 12 p.m. Jan. 15 at North Carolina* (ESPN) 9 p.m. Jan. 19 NC State* (Raycom) 2 p.m. Jan. 22 at Georgia Tech* (RSN) 7 p.m. Jan. 26 Virginia* (CBS) 1 p.m. Jan. 28 Duke* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Boston College* (RSN) 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at Miami* (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Feb. 10 Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at Virginia* (Raycom) 2 p.m. Feb. 19 Wake Forest* (ESPN2/U) 7 p.m. Feb. 23 Virginia Tech* (ESPN2/U) 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at Florida State* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Mar. 3 at Louisville* (CBS) 1:30 p.m. Mar. 6 Clemson* (ESPN2/U) 9 p.m. Mar. 9 at Pittsburgh* (Raycom) 12 p.m. Mar. 12-16 ACC Tournament$ TBA ! Exhibition; # Gotham Classic; & ACC-Big Ten Chal- lenge; + Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York; ^ Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis; * ACC game; $ at Char - lotte, N.C; ACCN — ACC Network; ACCNE — ACC Network Extra