2011–12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team

The 2011–12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team represented the University of Notre Dame in the sport of basketball during the 2011–12 college basketball season. The Fighting Irish compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big East Conference. They were led by head coach Mike Brey, and played their home games at the Edmund P. Joyce Center Notre Dame, Indiana.

2011–12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball
NCAA Tournament Round of 64
ConferenceBig East Conference (1979–2013)
2011–12 record22–12 (13–5 Big East)
Head coachMike Brey
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPurcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
2011–12 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 11 Marquette144 .778  278  .771
Notre Dame135 .722  2212  .647
Cincinnati126 .667  2611  .703
No. 15 Georgetown126 .667  249  .727
South Florida126 .667  2214  .611
West Virginia99 .500  1914  .576
Connecticut810 .444  2014  .588
Seton Hall810 .444  2113  .618
Rutgers612 .333  1418  .438
St. John's612 .333  1319  .406
Pittsburgh513 .278  2217  .564
Villanova513 .278  1319  .406
Providence414 .222  1517  .469
DePaul315 .167  1219  .387
*No. 2 Syracuse01 .000  03  .000
**No. 17 Louisville08 .000  010  .000
2012 Big East Tournament winner
As of March 31, 2012[1]
*Syracuse: 30 reg. season games, 4 postseason games vacated due to sanctions against the program; Disputed record: Syracuse–(34–3)(17–1) **Louisville: 25 reg. season games, 5 postseason games vacated due to sanctions against the program; Disputed record: Louisville–(30-10)(10-8); Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Fighting Irish finished the 2010–11 season 27–7, 14–4 in Big East play, finishing second place behind Pittsburgh. Ben Hansbrough was named Big East Player of the Year, and Mike Brey was named Big East Coach of the Year for the third time. Brey was also named National Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated & CBSSports.com, and the recipient of the Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year award.

The Irish were defeated in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament by Louisville. They earned a #2 seed for the NCAA Tournament, the program's highest seeding since 1981, where they were eliminated in the third round by Florida State.

Preseason

Roster changes and recruiting

Notre Dame lost team captains Hansbrough & Tyrone Nash to graduation. Additionally, forward Carleton Scott surprised many by declaring for the NBA Draft,[2] forgoing his final season of eligibility. All three players went undrafted and signed contracts to play in Europe. Notre Dame welcomed one transfer in center Garrick Sherman from Michigan State,[3] who will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2011–12 season.

Notre Dame recruited two players from the high school senior class of 2010–11:

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Pat Connaughton
SF
Arlington, MA St. John's Prep 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sep 19, 2010 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 92
Eric Katenda
PF
Wichita, KS Sunrise Christian Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 26, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 91
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: NR   Rivals: NR
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Notre Dame 2011 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  • "2011 Notre Dame Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  • "2011 Player Commitments – Notre Dame". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  • "2011 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04.

    Both Katenda and Connaughton were expected to contribute in their freshman season. However, Katenda suffered a "freak injury"[4] to his left eye during a summer pick-up game, leaving him with a permanently damaged optic nerve. The injury, combined with an academic issue with the NCAA, delayed his enrollment at Notre Dame until January 2012. He will sit out the remainder of the season but is expected to play again.[5]

    Awards/Honors

    Roster

    2011–12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Eric Atkins (C) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)182 lb (83 kg) SoMount Saint Joseph Columbia, Maryland
    G 4 Patrick Crowley 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) SoSt. Francis Los Gatos, California
    C 11 Garrick Sherman (I) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)251 lb (114 kg) JrKenton / Michigan State Kenton, Ohio
    G 12 Alex Dragicevich 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)221 lb (100 kg) SoGlenbrook North Northbrook, Illinois
    F 14 Scott Martin (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)222 lb (101 kg) SrValparaiso / Purdue Valparaiso, Indiana
    F 21 Tim Abromaitis  (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)236 lb (107 kg) GSFarmington Unionville, Connecticut
    G 22 Jerian Grant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg) SoDeMatha Bowie, Maryland
    G/F 24 Pat Connaughton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)206 lb (93 kg) FrSt. John's Prep Arlington, Massachusetts
    F 25 Tom Knight 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)250 lb (113 kg) JrDirigo Dixfield, Maine
    G 32 Joey Brooks 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) JrStrake Jesuit College Prep Houston, Texas
    F 33 Mike Broghammer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)265 lb (120 kg) JrHopkins Orono, Minnesota
    F 45 Jack Cooley 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)248 lb (112 kg) JrGlenbrook South Glenview, Illinois
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster
    Last update: 2011-11-30

    • Sherman is not eligible to play under NCAA transfer rules.

    Schedule and results

    Source[9]

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/1/2011*
    7:30pm
    St. Xavier W 90–72 
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,578)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/7/2011*
    7:30pm
    Stonehill College W 92–70 
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,567)
    Notre Dame, IN
    Regular Season
    11/12/2011*
    2:00pm
    Mississippi Valley State W 80–67  1–0
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,087)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/14/2011*
    9:00pm, ESPNU
    Detroit
    CBE Classic
    W 59–53  2–0
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,720)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/16/2011*
    7:30pm
    Sam Houston State
    CBE Classic
    W 74–41  3–0
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (6,614)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/18/2011*
    9:00pm
    Delaware State W 93–69  4–0
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,826)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/21/2011*
    7:30pm, ESPN2
    vs. No. 21 Missouri
    CBE Classic
    L 58–87  4–1
    Sprint Center (11,436)
    Kansas City, MO
    11/22/2011*
    7:45pm, ESPNU
    vs. Georgia
    CBE Classic
    L 57–61  4–2
    Sprint Center (10,747)
    Kansas City, MO
    11/27/2011*
    2:00pm
    Bryant W 84–59  5–2
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,138)
    Notre Dame, IN
    11/30/2011*
    11:15 pm, ESPN2
    at No. 18 Gonzaga L 53–73  5–3
    McCarthey Athletic Center (6,000)
    Spokane, WA
    12/4/2011*
    4:45 pm, MASN/Versus
    vs. Maryland
    BB&T Classic
    L 71–78  5–4
    Verizon Center (10,714)
    Washington, DC
    12/8/2011*
    7:30 pm
    Maine W 87–78  6–4
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,024)
    Notre Dame, IN
    12/10/2011*
    7:30 pm
    Dartmouth W 65–47  7–4
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,651)
    Notre Dame, IN
    12/17/2011*
    4:30 pm, ESPN2
    vs. No. 18 Indiana
    Crossroads Classic
    L 58–69  7–5
    Conseco Fieldhouse (19,064)
    Indianapolis, IN
    12/19/2011*
    7:30 pm
    Sacred Heart W 106–65  8–5
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,042)
    Notre Dame, IN
    Big East Regular Season
    12/27/2011
    7:00 pm, ESPN2
    No. 22 Pittsburgh W 72–59  9–5 (1–0)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,231)
    Notre Dame, IN
    1/4/2012
    7:00 pm, Big East Network
    at Cincinnati W 71–55  9–6 (1–1)
    Fifth Third Arena (10,142)
    Cincinnati, OH
    1/7/2012
    4:00 pm, ESPNU
    at No. 11 Louisville W 67–65 2OT 10–6 (2–1)
    KFC Yum! Center (22,687)
    Louisville, KY
    1/10/2012
    7:00 pm, Big East Network
    South Florida W 60–49  11–6 (3–1)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,075)
    Notre Dame, IN
    1/14/2012
    11:00 am, ESPN2
    No. 17 Connecticut L 53–67  11–7 (3–2)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    Notre Dame, IN
    1/16/2012
    9:00 pm, ESPNU
    at Rutgers L 58–65  11–8 (3–3)
    Louis Brown Athletic Center (6,334)
    Piscataway, NJ
    1/21/2012
    6:00 pm, ESPN
    No. 1 Syracuse W 67–58  12–8 (4–3)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    Notre Dame, IN
    1/25/2012
    8:00 pm, Big East Network
    at Seton Hall W 55–42  13–8 (5–3)
    Prudential Center (8,421)
    Newark, NJ
    1/29/2012
    12:00 pm, Big East Network
    at No. 24 Connecticut W 50–48  14–8 (6–3)
    XL Center (16,294)
    Hartford, CT
    2/4/2012
    1:00 pm, CBS
    No. 15 Marquette W 76–59  15–8 (7–3)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    Notre Dame, IN
    2/8/2012
    9:00 pm, ESPNU
    at West Virginia W 55–51  16–8 (8–3)
    WVU Coliseum (9,258)
    Morgantown, WV
    2/11/2012
    12:00 pm, Big East Network
    DePaul W 84–76  17–8 (9–3)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    Notre Dame, IN
    2/15/2012
    7:00 pm, ESPNU
    No. 23 Rutgers W 71–53  18–8 (10–3)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,557)
    Notre Dame, IN
    2/18/2012
    9:00 pm, ESPNU
    No. 23 at Villanova W 74–70 OT 19–8 (11–3)
    Wells Fargo Center (15,939)
    Philadelphia, PA
    2/22/2012
    7:00 pm, ESPN2
    No. 20 West Virginia W 71–44  20–8 (12–3)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,265)
    Notre Dame, IN
    2/25/2012
    12:00 pm, ESPN2
    No. 20 at St. John's L 58–61  20–9 (12–4)
    Madison Square Garden (11,436)
    New York, NY
    2/27/2012
    7:00 pm, ESPN
    No. 20 at No. 11 Georgetown L 41–59  20–10 (12–5)
    Verizon Center (14,514)
    Washington, DC
    3/2/2012
    7:00 pm, Big East Network
    No. 20 Providence W 75–69  21–10 (13–5)
    Edmund P. Joyce Center (9,149)
    Notre Dame, IN
    Big East Tournament
    3/8/2012
    9:00 pm, ESPN
    No. 23 vs. South Florida
    Quarterfinals
    W 57–53 OT 22–10
    Madison Square Garden (20,057)
    New York, NY
    3/9/2012
    9:00 pm, ESPN
    No. 23 vs. Louisville
    Semifinals
    L 50–64  22–11
    Madison Square Garden (20,057)
    New York, NY
    NCAA Tournament
    3/16/2012*
    9:45 pm, CBS
    No. 23 (S 7) vs. (S 10) Xavier
    Second Round
    W 67–63  22–12
    Greenboro Coliseum (16,523)
    Greensboro, NC
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern Time. (#) during NCAA Tournament is seed with Region.

    References

    1. "Big East Conference Standings - 2011-12." ESPN.com. Retrieved 03-31-12.
    2. "Carleton Scott To Remain In NBA Draft". und.com. 2011-05-08. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
    3. "Irish Basketball Program Welcomes Garrick Sherman". und.com. 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
    4. "Injury leaves Eric Katenda partially blind". espn.com. 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
    5. "After eye injury no limits in sight for ND's Katenda". chicagotribune.com. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
    6. "Jack Cooley And Jerian Grant Named To BIG EAST All-Conference Teams – UND.COM – University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site". Und.Com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
    7. "Mike Brey Named NABC District V Coach of the Year – UND.COM – University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site". Und.Com. 2012-03-21. Archived from the original on 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
    8. "Mike Brey Named Jim Phelan National Coach Of The Year – UND.COM – University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site". Und.Com. 2012-03-30. Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
    9. "2011–12 Schedule". Archived from the original on 2015-07-28. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
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