#3 Villanova (19-1, 8-0) 90 - Notre Dame 15-6, 4-4) 72

Recap Box Score

Unfortunately, it's come to the point where it wasn't expected to win this game. Our faults are known, by both fans and other teams. Some key points from tonight:

- Hansbrough fouled out with 12:48 left in the game on a charge. ND was down 8 and soon closed to within 3 but kept to slip away, down 10 with 7m to go and ultimately 18 by the final whistle. (The Nova students chanted "Tyler's better" as he fouled out)

- We took our final timeout with 5:11 to go in the game after a 3pt shot by TJ put us within 12.

- We were only down 1 at half, but as the game wore on we were outscored by 17 in the second half.

- This game featured 10 bench points, 8 by Peoples and 2 by Brooks in cleanup time. Peoples saw most of his minutes once Hansbrough fouled out. Brooks played a few minutes in the first half but was pulled until the outcome was certain. Contrasting, Nova's bench scored 24 points.

- ND was 19-30 from the line (63.3%)

Harangody Watch
At the beginning of the season, Gody had 1,823 points and 949 rebounds. He needed 738 pts to pass ND's leading scorer, Austin Carr (2,560 pts), and 370 rebounds to pass ND's leading rebounder, Tom Hawkins (1,318 rebounds). After tonight's performance of 21 and 9, Gody now has 2,337 pts and 1,156 rebounds. With 10 games to go, he needs 224 more points and 163 more rebounds. He will need to average 22.4 pts/game and 16.3 rbs/game. It is possible and rather likely he will become ND's leading scorer, but unlikely he will get the needed rebounds. However, it's important to note that Austin Carr set his mark in 3 seasons, while Gody is taking 4 to beat that mark. This season he has been averaging 24.5 pts/game and 9.9 rbs/game.
In Big East play, Gody began the season with 1,036 pts and 540 rebounds. He needed 369 pts (record: 1,404) and 161 rebounds (record: 700) to become the all-time leading Big East scorer and rebounder. Again with 10 games to go, Gody has recorded 1,236 pts and 607 rebounds. He needs 168 more points and 93 more rebounds. It is very likely he will average 16.8 pts/game and possible he will average 9.3 rbs/game. In conference play, he has been averaging 25.0 pts/game and 8.4 rbs/game.
If Gody becomes the Big East's leading scorer, he will become ND's leading scorer along the way as well.

Elsewhere in the Big East
Providence 81 - #19 Connecticut 66

Next Game: Sat. Jan 30 @ Rutgers 6pm ET ESPN2

Go Irish!
~IT07