Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1220706
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2020 47 MEN'S BASKETBALL frankly uncertain, look into the fu- ture of the program. The greatest challenge for Brey next season will be replacing the wide-ranging production of shoot- ing guard T.J. Gibbs and first-team All-ACC forward John Mooney, two graduating seniors who combined for 40 percent of Notre Dame's points and rebounds, and 30 percent of its assists. Also, take away the crafty game- winning plays and the calm been- there, done-that presence of senior captain Rex Pflueger, and this team faces major voids to fill in both pro- duction and leadership. Brey celebrated the contributions and maturation of his three gradu- ates on Senior Day after a 64-56 win over Virginia Tech in the regular-sea- son finale March 7. "I get to know them when they are 16," Brey said of the emotional speeches and thank-yous his seniors offered after the game inside Pur- cell Pavilion. "And then to see the three of them get up on the micro- phone and talk from the heart with class, that's what our program is all about." Looking ahead, senior forward Juwan Durham (7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game) has a year of eligibility remaining in 2020-21 and has indicated his desire to return next season as a graduate student, though nothing has been made official. Stanford transfer Cormac Ryan will become eligible next season and be expected to absorb some of Gibbs' point production from the shooting guard spot. Notre Dame will also welcome two incoming three-star freshman forwards this fall, Elijah Taylor (6-8, 215 pounds) and Matt Zona (6-9, 235 pounds), to help bolster post play. MEMORIALIZING MOONEY With 45 double-doubles in points and rebounds during the last two years, the superlatives and accom- plishments from Mooney's junior and senior seasons are almost too many to list. Mooney entered ACC Tournament play this year leading the nation with 25 double-doubles. And with per-game averages of 16.8 points and 12.8 rebounds, this two- time ACC Player of Week and Karl Malone Award top-10 finalist (top col- legiate power forward) ranked fifth in the league in scoring and second in the nation in rebounding. Mooney was the only player in Di- vision I averaging at least 16 points and 12 rebounds, and his 16 double- doubles in conference play broke the single-season ACC record of 15 set by Tim Duncan 23 years ago, though the legendary Wake Forest All-American played in four fewer games. Yet, despite all of the personal achievements and accolades, Mooney never once celebrated any personal milestones, always choosing instead to deflect any attention to teammates and team goals. "It's been an awesome experience," Mooney said after his regular sea- son ended. "But we're obviously not done yet, we're still on a mission." ✦ Three-Point Play 1. Next Men Up With 19 games scored in double-figures and a 10.7 scoring average during the regular sea- son — including a career-high 27 points last December against Detroit Mercy — Irish soph- omore guard Dane Goodwin ranked among the top five nationally all season in individual scoring off the bench. Goodwin finished third in ACC voting for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Fellow sopho- more Irish guard, Prentiss Hubb, was recog- nized on the nine-member list for ACC Most Improved Player. 2. Rarified Air As a first-team All-ACC selection, senior for- ward John Mooney joined Jerian Grant (2015) and Bonzie Colson (2017) as the three Irish players to earn such honors during Notre Dame's seven seasons as a league member. Mooney finished third in ACC Player of the Year voting. 3. Irish Iron Man Irish senior guard and team captain Rex Pflueger finished his regular season with 140 games played during his Notre Dame career, breaking the program appearance mark of 139 set by former Irish guard Pat Connaughton from 2011-15. — Todd D. Burlage 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* L, 50-49 (OT) Feb. 15 at Duke* L, 94-60 Feb. 17 North Carolina* W, 77-76 Feb. 23 Miami* W, 87-71 Feb. 26 at Boston College* W, 62-61 Feb. 29 at Wake Forest* L, 84-73 Mar. 4 Florida State* L, 73-71 Mar. 7 Virginia Tech* W, 64-56 Mar. 11 vs. Boston College$ (ACCN) 7 p.m. * ACC game; ^ Men Against Breast Cancer Invi- tational; # ACC/Big Ten Challenge; & Crossroads Classic at Indianapolis; $ ACC Tournament at Greensboro, N.C.; ACCN — ACC Network Fifth-year senior guard Rex Pflueger set a new Notre Dame career mark for games played (140 through the end of the regular season), breaking the mark of 139 set by former Irish guard Pat Connaughton from 2011-15. PHOT0 COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH MEDIA