Photo!Illustration!by Ian Gavlick and Blair Chemidlin

Taking the game-winning shotas time expires can be the mostexciting play in all of sports. Makeit, and you’re featured onSportsCenter’s Top 10 plays andvaulted into legendary status inschool history. Miss, and yourentire career may be defined bywhat could have been.

So when senior guard Tory

Jackson missed the game-winning3 in a 69-68 loss to St. John’s, itcould have marked the end of abrilliant four-year career.

“It looked good when I let it go,it felt good, but it didn’t end upgoing down,” Jackson said. “Ithink about it all the time, evenwhen I hit the buzzer beateragainst Pittsburgh at halftime.”

Trailing No. 7 West Virginia bytwo points in the final seconds ofthe Big East tournament semifi-nals, Jackson had another good

look at a game-winning 3, but wasunrewarded as the Irish fell to theMountaineers. Jackson said if thesituation ever arises again, hewon’t hesitate to let it fly.

“When Kobe and Jordan and allthose guys take those shots, theymiss a lot of game-winning shots,”Jackson said. “And when I look atit, I’ve missed some importantshots, but I’m not going to loseconfidence and not take that shot.I’m going to keep having confi-dence and taking that shot, and

that’s what makes me me.”Coupled with a passion for the

game and the willingness to sacri-fice individual success for the sakeof the team, it was an easy deci-sion for Irish coach Mike Brey toname Jackson one of the team’scaptains.

“Unselfishness,” Jackson said.“Growing up, I always loved to getmy team involved. I do whatever ittakes to win. At the same time,especially when a guy’s hot, whynot? If that’s going to help us win,I’d rather take the win than score50 points and lose. That’s notgood.”

A prolific scorer in high school,Jackson ranks third all time onthe Michigan scoring list as thestate’s two-time player of the year.Upon coming to Notre Dame,Jackson said he knew he wouldhave to rely on his ball handlingskills and court vision to breakinto a Big East starting lineup.

Leading the conference with 5.6assists per game to go along witha top-10 assist-to-turnover ratio,it’s safe to say the senior guardhas made the transition success-fully.

“To do that and take care of theball at the same time, it’s a greatthing if it can get us more posses-sions,” Jackson said. “Beingranked up there in the assist-turnover ratio, that’s real good forme, that’s real good for any pointguard.”

Playing in every contest sincehis first day at Notre Dame,Jackson had an immediate impactas a freshman. Named to the All-Big East rookie team, Jacksonrelied on his strengths as adefender before expanding hisoverall game.

“Just figuring out ways to stayon the floor,” Jackson said. “I was-n’t a big time, 30-point scorer, butI played well defensively when Iwas younger, especially sopho-

more year. As the years went on, Ihad to become a little bit of a scor-er, getting more assists, and alsodefending the best player on theother team.”

Guarding the likes of Villanovapoint guard Scottie Reynolds canbe a daunting task for any defend-er, let alone one who is 5-11. Butwhat he lacks in size, Jackson saidhe makes up for in toughness

“I hate when anybody scores,”Jackson said. “It’s a passion. I takepride in my defense.”

When an injury to senior for-ward Luke Harangody was fol-lowed by losses to Seton Hall, St.John’s and Louisville, many con-sidered the season over. But astring of six consecutive victories,including blowouts against No. 16Pittsburgh and No. 22Georgetown, has propelled NotreDame to a No. 6 seed in the NCAATournament.

Jackson, who calls himself thefloor general, says he embracesthe task of stepping up and lead-ing the team with a limitedHarangody in the lineup.

“I love the challenge,” Jacksonsaid. “We’ve got to pick up theslack for what Gody had.”

Jackson has answered the call,scoring 22 points againstConnecticut in a victory manybelieved secured a tournamentbid for the Irish. The senior guardwas recently named to the BigEast All-Tournament team, aver-aging 10.7 points, five assists andplaying all 120 minutes inMadison Square Garden.

“It’s basketball,” Jackson said.“I’ve been playing this for awhile,so you kind of get that feeling, getinto that zone where, especiallywhen you get a mismatch, you gotto have confidence, you got tohave swag.”

While he may not have theaccolades or numbers of class-mates Luke Harangody andTory Jackson, senior guardJonathan Peoples has been aconstant contributor to the win-ningest class in Notre Damehistory in Big East play.

Peoples has played in everyconference game for the Irishduring his four years with theteam and is very aware of theachievement.

“It means a lot to say that wedid something like that,”Peoples said. “We’re alwaysgoing to be remembered as thewinningest senior class.”

The senior captain is averag-ing a career-high 18.3 minutesper game this season but hasplayed a key role for Irishcoach Mike Brey and NotreDame from his freshman year.

A Bellwood, Ill., native fromSt. Joseph High School, Peopleswas recruited by Brey afteraveraging 15.2 points per gamehis senior year. After the Irishextended a scholarship offer,Peoples quickly accepted.

The transition to Notre Damewas both exciting and challeng-ing for Peoples.

“It was everything I expected,everything I heard about.Beautiful campus, the peoplehere are great,” Peoples said.“I didn’t know about parietals, Iwas kind of heated about that.It was a great experience my

freshman year though.”In the basketball program,

Peoples had to make adjust-ments to 6 a.m. practices.

“The workouts in the morn-ing had me, I just couldn’t getthrough it for the first twomonths, and I was getting a lit-tle home sick,” Peoples said.“Being around the older guyslike Colin Falls, Rob Kurz,Russell Carter, they helped meadjust quickly.”

While Peoples was learningfrom the experienced upper-classmen around him, he wasstill seeing time on the court asa reserve, appearing in all 16Big East contests. Peoplesplayed six minutes of time inNotre Dame’s appearance inthe NCAA Tournament, wherethe Irish were upset byWinthrop.

Peoples minutes and impactcontinued to grow through hissophomore and junior seasonswhen he became one of thefirst players off Brey’s bench.The guard played in all 33 con-tests sophomore year andearned his first career startshis junior season againstMarquette and Pittsburgh.

“I finally got the opportunityto start my first college game,and I was happy,” Peoples said.“I was kind of nervous, buthappy at the same time.”

Evolving into a veteran leaderby his senior year, Peoples wasnamed a captain by Brey alongwith classmates Jackson andHarangody.

“He’s smooth, he can score,

he can shoot the ball lightsout,” Jackson said. “He’s agreat guy and he knows how toplay basketball.”

Peoples was slotted as aguard in the starting lineup atthe beginning of his seniorcampaign but has entered intoa sixth-man role since theemergence of junior forwardTim Abromaitis. Still, Peopleshas played a career-high num-ber of minutes for his careerand is hitting 3-pointers at a40.8-percent clip.

“My jump shot has gotten a

lot better. I’m more of a defend-er now,” Peoples said.

Peoples had the best per-formance of his career off thebench this season, scoring 23points and grabbing sixrebounds in a win overProvidence.

While it looked like Peoplesand Notre Dame had little shotof reaching the NCAATournament after a losing skidand the loss of Harangody toinjury, the team put together aremarkable six-game winningstreak to close out the year and

return to the Big Dance for thethird time in four years.

“It’s been a battle. I think westayed together as a team butwe lost games by not doing acouple little things,” Peoplessaid. “We still have to provesomething.”

Peoples and the Irish will lookto prove they can advance totheir first Sweet 16 of theircareers starting against OldDominion at 12:25 p.m. today.

‘Floor general’ Jackson heart of Irish teamBy CHRIS MASOUDSports Writer

The Observer ! IRISH INSIDERThursday, March 18, 2010 page 2

Peoples a constant contributor in historic senior class

Contact Chris Masoud at cmasoud@nd.edu

By MICHAEL BRYANSenior Sports Writer

Contact Michael Bryan atmbryan@nd.edu

PATCOVENEY/The ObserverIrish guard Jonathan Peoples handles the ball during an 87-77 win over DePaul at Purcell Pavilionon Jan. 23. Peoples has played in every Big East game during his career at Notre Dame.

IAN GAVLICK/The ObserverIrish point guard Tory Jackson drives for a lay-up in the second half of Notre Dame’s 65-62 win overSouth Florida on Feb. 7. Jackson leads the Big East in assists this season with 5.6 per game.

The Observer ! IRISH INSIDERThursday, March 18, 2010 page 3

On March 3, LukeHarangody became the first-ever Irish player to be induct-ed into the Purcell Pavilion’sRing of Honor. His No. 44 jer-sey climbed to the rafters, cel-ebrating four years of awards,accolades and success.

“Seeing some of the playersinvolved in this University, forme to be the first one, it was at r e m e n d o u shonor,” the sen-ior forwardsaid. “That wasa very proudnight formyself.”

One of many.H a r a n g o d y

will graduate asNotre Dame’ssecond-leadingscorer andrebounder. Hisclass made the NCAATournament three out of fouryears and has won moregames than any other class inschool history. He was namedthe 2008 Big East Player of theYear, was a second-team All-American in 2008 and 2009and became the first NotreDame player to be named tothe Big East first-team threetimes.

As a freshman, Harangodysaid he didn’t anticipate it.

“No, there’s no way I eversaw that,” he said.

Harangody received fourvarsity letters at Andrean HighSchool in Schererville, Ind.,where he won two conferenceand three sectional champi-onships. When he got to NotreDame, he and then-freshmanguard Tory Jackson playedearly in the season.

“We threw them in there,both of them were key guys asfreshman,” Irish coach MikeBrey said. “We went to theNCAA Tournament becausethey were ready as freshmanto be men in this league. Theyhave an unbelievable mental

and physical toughness, bothof them, that I think has per-meated through our group. It’shelped some other guys whoaren’t at their level of mentaland physical toughness-wisepick it up at times.”

Harangody said he andJackson entered their rookieseasons with a “business-like”attitude, which helped NotreDame earn a No. 6 seed in the2007 NCAA Tournament. TheIrish lost to No. 11 seedWinthrop in the first round.

H a r a n g o d yaveraged 11.2points per gamethat season inmore than 20minutes pergame andbecame the firstfreshman sinceTroy Murphy toscore in doublef igures in hisfirst five games.

“[The NCAATournament freshman year]was a pretty memorable sea-son because it was my first go-around with things,” he said.“It was something I’ll alwaysremember.”

Harangody, like any athlete,said he believes in off-seasonimprovement ,so he used thesummer to honehis game aswell as his fit-ness. The nextseason, heaveraged 20.4points and 10.6rebounds pergame.

“It all has todo with workethic,” he said.“Every summer,whether i t ’sbeen workingon my body or working onanother part of my game, justget better every year.”

It was that season thatearned him conference Playerof the Year honors.

The Irish earned a No. 5seed in the Dance that year

and beat George Mason easilyin the f irst round. DespiteHarangody’s 22 rebounds, No.4 seed Washington State tookdown the Irish in the secondround.

During Harangody’s juniorseason, Notre Dame started12-3 but lost seven straightgames and dropped out of con-tention for the Tournament. Itwasn’t for a lack of productionfrom Harangody: He led theteam in scoring for 14 consec-utive games and averaged acareer-best 23.3 points and11.8 boards per game.Harangody scored 30 pointsagainst Kentucky in the NITquarterfinals and had a dou-ble-double in the semifinal lossto Penn State.

Then came decision time. InApril 2009, Harangody, then ajunior, declared his eligibilityfor the NBA Draft. He didn’thire an agent, however, whichallowed him the opportunity tochange his mind and return toschool.

“I think when you are a kidshooting around at the park,every kid dreams of playing inthe NBA and obviously I didand this has always been adream of mine,” he said onApril 16, 2009. “So I mean for

me, it’s neat tobe standing uphere andannouncing thisdecision today.

“This is a newterritory for me.But, you know,one of the bestthings is thatwith the team Ihave, the team-mates I have, Itold them thisweek what I wasgoing to do andthey have been

so supportive, not only theteam’s leader but the guys thatare going to be on the teamnext year and, you know, Iwasn’t very surprised at thatbecause I know we have someof the best guys in the worldhere, in the country.”

Those supportive teammatesplayed a role in Harangody’sdecision to forgo the draft andreturn to school to finish hissenior year.

“It was obvious to see thatthe NBA is a business,” he saidon July 15, 2009. “It’s not likebeing at Notre Dame aroundthe group of guys that wehave. I realize it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be witha group like this.”

Harangody said he wasn’tready to give up one last go-around with his teammates.

“It was one more year to bearound the guys and get a sen-ior year,” Harangody saidrecently. “It’s something I trulyhold special . Now I get achance to watch these guyssucceed in the postseason andalso get my degree.”

Harangody said his parentsand Brey helped him with thedecision.

“[Brey] was very helpfulthroughout the whole process.He wasn’t like, ‘Come back toschool,’” Harangody said. “Hegave me options to go outthere. He was always open tome, which I really appreciated.In the end, my parents and Iand coach Brey sat down andtalked about the whole situa-tion and I just felt more com-

fortable coming back to schoolhere.”

That senior season didn’tpan out quite like he planned.At first the Irish played well,but once they got into confer-ence play they had two roughstretches, losing three out offive and four out of seven atvarious points. Worse stil l ,Harangody suf-fered a bonebruise in hisknee on Feb. 11against SetonHall and missedfive gamesbecause of theinjury. At onepoint the Irishwere 6-8 in theconference andthe season’sfuneral marchwas beginning.

Even with aserious injury, Harangodywouldn’t be slowed. He missedthe next game, against St .John’s, but convinced everyonehe would play againstLouisville on Feb. 17.

“He kind of talked us into hewas going to try and play,”Brey said. “He had everybody,the doctors the trainers, me.‘I’m going.’ He didn’t bring anystreet clothes. ‘I’m playing.’”

It took Brey to stop him.“He wasn’t feel ing good

[after the shoot-around],” Breysaid. “I told him after shoot-around, ‘Well I’m not playingyou so how’s that? Does thatmake the decision easier?You’re not ready.’”

But then a funny thing hap-pened: Notre Dame sloweddown its offense and had suc-cess. The Irish lost in doubleovertime to Louisville, but wontheir next three games, includ-ing two over top-15 opponents,to finish the season. All with-out Harangody.

“What I’ve been really happywith, since he’s been down,how he’s been helping [fresh-man forward Jack] Cooley and[junior forward Carleton]Scott,” Brey said. “His voicewith those guys during thegame, halftime, I could hearhis voice in the locker room.

He’s a leader and kind of acoach for us.”

“I think you just try to keeptheir confidence up,”Harangody said of hisapproach with Scott andCooley. “At first, the first gameagainst St. John’s after I left, acouple guys didn’t really knowhow to approach it. But it as it

went on andthey got morepractice time itwas l ike nightand day.”

H a r a n g o d yr e c o v e r e denough to playin Notre Dame’slast regular-sea-son game, anovertime win onthe road againstMarquette. Hecame off thebench for 11

minutes and scored five points.He also played in all three ofNotre Dame’s Big East tourna-ment games, averaging 14points and 24 minutes pergame.

Harangody said after NotreDame’s 50-45 win overPittsburgh in the quarterfinalsthat his knee was getting bet-ter but not yet 100 percentand that he was proud of whatthe team had done in hisabsence.

“I was curious to see howtwo games in a row would gowith my conditioning,” he said.“I’m still not there yet. But Ithink every day it’s getting alittle better.

“This run we made at theend of the season, it was prettyspecial . These guys haveplayed great without me.”

He’s back now, ready to addNCAA Tournament success tohis extraordinary career.

“When he got here he madeus believe again,” Brey said.“He was an impact guy. Lookat what he’s done throughouthis career.

“He’s been one of the great-est to ever wear a uniformhere. Flat out.”

Leaving a legacy

Contact Bill Brink atwbrink@nd.edu

Luke Harangody returned to lead Notre Dame his senior season and will leave an all-time greatBy BILL BRINKSenior Staff Writer

VANESSAGEMPIS/The ObserverNotre Dame senior Luke Harangody dunks over a UCLA defenderduring the Irish’s 84-73 victory over the Bruins on Dec. 19.

IAN GAVLICK/The ObserverIrish senior Luke Harangody is introduced before scoring 37points in an 83-65 win over Cincinnati on Feb. 4.

“I realize it’s a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to bewith a group like

this.”

Luke HarangodyIrish forward

“This run we made atthe end of the

season, it was prettyspecial. These guyshave played great

without me.”

Luke HarangodyIrish forward “He’s been one of the

best greatest to everwear a uniform here.

Flat out.”

Mike BreyIrish coach

Luke Harangody and ToryJackson will undoubtedly leavemajor legacies as four-yearstarters and the leaders ofNotre Dame’s winningest sen-ior class.

While walk-on senior for-ward Tim Andree won’t leavethe same mark on the face ofthe Irish program, his impacton the Notre Dame programcould have long-term effectsbecause of his work this sea-son with freshmen MikeBroghammer,Jack Cooleyand TomKnight.

“I’ve done alot of stuff inthis offseasonwith the fresh-men,” Andreesaid. “Just alot of gettingextra work-outs with themand helpingthem get in shape. We haven’treally had a true group offreshmen in a while like this,and it’s been fun having theseguys in. They’re all really goodplayers and fun to be around.”

As a walk-on, Andree knewhis biggest role wouldn’t nec-essarily be on the court duringgames. His primary role as apractice player has taught him“to let the little things go,” hesaid.

“I know going into every yearwhat the deal is,” Andree said.“Basketball ’s a fun game,we’re all playing the game ofbasketball because we enjoy itand have fun with it.”

Andree’s father, Tim, playedat Notre Dame under leg-endary coach Digger Phelpsfrom 1979-83. While Andree’scareer obviously didn’t followthat of his father, he said hehas enjoyed his Notre Dameexperiences, especially thosewith the Irish team.

“My dad came in here in atotally different situation thanI did. He was a McDonald’shigh school All-American, Iclearly wasn’t,” Andree said.“I’ve just tried to come out andplay hard and be my own per-son. It’s sometimes tough livingin the shadow of it, but it has-

n’t been toohard.”

A n d r e e ’ smother alsoattended NotreDame, and soaccepting a rolewith the Irishprogram wasalmost a no-brainer, Andreesaid.

“I grew upalways wanting

to come to Notre Dame, sowhen [Irish coach Mike Brey]told me I had the opportunityto play here, it was tough toturn down,” he said.

Andree said the bonds hehas formed with his team-mates has reaff irmed thatdecision and made his NotreDame experience. Andree livesoff campus with Harangodyand senior guard BenHansbrough.

“When we’re not here [onthe court], we’re just friends,”Andree said. “We’re not reallythinking about basketball, butliving a normal life.”

A management consulting

major and theology minor,Andree said he is waiting tohear from law schools. Whilehis future almost certainlywon’t be in basketball, he saidhe will miss his experienceswith the Irish basketball team,and especially with Brey.

“Coach Brey treats us all likemen. There’s a lot of mutualrespect between us,” Andreesaid. “He’s very funny, he’s gota great personality, and he’s alot of fun to be around. He’sgiven me a lot more confi-dence.

“My high school coaches,they relied more on a negativestyle of coaching. Here, it’s allabout the positives, and hemakes you believe in yourself.”

The Observer ! IRISH INSIDERThursday, March 18, 2010 page 4

Walk-on Andree makes impact leading underclassmen

Contact Matt Gamber at mgamber@nd.edu

VANESSAGEMPIS/The ObserverIrish forward Tim Andree handles the ball against North Florida in the second half of an 86-65 NotreDame victory. Andree, a walk-on, has been a standout in practice working with freshmen this season.

“I’ve just tried to comeout and play hard and

be my own person.”

Tim AndreeIrish forward

By MATT GAMBERSports Writer

SOFIAITURBE | Observer Graphic