Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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it on both ends, and the games are longer," Brey said. "I like the rule. I think it's better for us because we're a smart team and we're a smart program. I think we can play defense and keep our hands off for the most part." Team Update Notre Dame topped Indianapolis 95‑69 Oct. 28 in the first of two exhibition games at Purcell Pavilion. With fifth-year senior forward Tom Knight (back, day to day), and sophomore forwards Eric Katenda (knee, out six weeks) and Auguste (broken hand, Recruiting Update Class of 2014 small forward Devin Robinson committed to Florida at a press conference at Christchurch High School Oct. 30 in Church View, Va. The 6-8, 169-pound four-star prospect had narrowed his list to Notre Dame, Indiana, Florida and Oklahoma State before making a final decision. According to 247Sports, Robinson is the 29th-ranked player in the nation, the eighthranked small forward in the country and the top overall player from Virginia. Robinson visited Notre Dame during the Michigan State weekend in September. His AAU coach, Ben Thompson, told Blue & Gold Illustrated after that visit that Robinson enjoyed himself while getting to know the program better. With Robinson off the board, Notre Dame is set with its two-man 2014 class. Four-star power forward Martin Geben (Hagerstown, Md.) and three-star small forward Bonzie Colson (Barrington, R.I.) committed to the Irish earlier this fall. With one remaining scholarship available for the 2014-15 season at this point, head coach Mike Brey could take on a transfer as he has done in the past. — Andrew Owens scheduled to return Nov. 3) sidelined for the Irish, Burgett earned his first career start for Notre Dame and scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes. Fifth-year senior center Garrick Sherman scored 21 points and pulled in six rebounds to pace the Irish. All four freshmen saw the court in the victory. Jackson entered five minutes into the game to the loudest cheer of the night. The freshman guard scored his first points late in the first half to give the Irish a 48‑28 lead heading into the locker room, and finished with 10 points and four assists in the game. Vasturia made both of his threepoint attempts in the first half and scored eight points in the game, while Beachem contributed with an impressive finger roll at the 5:11 mark in the first half to cap a 9-0 Irish run. Junior guard/forward Pat Connaughton displayed the versatility Brey praised in the preseason by performing at both the small and power forward positions. He led the Irish in points (nine) and rebounds (four) at the half, and finished with 12 points and nine boards. Even with a visible size advantage — Indianapolis' tallest player is 6-9 — the Irish struggled on the boards. The Greyhounds outrebounded Notre Dame 40-36 and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds compared to seven for the Irish. Notre Dame closed out exhibition play Nov. 1 at home against Tusculum and will open the regular season Nov. 8 against Miami (Ohio) at Purcell Pavilion. ✦