Photo!Illustration!by Ian Gavlick and Blair Chemidlin Thursday, March 18, 2010 The Observer N IRISH INSIDER page 2 ‘Floor general’ Jackson heart of Irish team

Jackson missed the game-winning look at a game-winning 3, but was that’s what makes me me.” more year. As the years went on, I By CHRIS MASOUD 3 in a 69-68 loss to St. John’s, it unrewarded as the Irish fell to the Coupled with a passion for the had to become a little bit of a scor- Sports Writer could have marked the end of a Mountaineers. Jackson said if the game and the willingness to sacri- er, getting more assists, and also brilliant four-year career. situation ever arises again, he fice individual success for the sake defending the best player on the Taking the game-winning shot “It looked good when I let it go, won’t hesitate to let it fly. of the team, it was an easy deci- other team.” as time expires can be the most it felt good, but it didn’t end up “When Kobe and Jordan and all sion for Irish coach to Guarding the likes of Villanova exciting play in all of sports. Make going down,” Jackson said. “I those guys take those shots, they name Jackson one of the team’s point guard can it, and you’re featured on think about it all the time, even miss a lot of game-winning shots,” captains. be a daunting task for any defend- SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays and when I hit the buzzer beater Jackson said. “And when I look at “Unselfishness,” Jackson said. er, let alone one who is 5-11. But vaulted into legendary status in against Pittsburgh at halftime.” it, I’ve missed some important “Growing up, I always loved to get what he lacks in size, Jackson said school history. Miss, and your Trailing No. 7 West Virginia by shots, but I’m not going to lose my team involved. I do whatever it he makes up for in toughness entire career may be defined by two points in the final seconds of confidence and not take that shot. takes to win. At the same time, “I hate when anybody scores,” what could have been. the Big East tournament semifi- I’m going to keep having confi- especially when a guy’s hot, why Jackson said. “It’s a passion. I take So when senior guard Tory nals, Jackson had another good dence and taking that shot, and not? If that’s going to help us win, pride in my defense.” I’d rather take the win than score When an injury to senior for- 50 points and lose. That’s not ward Luke Harangody was fol- good.” lowed by losses to Seton Hall, St. A prolific scorer in high school, John’s and Louisville, many con- Jackson ranks third all time on sidered the season over. But a the Michigan scoring list as the string of six consecutive victories, state’s two-time player of the year. including blowouts against No. 16 Upon coming to Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and No. 22 Jackson said he knew he would Georgetown, has propelled Notre have to rely on his ball handling Dame to a No. 6 seed in the NCAA skills and court vision to break Tournament. into a Big East starting lineup. Jackson, who calls himself the Leading the conference with 5.6 floor general, says he embraces assists per game to go along with the task of stepping up and lead- a top-10 -to-turnover ratio, ing the team with a limited it’s safe to say the senior guard Harangody in the lineup. has made the transition success- “I love the challenge,” Jackson fully. said. “We’ve got to pick up the “To do that and take care of the slack for what Gody had.” ball at the same time, it’s a great Jackson has answered the call, thing if it can get us more posses- scoring 22 points against sions,” Jackson said. “Being Connecticut in a victory many ranked up there in the assist- believed secured a tournament turnover ratio, that’s real good for bid for the Irish. The senior guard me, that’s real good for any point was recently named to the Big guard.” East All-Tournament team, aver- Playing in every contest since aging 10.7 points, five assists and his first day at Notre Dame, playing all 120 minutes in Jackson had an immediate impact Madison Square Garden. as a freshman. Named to the All- “It’s ,” Jackson said. Big East rookie team, Jackson “I’ve been playing this for awhile, relied on his strengths as a so you kind of get that feeling, get defender before expanding his into that zone where, especially overall game. when you get a mismatch, you got “Just figuring out ways to stay to have confidence, you got to on the floor,” Jackson said. “I was- have swag.” IAN GAVLICK/The Observer n’t a big time, 30-point scorer, but Irish point guard Tory Jackson drives for a lay-up in the second half of Notre Dame’s 65-62 win over I played well defensively when I Contact Chris Masoud at South Florida on Feb. 7. Jackson leads the Big East in assists this season with 5.6 per game. was younger, especially sopho- [email protected]

Peoples a constant contributor in historic senior class

freshman year though.” By MICHAEL BRYAN In the basketball program, Senior Sports Writer Peoples had to make adjust- ments to 6 a.m. practices. While he may not have the “The workouts in the morn- accolades or numbers of class- ing had me, I just couldn’t get mates Luke Harangody and through it for the first two Tory Jackson, senior guard months, and I was getting a lit- Jonathan Peoples has been a tle home sick,” Peoples said. constant contributor to the win- “Being around the older guys ningest class in Notre Dame like Colin Falls, Rob Kurz, history in Big East play. Russell Carter, they helped me Peoples has played in every adjust quickly.” conference game for the Irish While Peoples was learning during his four years with the from the experienced upper- team and is very aware of the classmen around him, he was achievement. still seeing time on the court as “It means a lot to say that we a reserve, appearing in all 16 did something like that,” Big East contests. Peoples Peoples said. “We’re always played six minutes of time in going to be remembered as the Notre Dame’s appearance in winningest senior class.” the NCAA Tournament, where The senior captain is averag- the Irish were upset by ing a career-high 18.3 minutes Winthrop. per game this season but has Peoples minutes and impact played a key role for Irish continued to grow through his PATCOVENEY/The Observer coach Mike Brey and Notre sophomore and junior seasons Irish guard Jonathan Peoples handles the ball during an 87-77 win over DePaul at Purcell Pavilion Dame from his freshman year. when he became one of the on Jan. 23. Peoples has played in every Big East game during his career at Notre Dame. A Bellwood, Ill., native from first players off Brey’s bench. St. Joseph High School, Peoples The guard played in all 33 con- he can shoot the ball lights lot better. I’m more of a defend- return to the Big Dance for the was recruited by Brey after tests sophomore year and out,” Jackson said. “He’s a er now,” Peoples said. third time in four years. averaging 15.2 points per game earned his first career starts great guy and he knows how to Peoples had the best per- “It’s been a battle. I think we his senior year. After the Irish his junior season against play basketball.” formance of his career off the stayed together as a team but extended a scholarship offer, Marquette and Pittsburgh. Peoples was slotted as a bench this season, scoring 23 we lost games by not doing a Peoples quickly accepted. “I finally got the opportunity guard in the starting lineup at points and grabbing six couple little things,” Peoples The transition to Notre Dame to start my first college game, the beginning of his senior rebounds in a win over said. “We still have to prove was both exciting and challeng- and I was happy,” Peoples said. campaign but has entered into Providence. something.” ing for Peoples. “I was kind of nervous, but a sixth-man role since the While it looked like Peoples Peoples and the Irish will look “It was everything I expected, happy at the same time.” emergence of junior forward and Notre Dame had little shot to prove they can advance to everything I heard about. Evolving into a veteran leader Tim Abromaitis. Still, Peoples of reaching the NCAA their first Sweet 16 of their Beautiful campus, the people by his senior year, Peoples was has played a career-high num- Tournament after a losing skid careers starting against Old here are great,” Peoples said. named a captain by Brey along ber of minutes for his career and the loss of Harangody to Dominion at 12:25 p.m. today. “I didn’t know about parietals, I with classmates Jackson and and is hitting 3-pointers at a injury, the team put together a was kind of heated about that. Harangody. 40.8-percent clip. remarkable six-game winning Contact Michael Bryan at It was a great experience my “He’s smooth, he can score, “My jump shot has gotten a streak to close out the year and [email protected] Thursday, March 18, 2010 The Observer N IRISH INSIDER page 3 Leaving a legacy Luke Harangody returned to lead Notre Dame his senior season and will leave an all-time great

and physical toughness, both and beat George Mason easily By BILL BRINK of them, that I think has per- in the first round. Despite Senior Staff Writer meated through our group. It’s Harangody’s 22 rebounds, No. helped some other guys who 4 seed Washington State took On March 3, Luke aren’t at their level of mental down the Irish in the second Harangody became the first- and physical toughness-wise round. ever Irish player to be induct- pick it up at times.” During Harangody’s junior ed into the Purcell Pavilion’s Harangody said he and season, Notre Dame started Ring of Honor. His No. 44 jer- Jackson entered their rookie 12-3 but lost seven straight sey climbed to the rafters, cel- seasons with a “business-like” games and dropped out of con- ebrating four years of awards, attitude, which helped Notre tention for the Tournament. It accolades and success. Dame earn a No. 6 seed in the wasn’t for a lack of production “Seeing some of the players 2007 NCAA Tournament. The from Harangody: He led the involved in this University, for Irish lost to No. 11 seed team in scoring for 14 consec- me to be the first one, it was a Winthrop in the first round. utive games and averaged a tremendous Harangody career-best 23.3 points and honor,” the sen- averaged 11.2 11.8 boards per game. ior forward “I realize it’s a once- points per game Harangody scored 30 points said. “That was in-a-lifetime that season in against Kentucky in the NIT a very proud more than 20 quarterfinals and had a dou- night for opportunity to be minutes per ble-double in the semifinal loss myself.” with a group like game and to Penn State. One of many. this.” became the first Then came decision time. In Harangody freshman since April 2009, Harangody, then a will graduate as to junior, declared his eligibility Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody score in double for the NBA Draft. He didn’t second-leading Irish forward figures in his hire an agent, however, which scorer and first five games. allowed him the opportunity to rebounder. His “[The NCAA change his mind and return to class made the NCAA Tournament freshman year] school. Tournament three out of four was a pretty memorable sea- “I think when you are a kid years and has won more son because it was my first go- shooting around at the park, games than any other class in around with things,” he said. every kid dreams of playing in VANESSAGEMPIS/The Observer school history. He was named “It was something I’ll always the NBA and obviously I did Notre Dame senior Luke Harangody dunks over a UCLA defender the 2008 Big East Player of the remember.” and this has always been a during the Irish’s 84-73 victory over the Bruins on Dec. 19. Year, was a second-team All- Harangody, like any athlete, dream of mine,” he said on American in 2008 and 2009 said he believes in off-season April 16, 2009. “So I mean for fortable coming back to school He’s a leader and kind of a and became the first Notre improvement, me, it’s neat to here.” coach for us.” Dame player to be named to so he used the be standing up That senior season didn’t “I think you just try to keep the Big East first-team three summer to hone here and pan out quite like he planned. their confidence up,” times. his game as “This run we made at announcing this At first the Irish played well, Harangody said of his As a freshman, Harangody well as his fit- the end of the decision today. but once they got into confer- approach with Scott and said he didn’t anticipate it. ness. The next “This is a new ence play they had two rough Cooley. “At first, the first game “No, there’s no way I ever season, he season, it was pretty territory for me. stretches, losing three out of against St. John’s after I left, a saw that,” he said. averaged 20.4 special. These guys But, you know, five and four out of seven at couple guys didn’t really know Harangody received four points and 10.6 have played great one of the best various points. Worse still, how to approach it. But it as it varsity letters at Andrean High rebounds per things is that Harangody suf- went on and School in Schererville, Ind., game. without me.” with the team I fered a bone they got more where he won two conference “It all has to have, the team- bruise in his practice time it and three sectional champi- do with work Luke Harangody mates I have, I knee on Feb. 11 was like night onships. When he got to Notre ethic,” he said. Irish forward told them this against Seton “He’s been one of the and day.” Dame, he and then-freshman “Every summer, week what I was Hall and missed best greatest to ever Harangody guard Tory Jackson played whether it’s going to do and five games recovered early in the season. been working they have been because of the wear a uniform here. enough to play “We threw them in there, on my body or working on so supportive, not only the injury. At one Flat out.” in Notre Dame’s both of them were key guys as another part of my game, just team’s leader but the guys that point the Irish last regular-sea- freshman,” Irish coach Mike get better every year.” are going to be on the team were 6-8 in the Mike Brey son game, an Brey said. “We went to the It was that season that next year and, you know, I conference and overtime win on NCAA Tournament because earned him conference Player wasn’t very surprised at that the season’s Irish coach the road against they were ready as freshman of the Year honors. because I know we have some funeral march Marquette. He to be men in this league. They The Irish earned a No. 5 of the best guys in the world was beginning. came off the have an unbelievable mental seed in the Dance that year here, in the country.” Even with a bench for 11 Those supportive teammates serious injury, Harangody minutes and scored five points. played a role in Harangody’s wouldn’t be slowed. He missed He also played in all three of decision to forgo the draft and the next game, against St. Notre Dame’s Big East tourna- return to school to finish his John’s, but convinced everyone ment games, averaging 14 senior year. he would play against points and 24 minutes per “It was obvious to see that Louisville on Feb. 17. game. the NBA is a business,” he said “He kind of talked us into he Harangody said after Notre on July 15, 2009. “It’s not like was going to try and play,” Dame’s 50-45 win over being at Notre Dame around Brey said. “He had everybody, Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals the group of guys that we the doctors the trainers, me. that his knee was getting bet- have. I realize it’s a once-in-a- ‘I’m going.’ He didn’t bring any ter but not yet 100 percent lifetime opportunity to be with street clothes. ‘I’m playing.’” and that he was proud of what a group like this.” It took Brey to stop him. the team had done in his Harangody said he wasn’t “He wasn’t feeling good absence. ready to give up one last go- [after the shoot-around],” Brey “I was curious to see how around with his teammates. said. “I told him after shoot- two games in a row would go “It was one more year to be around, ‘Well I’m not playing with my conditioning,” he said. around the guys and get a sen- you so how’s that? Does that “I’m still not there yet. But I ior year,” Harangody said make the decision easier? think every day it’s getting a recently. “It’s something I truly You’re not ready.’” little better. hold special. Now I get a But then a funny thing hap- “This run we made at the chance to watch these guys pened: Notre Dame slowed end of the season, it was pretty succeed in the postseason and down its offense and had suc- special. These guys have also get my degree.” cess. The Irish lost in double played great without me.” Harangody said his parents overtime to Louisville, but won He’s back now, ready to add and Brey helped him with the their next three games, includ- NCAA Tournament success to decision. ing two over top-15 opponents, his extraordinary career. “[Brey] was very helpful to finish the season. All with- “When he got here he made throughout the whole process. out Harangody. us believe again,” Brey said. He wasn’t like, ‘Come back to “What I’ve been really happy “He was an impact guy. Look school,’” Harangody said. “He with, since he’s been down, at what he’s done throughout gave me options to go out how he’s been helping [fresh- his career. there. He was always open to man forward Jack] Cooley and “He’s been one of the great- me, which I really appreciated. [junior forward Carleton] est to ever wear a uniform In the end, my parents and I Scott,” Brey said. “His voice here. Flat out.”

IAN GAVLICK/The Observer and coach Brey sat down and with those guys during the Irish senior Luke Harangody is introduced before scoring 37 talked about the whole situa- game, halftime, I could hear Contact Bill Brink at points in an 83-65 win over Cincinnati on Feb. 4. tion and I just felt more com- his voice in the locker room. [email protected] Thursday, March 18, 2010 The Observer N IRISH INSIDER page 4 Walk-on Andree makes impact leading underclassmen

Andree’s father, Tim, played By MATT GAMBER at Notre Dame under leg- Sports Writer endary coach Digger Phelps from 1979-83. While Andree’s Luke Harangody and Tory career obviously didn’t follow Jackson will undoubtedly leave that of his father, he said he major legacies as four-year has enjoyed his Notre Dame starters and the leaders of experiences, especially those Notre Dame’s winningest sen- with the Irish team. ior class. “My dad came in here in a While walk-on senior for- totally different situation than ward Tim Andree won’t leave I did. He was a McDonald’s the same mark on the face of high school All-American, I the Irish program, his impact clearly wasn’t,” Andree said. on the Notre Dame program “I’ve just tried to come out and could have long-term effects play hard and be my own per- because of his work this sea- son. It’s sometimes tough living son with freshmen Mike in the shadow of it, but it has- Broghammer, n’t been too Jack Cooley hard.” and Tom A n d r e e ’ s Knight. mother also “I’ve done a “I’ve just tried to come attended Notre lot of stuff in out and play hard and Dame, and so this offseason be my own person.” accepting a role with the fresh- with the Irish men,” Andree program was said. “Just a Tim Andree almost a no- lot of getting Irish forward brainer, Andree extra work- said. outs with them “I grew up and helping always wanting them get in shape. We haven’t to come to Notre Dame, so really had a true group of when [Irish coach Mike Brey] freshmen in a while like this, told me I had the opportunity and it’s been fun having these to play here, it was tough to guys in. They’re all really good turn down,” he said. players and fun to be around.” Andree said the bonds he As a walk-on, Andree knew has formed with his team- his biggest role wouldn’t nec- mates has reaffirmed that VANESSAGEMPIS/The Observer essarily be on the court during decision and made his Notre Irish forward Tim Andree handles the ball against North Florida in the second half of an 86-65 Notre games. His primary role as a Dame experience. Andree lives Dame victory. Andree, a walk-on, has been a standout in practice working with freshmen this season. practice player has taught him off campus with Harangody “to let the little things go,” he and senior guard Ben major and theology minor, “Coach Brey treats us all like “My high school coaches, said. Hansbrough. Andree said he is waiting to men. There’s a lot of mutual they relied more on a negative “I know going into every year “When we’re not here [on hear from law schools. While respect between us,” Andree style of coaching. Here, it’s all what the deal is,” Andree said. the court], we’re just friends,” his future almost certainly said. “He’s very funny, he’s got about the positives, and he “Basketball’s a fun game, Andree said. “We’re not really won’t be in basketball, he said a great personality, and he’s a makes you believe in yourself.” we’re all playing the game of thinking about basketball, but he will miss his experiences lot of fun to be around. He’s basketball because we enjoy it living a normal life.” with the Irish basketball team, given me a lot more confi- Contact Matt Gamber at and have fun with it.” A management consulting and especially with Brey. dence. [email protected]

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