Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
were considered by some experts to be one of the most talented college basketball teams ever assembled. The Cats rolled through the regular season and SEC Tournament without a single loss, earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame drew a No. 3 seed in the same region, and it seemed like almost destiny from the day of the pairings that the two starkly contrasting teams — a mas- sive Kentucky squad led by a bevy Top Five Male Athletes 1. Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, Basketball — The duo led Notre Dame to its first ACC champi- onship, its first Elite Eight since 1979 and its second 30-win season in the program's 110-year history. Grant was an almost unanimous first-team All- American selection, a first-team All-ACC performer and an ACC All-Defensive Team honoree, while he finished 11th on Notre Dame's career scoring list, third in assists and fifth in steals. Connaughton picked up third-team All-ACC honors after leading the team in rebounding with 7.4 boards per game, while also finishing third on the team in scoring with 12.5 points per contest. His 139 career games played in an Irish uniform are the most in program history. Both players were selected in the NBA Draft in June, with Grant going No. 19 overall to the Washington Wizards before being traded to the New York Knicks, and Connaughton being taken No. 41 overall by the Brooklyn Nets before being dealt to Portland. 3. Matt Kavanagh, Lacrosse — Kavanagh earned first-team All-America honors after leading the Irish in total points (52) and helping the team earn a No. 1 national ranking throughout the course of the season. He was named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award — lacrosse's version of the Heisman Trophy — for the second consecutive season. With a senior campaign still to come, Kavanagh has already earned All- America honors three times in his Irish career. 4. Robbie Russo, Hockey — Russo earned CCM Hockey All-America honors after tying for the national lead in goals scored by a defenseman (15). His year was highlighted by a hat trick at UConn Jan. 18, the only defenseman in the country to score three-plus goals in a game this season. Russo is currently a free agent in the NHL. 5. Nick Besler, Soccer — The now Irish graduate earned second-team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America after playing every minute of every contest this year. The Portland Timbers selected him fifth overall in the 2015 MLS Draft, making him the highest draft pick in school history — a distinction previously held by his older brother Matt, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2009 draft. Honorable mention to junior tennis player Quentin Monaghan for reaching the semifinals in the NCAA Tournament, a first by an Irish player. — Jordan Wells Jerian Grant (left) and Pat Connaughton provided extraordinary leadership and clutch play during one of Notre Dame's greatest basketball seasons ever. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS