Jan. 28, 2008
Notre Dame, Ind. – Junior Kyle McAlarney (Staten Island, N.Y.) has been named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the first time in his career after scoring 30 points in leading the Irish to their first conference road win of the season with a 90-80 victory at Villanova on Sat., Jan 26, while teammate Luke Harangody (Schererville, Ind.) was named to the league’s Weekly Honor Roll for the third time this season. The duo combined for 36 of Notre Dame’s 51 second-half points against the Wildcats.
In Notre Dame’s only game last week, the 6-0, 196-pound guard shot 10-15 from the field, including making five-of-eight shots from three-point range. McAlarney also dished off five assists in the contests. The 30 points marked the second time in six BIG EAST outings that he has scored 30-plus points in a game; earlier this season, McAlarney netted a career-high 32 points in the Irish win over Connecticut on Jan. 5.
He is second on the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game average overall and 18.2 ppg. in BIG EAST play. McAlarney has scored in double figures in 12 of 18 games, netted 20-plus points in six contests and been the squad’s leading scorer on six occasions.
Harangody, who was recently named one of the top 30 candidates for the John R. Wooden Award, leads the Irish and BIG EAST Conference in scoring and rebounding. Dating back to last season, he has started 34 straight games. The 6-8, 251-pound forward is averaging 19.3 points and 9.6 rebounds overall and 22.5 points and 10.8 boards in BIG EAST play. He has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games and currently owns a career-high 16-game double-figure scoring streak.
Harangody also tops the team with nine double-doubles and scored 20-plus points on nine occasions. He has been Notre Dame’s leading scorer nine times and led the team in rebounding in 12 contests. Harangody scored a career-high 29 points against both West Virginia and Marquette and grabbed a career-high 16 boards in the Irish win over the Mountaineers.
Mike Coburn of Rutgers was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Week, while Hasheem Thabeet of Connecticut, Roy Hibbert of Georgetown, Anthony Mason of St. John’s and Brian Laing of Seton Hall joined Harangody on the honor roll list.