Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1081575
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2019 89 MEN'S BASKETBALL the backboard and get fouled. We have to keep nurturing that." Freshmen Dane Goodwin (6.7 points per game) and Nate Laszewski (6.5) have had outstanding double- digit scoring outbursts, but have gone through the typical inconsistency so many of their esteemed predecessors did here as rookies. "We continue to take really good care of the ball, we continue to share it and move it," Brey said. "The open looks we're getting we have to take. One of the things I would hope it would develop — and maybe it's in time, or maybe not in time for this sea- son — but Goodwin and Laszewski are getting a little more selfish about their shot. They have to score for us. "They are getting better in practice and games not turning shots down and even forcing some stuff. They're such good and unselfish kids that it's taken them awhile to understand. Their teammates have helped them — T.J. and John especially — to just say 'go.' They have the potential to be double-digit scorers for us nightly, and we need that badly." It's the ultimate in "trouble shoot- ing" now and in the foreseeable future. "When I said 'youth movement,' that means there will be some pain," Brey reflected on his thoughts prior to the season. "We are feeling some pain. "What I've tried to remind myself is teach — and certainly you can light them up and challenge them when you have to. But keep teaching, because we do have really receptive guys." ✦ THREE-POINT PLAY 1. Money Man Mooney — The most recent season in which an ACC men's basketball player recorded eight straight double-doubles in points and rebounds was 1996-97. You might have heard of him: Wake Forest's Tim Duncan. That in itself might make 6-10 Notre Dame junior John Mooney receive some first- team All-ACC notice, even though the Irish are des- tined for a losing ledger in league play. Mooney distinguished himself as one of the na- tion's most productive players with 15 double-dou- bles through the first 24 games, and eight straight before that streak ended in the 62-47 loss at Miami Feb. 6. He is the lone player in the ACC averaging a double-double (14.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game), and one of only six major conference players (among 65 teams) to do so. No other major confer- ence player this year has had more than five double- doubles in a row. The eight consecutive double-doubles were fourth on the all-time Irish chart, behind the 11 by junior Luke Harangody in 2008-09, 10 by Armand Reo in 1961-62 and nine by LaPhonso Ellis in 1991-92. The bad news is that none of the first three came in sea- sons where the Irish made the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, Mooney's feat, including 50.0-percent shooting most of the year, is a testament to pro- gram development for someone whose career numbers his first two seasons were 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. 2. Rex Pflueger To Return In 2019-20 — In early January, head coach Mike Brey confirmed senior guard Rex Pflueger will return to the Fighting Irish as a fifth-year senior in 2019-20 with a medical redshirt. The starter/captain suffered a torn ACL late in the 88-80 victory versus Purdue Dec. 15. Bar- ring any transfers, that would mean all 11 scholarship players on this year's team will return for the 2019-20 campaign. Beyond the basketball part of the equation, Brey noted that Pflueger's mother, Rebecca, is experienc- ing a fight with brain cancer. "We need him and he needs us," Brey said. "His dad and I talked about that, and he and I talked about that. I love the basketball part of it, but everything this young man has done for us and what's going on with mom right now … he needs to be with us another year." Prior to his injury, Pflueger was averaging 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, leading the team in the latter category. How the team dynamics and chemistry will work, when generally only seven or eight rotate in a lineup, won't be an easy navigation for the staff in 2019-20. 3. Chris Doherty Activated — During its first ACC victory versus Boston College Jan. 12, Notre Dame became the first Division I team to win a game this season using only six players. That's because Pflueger (ACL) and freshman guard Robby Carmody (shoulder) were done for the year, junior forward Juwan Durham was sidelined indefinitely (ankle) and junior guard T.J. Gibbs took ill before the game, leaving six scholarship players because freshman post Chris Doherty was getting redshirted. Seven days later versus North Carolina State, with Durham unavailable for a couple more weeks, Brey decided to activate Doherty. It might have not seemed worth it because through Feb. 10 Doherty played only 21 minutes in the six games he appeared, tallying four points and six rebounds. Once Durham returned in February, Doherty's role was back to where it was. He could still redshirt next season, especially if all 11 scholarship players do return. — Lou Somogyi 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* L, 81-66 Jan. 5 Syracuse* L, 72-62 Jan. 12 Boston College* W, 69-66 Jan. 15 at North Carolina* L, 75-69 Jan. 19 NC State* L, 77-73 Jan. 22 at Georgia Tech* L, 63-61 Jan. 26 Virginia* L, 82-55 Jan. 28 Duke* L, 83-61 Feb. 2 at Boston College* W, 79-73 Feb. 6 at Miami* L, 62-47 Feb. 10 Georgia Tech* W, 69-59 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 Junior forward John Mooney became the first ACC player since Wake Forest's Tim Duncan in 1996-97 to record eight straight double- doubles, and he had 15 through 24 contests. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN