Irish Cruise 76-49 Over Boston College
Notre Dame found a way to pick up its fifth ACC win of the season in seven tries without its team leader on Saturday.
The Irish (14-5 overall, 5-2 ACC) held Boston College (7-12, 0-6 ACC) to 16-of-56 shooting (28.9 percent) in a 76-49 win at Purcell Pavilion, despite the fact star junior guard Demetrius Jackson exited the game before the first media timeout with a pulled right hamstring and did not return.
Notre Dame jumped out to an early 9-2 lead after the first media timeout, thanks in part to four early Boston College turnovers. But Jackson went down with what was later identified as a pulled hamstring, and he was slow to rise off the floor. He tried to walk off the court on his own power, but had to be helped to the locker room.
Jackson returned to the bench before the second media timeout, walking on his own without assistance. He was noticeably enthusiastic the remainder of the game from the bench while wearing a pack of ice on his right hamstring.
“Demetrius has a hamstring issue, and those are tricky, so we will go day-to-day with him,” Brey said. “Luckily we don’t play until Thursday, but I’m very proud of how we didn’t let it be a distraction at all.
“You’re not going to put him back in and re-injure it — the hamstrings are tricky. You don’t see them in basketball much. He’s logged a lot of miles and had to do a lot in that three-game stretch, he really has. So I’m not completely surprised that we’ve got a little injury. Again, it’s not season-ending. It’s something he can come back from. When? We don’t know.”
Opening the second half holding a 34-29 lead minus Jackson, the Irish started the period with junior guard Steve Vasturia playing the point, as well as freshman guard Rex Pflueger, junior forward V.J. Beachem, sophomore forward Bonzie Colson and senior forward Zach Auguste in the lineup. Notre Dame started the half on a 7-0 run via free throws from Pflueger and Colson, plus a three-pointer from Vasturia to surge to a double-digit advantage.
Vasturia finished with a team-high 36 minutes and team-high 16 points, in addition to four rebounds and four assists, in his role as lead guard. He did, however, struggle from the field, making only 3 of 9 (33.3 percent) shots, and committed three turnovers.
“Coming up in practice where when you sub Jackson out to get a rest, Steve handles the ball,” Brey said. “And in the course of a 90-minute practice, we’ll sub him out some, so Steve is there handling the ball with that team.
“It’s not foreign. But I think it was really interesting that we rested him last Monday, and the whole time in the scrimmage Steve handled the ball. That probably helped the transition today.”
The Irish continued to expand the lead without Jackson behind multiple scores from Vasturia and a Pflueger three-pointer, grabbing a 50-33 advantage with 11:44 to play. The Eagles never seriously challenged the rest of the way, trailing 61-43 with 7:32 to play and 69-46 with less than five minutes left before the eventual 76-49 margin.
Pflueger played a career-high 32 minutes and scored a career-high 11 points in the win, making all three of his field goal attempts in addition to contributing three rebounds and two assists. Boston College senior guard Eli Carter boasts one of the highest individual usage rates in the country, but Pflueger over and over was able to move his feet and stay in front of Carter, and the Eagles senior finished just 5 of 13 (38.5 percent) from the field.
“I’m really excited about Pflueger,” Brey said. “The job he did on [Eli] Carter, especially in the second half, was fabulous, and now you see him getting comfortable with an offensive role.
“One of the things that kept him out of the lineup was shot selection and when to shoot, and where his place was in our offense. He also was a little loose with the ball when he first got here. He has really improved in those areas. Like today, for example, he can guard Carter, and Vasturia didn’t have to. With all the stuff Vasturia had to do handling the ball, it really helped us. He can score and run the team.
“I just think Rex continues to get better, and his teammates are confident in him. Tonight he took a step in his place offensively. He took good shots, he can make free throws. The way he guards is clinic-type stuff.”
Former Irish star Troy Murphy (1998-2001) was announced at halftime for being introduced into the Notre Dame Ring of Honor. A banner was dropped with Murphy's last name, jersey number and years played that will hang in Purcell Pavilion.
The Irish have a bit of a break before they next hit the road for a contest at Syracuse on Jan. 28. Tipoff for that game is set for 7 p.m. ET.
“I love being 5-2 [in the ACC],” Brey said. “We need some rest. We don’t play again until Thursday; I’m glad I can watch Syracuse play tomorrow night. 5-2 is 5-2, and you want to keep rolling. We play pretty well on the road, and we get to go on the road at an exciting place to play. New for some of our younger guys playing in the Carrier Dome, but on to the next one.”
For a full transcript of Brey’s postgame quotes, including a note about the team’s defensive performance and trends, click HERE.
Box Score: LINK.
Game Notes:
• The Irish improved to 17-10 all time against the Eagles, and 11-4 all time at home.
• Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey jumped to 9-1 all time against Boston College.
• Notre Dame has won seven straight games in its series against the Eagles.