Feb. 25, 2008
Notre Dame, Ind. – Kyle McAlarney (Staten Island, N.Y.) was BIG EAST Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging a league-leading 22.5 points in Notre Dame’s wins over Pittsburgh and Syracuse. The two wins helped the Irish remain a half-game out of first place in the BIG EAST standings as Notre Dame improved 12-5 overall and 11-5 in conference play.
The 6-0, 196-pound guard joined teammate Luke Harangody as the league’s only two-time honorees this season. McAlarney also was named on Jan. 28, while Harangody copped top honors on Jan. 7 and Feb. 4.
McAlarney scored 15 points in the come-from-behind win over Pittsburgh to snap a five-game losing streak to the Panthers and then notched his third 30-plus point outing of the season against Syracuse as he finished with 30 points. En route to his 30-point performance, he set a Notre Dame school record with nine three-point field three-pointers connecting on 9-11 from beyond the arc. McAlarney also dished off three assists and grabbed three rebounds in the contest.
The junior stands second on the team in scoring averaging 15.7 points overall and 17.0 points in league play. He is shooting 44.6 percent from the field (136-305) and 46.4 percent from three-point range (90-194).
McAlarney currently owns a seven-game double-figure scoring streak (the longest of his career) and the second time this season that he has scored in double figures in seven consecutive contests. He has scored in double figures in 20 of 26 games and tallied 20-plus points in seven games. His three 30-point outings this season are the most by an Irish player since Chris Quinn recorded three in 2006-06.
Corey Stokes was named the league Rookie of the Week, while the Honor Roll was made up of Deonta Vaughn (Cincinnati), Roy Hibbert (Georgetown), David Padgett (Louisville), Jerel McNeal (Marquette) and Brian Laing (Seton Hall).