Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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to keep playing active." Getting Burgett active has hardly been the issue early this season. He fouled out in consecutive games and reached the four-foul mark against Army Nov. 22 in his first career start. Brey changed his initial tune from saying he doesn't care about Burgett's fouling issues because of his energy to emphasizing the need for more care on the defensive end. "I just think he's gonna have to be smarter," Brey said. "He's getting so many cheap ones with the new handcheck rule. I believe he's quick enough to move his feet with these guys." As Brey continues to configure different lineups leading up to a trio of Big Ten opponents in December and ACC play in January, Burgett's development will be key as he appears to have supplanted fifth-year senior Tom Knight alongside fifth-year center Garrick Sherman. "I think definitely from last year to this year, [my confidence has improved]," Burgett said. "A whole different level. And just playing with [the veterans] and being more confident on the floor with them. Throughout the year it will get better and better. "I think this summer [it clicked]. I really started working out with Tom Knight and Jerian and [Atkins] and Sherm and they've all told me, 'You're a good player. We like having you on the court and you're easy to play with.' I think it's just finally gotten through my head and through my system that I can play with all these guys." Through four games, Burgett was averaging 20.8 minutes, 5.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steal per contest. ✦ Second-Half Surge Leads Irish To Win Over Army After a first half that lacked energy, Notre Dame pulled away from Army in the second half to notch its second win in three days with a 93-60 victory over the Black Knights Nov. 24. The Irish (3-1) benefited from another solid performance by fifth-year senior center Garrick Sherman. Head coach Mike Brey called out the veteran frontcourt after the 83-70 loss to Indiana State Nov. 17. Fifth-year forward Tom Knight's continued struggles and sophomore forward Austin Burgett's emergence led Brey to swap the two in the starting rotation. Sherman scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 23 minutes to lead the frontcourt. He scored 10 consecutive points early in the second half to grow the Irish lead to 46-31 over Army (1-4). "I don't think [bouncing back] was confidence," Sherman said. "I think it was more the technical part of it, taking my time and being under control. Confidence has always been there." Brey criticized the team's energy in the first half in a game less than 48 hours after the victory over Santa Clara. "I asked them about [their energy] at halftime," Brey said. "We've got a chance to play again, a chance to win another game, we had just gotten beaten a week ago. That's what I was most disappointed with. We don't have maybe the most vibrant personalities, we do have some quiet guys, but that really starts with our leadership. Even when we substituted, it didn't help our energy level in the first half." — Andrew Owens