Nov. 22, 2004
The University of Notre Dame official athletics site, www.und.com , continues its tribute today to the school’s celebration of 100 Seasons of Basketball. Spanning the entirety of the college basketball season, www.und.com, will update this section of the site every weekday 100 times in an effort to highlight Notre Dame’s 100th Basketball Season in 2004-05.
The updates will change between trivia questions, quick bios from Notre Dame’s all-century team, various “On this date in Notre Dame Basketball” elements and more.
Also available this season is the book 100 Seasons of Basketball, produced by the University of Notre Dame Sports Information Office and Notre Dame Sports Properties. The book is available exclusively through the Notre Dame Bookstore (call 800-647-4641 or to go www.ndcatalog.com).
#10 (Friday, Nov. 26, 2004)
Notre Dame Basketball Trivia
What Notre Dame player hit the first game-winning basket at the final horn in the Joyce Center?
A. Austin Carr
B. Tracy Jackson
C. John Paxson
D. Gary Novak
The answer is…. (B) Tracy Jackson. He hit a 30-foot jumper at the buzzer to defeat Villanova 69-68 on Jan. 15, 1980.
NEXT UPDATE:
#11 (Monday, Nov. 29)
Instant Classic: Irish Stun Defending National Champion Indiana
#9 (Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004)
Matt Carroll – Long Bomber
One of the greatest pure shooters to grace the Joyce Center floor, Matt Carroll was named one of the top 25 players in Notre Dame basketball history. Carroll enjoyed one of the top senior seasons in recent memory, hitting a school-record 99 three pointers on the way to averaging 19.5 points per game.
Carroll eventually finished his career atop the Notre Dame career lists for field goals attempted (762), games played (133), games started (125) and three pointers (301). He finished his career with 1,850 points, averaging 13.9 per game.
#8 (Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004)
Beating Number One
Notre Dame is second behind UCLA (which has 10) in the number of victories over teams that were ranked No. 1 in the weekly Associated Press poll. Irish teams have registered nine wins over number-one racked foes. The last time that happened was a 60-58 win over No. 1-ranked North Carolina at the Joyce Center on Feb. 1, 1987. Duke is third on that list with eight while Georgia Tech, Ohio State and North Carolina are tied for fourth on that list with seven each.
Former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps leads the list for most wins over a No. 1-ranked team with seven while former North Carolina coach Dean Smith is second with five. Interestingly, Notre Dame also leads the list in football wins over No. 1-ranked teams with eight, followed by USC and Purdue with seven. Notre Dame leads the combined basketball and football list of wins over No.-1 ranked teams with 17, while Oklahoma is second with 11.
Notre Dame Basketball Wins Over #1
March 12, 1953
#6/5 Notre Dame 65, #2/1 Indiana 64
(NCAA Tournament, Iowa City Fieldhouse)
January 23, 1971
#9/13 Notre Dame 89, #1/1 UCLA 82
(Joyce Center)
January 19, 1974
#2/2 Notre Dame 71, #1/1 UCLA 70
(Joyce Center)
March 5, 1977
Notre Dame 93, #1/1 San Fransisco 82
(Joyce Center)
February 26, 1978
#9/12 Notre Dame 65, #1/1 Marquette 59
(Joyce Center)
February 27, 1980
#14/10 Notre Dame 76, #1/1 DePaul 74 (2ot)
(Joyce Center)
December 27, 1980
#8/11 Notre Dame 67, #2/1 Kentucky 61
(in Louisville, Kent.)
February 22, 1981
#11/11 Notre Dame 57, #1/2 Virginia 56
(Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, Ill.)
February 1, 1987
Notre Dame 60, #1/1 North Carolina 58
(Joyce Center)
TOMORROW (THANKSGIVING):
Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004)
Matt Carroll – Long Bomber
Note: Since it is Thanksgiving, Thursday’s update will be posted Friday – a two-for-one.
#7 (Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004)
Jack Lloyd – The voice of Notre Dame Basketball
Most diehard and `old school’ Notre Dame basketball fans always recall the glory days in the Joyce Center (then called the ACC) when teams feared a trip to South Bend and the building was widely known as one of the toughest place to play in the nation. One person who played a major role in that status was public address announcer John “Jack” Lloyd.
Lloyd became the Notre Dame basketball announcer in 1964, beginning in the Fieldhouse and ending his career during the 1995-96 season in the Joyce Center. An instantly-recognizable voice to Irish fans over that time, Lloyd was able to make each player introduction before the game into a major event.
The Joyce Center was a different place then, when the fans worked themselves into a frenzy before the team even hit the court and Lloyd played a key role in creating that environment. In his 32 years, Lloyd became legendary for his player introductions and getting fans involved in the game.
His most memorable introductions usually dealt with some unusual Irish player names – Kelly Tripuka, Orlando Woolridge, Jim Dolan, Tim Kempton and John Paxson just to name a few. One introduction that still stands out was his selection for Austin Carr – “Out of DeMatha High in our nation’s capital, his number is 34, his name is Austin Carr!”
Lloyd also introduced a tradition that can still be heard at certain Notre Dame games – “At the line for the Irish, (insert players name) shooting one and…” while the student section will finish the sentence in chorus: “the bonus!” The tradition of giving the opposing team’s series history against Notre Dame and a brief background on the school before the starting lineups (location of school, nickname, etc.) also was developed by Lloyd.
On Jan. 14, 1997, Lloyd returned to the Joyce Center microphone one last time and introduced the starting lineups as the Irish took on Villanova. At halftime of that game, he received an honorary monogram from the Notre Dame National Monogram Club.
Those lucky enough to work in the Notre Dame Stadium Press Box still get a chance to see and listen to Lloyd every fall. He serves as the Stadium’s internal public address announcer. He also regularly attends home Notre Dame basketball games.
The current announcer for games at the Joyce Center is Jon Thompson.
1972-73 – Phelps Lays The Foundation
Digger Phelps assumed control over the Notre Dame men’s basketball program in 1971-72, following Austin Carr’s final season with the Irish in 1970-71. Phelps first season ended with a 6-20 record, but any fear of the Notre Dame basketball program slipping into mediocrity was put to rest during the next season.
Featuring junior captains Gary Novak and John Shumate at forward, sophomore Pete Crotty at center, and a guard tandem of sophomores Dwight Clay and Gary Brokaw, Notre Dame recovered from a 1-6 start in ’72-`73 to finish 18-12 and as the runner up in the NIT. Among the signature victories of that season was a shocking 71-69 victory at #3/4 Marquette on Jan. 13, 1973. The Irish were just 3-6 at the time of the contest and snapped Marquette’s 81-game winning streak. Clay (who earned his nickname “The Ice Man” in this contest) scored the winning basket with two seconds remaining.
After the big win at Marquette, Notre Dame would finish the season strong going 15-6 in its final 21 games. Along the way, the Irish defeated #11/13 St. John’s, #19/19 South Carolina and #11/12 North Carolina in the NIT.
Suddenly, the Irish basketball program was right back on track. The signature moment in Notre Dame history, the UCLA victory in 1973, would follow the next season along with the team’s instant status as one of the top program’s in the nation. Phelps would make his first NCAA appearance in 1973-74 and follow up with eight consecutive invitations to college basketball’s supreme event.