Blue and Gold Illustrated

BGI Nov 30, 2019

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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46 NOV. 30, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED MEN'S BASKETBALL BY TODD D. BURLAGE T he Notre Dame men's basket- ball season is still very much in its infancy, but Irish senior forward Juwan Durham has al- ready been told to grow up quickly. So far, he has delivered big time. Durham's biggest test came Nov. 18, against Presbyterian College, when he was asked to help fill the production void created when star Irish forward John Mooney was out with a stomach ailment. Without Mooney — who at the time was averaging 16.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, and was the reigning ACC Player of the Week — Irish head coach Mike Brey needed somebody to handle interior duties. "When I got the news at 9 a.m. on Johnny," Brey said of a morning phone call that broke the bad news that Mooney was sick, "I was wor- ried." Showing much of what will be ex- pected all season, Durham calmed his coach's fears with 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for his sec- ond career double-double in a 63-53 Irish win. "I needed to get on the glass," Dur- ham said after the game. "You can't replace Mooney at all with his type of double-doubles, just be there de- fensively to help the team as much as possible." "Juwan Durham was flying around and bouncing around more," added Brey, who hopes this is just a starting point of an upsurge to come. THE FLORIDA CONNECTION The irony of Durham being asked to pick up the slack for Mooney is that these two senior forwards are roommates, they're both from Flor- ida, they're best friends and they ide- ally complement each other when playing together in the post, evi- denced in a 74-64 win over Marshall Nov. 15. Mooney, an Orlando native, scored 14 of his 18 total points in the sec- ond half and grabbed 10 of his 16 rebounds in the first half. Durham, from Tampa, had seven of his 11 points in the first half and three of his five rebounds in the sec- ond half. Together, these Florida natives pro- vide Brey a lanky, productive and disruptive tandem around the bas- ket. The two combined for 29 points (13-of-22 shooting), 21 rebounds and seven assists with no turnovers in the game. "They love playing together, and it's kind of neat, the two Florida guys," Brey said. "They room to- gether, and I think they have a nice chemistry together. "We're learning how to be more ef- ficient offensively with them on the floor. They really have become good passers." FINALLY HIS TIME Durham's quick start and valu- able contributions so far this season have been a long time coming for this Tampa Prep High School star who began his college career at Con- necticut. Durham tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee as a high school junior while chasing a loose ball during a Tampa Prep playoff game. Then, early in his senior year, he tore the ACL in his left knee while running on a treadmill to rehab his right knee. Once touted as a potential top-50 With his roommate John Mooney out with an illness, Durham contributed 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a 63-53 Irish win over Presbyterian College Nov. 18. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE The long wait is now worth it for Juwan Durham

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