Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1210272
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2020 75 MEN'S BASKETBALL of the ACC Network TV, are you kid- ding me?" Brey said, referencing the grudge some theorize that ACC mem- ber schools hold against Notre Dame for keeping its football program in- dependent while enjoying the ben- efits of having its other sports in the conference. "Come on man, we're in the league too!" Brey hollered. "We're in the league too, come on!" That outburst earned Brey a public reprimand, and Notre Dame a $20,000 fine for violating the ACC Sportsman- ship Policy. Brey later addressed his crime and punishment. "I certainly accept my reprimand for my comments," he said. "I will take my medicine like a man and ac- cept responsibility on that. I'll try to be a good guy the rest of the season, but I can't guarantee anything." Fiery on the sideline but typically composed afterward, win or lose, Brey rarely criticizes officials or loses his cool. In fact, his book is titled: Mike Brey, Keeping It Loose. "I think overall I have been pretty good at that through my 20 years of not letting them get the best of me," Brey said of his emotions. "They did the other night and I paid for it. I'll have to run another session of basket- ball camp to pay the fine." MOONEY'S MOMENTUM Irish senior forward John Mooney has spent this season piling up dou- ble-doubles in points and rebounds, placing second nationally in the latter category (13.0 per game). Mooney recorded 19 double-dou- bles in his first 22 games this season, and has put himself on pace to join an exclusive fraternity if his pace and production hold up (see page 9). He leads all Division I players in double-doubles since the start of the 2018-19 season, yet was not selected among the top 25 players for the John Wooden Award — prompting Brey to comment that if Wooden were still alive, he would fire the current com- mittee members. ✦ 2019-20 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Nov. 6 at North Carolina* L, 76-65 Nov. 9 Robert Morris^ W, 92-57 Nov. 12 Howard^ W, 79-50 Nov. 15 Marshall^ W, 74-64 Nov. 18 Presbyterian W, 63-53 Nov. 21 Toledo^ W, 64-62 (OT) Nov. 26 Fairleigh Dickinson W, 91-66 Dec. 4 at Maryland# L, 72-51 Dec. 7 Boston College* L, 73-72 Dec. 10 Detroit Mercy W, 110-71 Dec. 14 UCLA W, 75-61 Dec. 21 vs. Indiana& L, 62-60 Dec. 29 Alabama A&M W, 82-56 Jan. 4 at Syracuse* W, 88-87 Jan. 8 at NC State* L, 73-68 Jan. 11 Louisville* L, 67-64 Jan. 15 at Georgia Tech* W, 78-74 Jan. 22 Syracuse* L, 84-82 Jan. 25 at Florida State* L, 85-84 Jan. 29 Wake Forest* W, 90-80 Feb. 1 Georgia Tech* W, 80-72 Feb. 5 Pittsburgh* W, 80-72 Feb. 9 at Clemson W, 61-57 Feb. 11 at Virginia* (ESPN2/U) 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at Duke* (TBA) 4 p.m. Feb. 17 North Carolina* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 23 Miami* (ACCN) 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Boston College* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Feb. 29 at Wake Forest* (RSN) 4 p.m. Mar. 4 Florida State* (ESPN2/U) 9 p.m. Mar. 7 Virginia Tech* (ACCN) TBA Mar. 10-14 ACC Tournament$ (ACCN/ESPN) TBA * ACC game; ^ Men Against Breast Cancer Invi- tational; # ACC/Big Ten Challenge; & Crossroads Classic at Indianapolis; $ at Greensboro, N.C.; ACCN — ACC Network Three-Point Play 1. Sixth Man Rising By scoring at least 12 points in six straight games between Jan. 11 and Feb. 1, Irish sophomore guard Dane Goodwin lifted his season scoring average to double figures and moved into the top five nation- ally in individual scoring off the bench (11.5 points per game). 2. Leading The Nation Notre Dame's sudden offensive outburst is rooted in efficiency and protection. The Irish ranked in the top 10 nationally in fewest turnovers (9.9) and most assists (17.2) per game, making this team the runaway national leader in the all-important assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7) category as of Feb. 10. 3. Dunk You Very Much Former Irish guard Pat Connaughton — whose 44-inch vertical jump at the 2015 NBA Draft Combine remains the second highest in the history of the event — was selected to compete in the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest Feb. 15 in Chicago, becoming the first Irish player to participate since Orlando Woolridge in 1984 and 1985. — Todd D. Burlage Sophomore guard Dane Goodwin has been on fire since Jan. 11. His season scoring average is now in double figures (11.5 points per contest as of Feb. 10) and he has moved into the top five nation- ally in individual scoring off the bench. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA