Feb. 26, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – On an evening when Austin Carr will be inducted into Notre Dame’s Ring of Honor inside Purcell Pavilion, a second honor will be bestowed upon the program’s career scoring leader. Carr, who nearly 40 years after playing his final collegiate game in an Irish uniform still holds the school career scoring marks for points (2,560) and average (34.6), will have the lower concourse of the Joyce Center bear his name as it will now be called Austin Carr Concourse.
The Purcell Pavilion upper concourse area was part of the overall renovation of the Joyce Center that was completed in October of 2009. The concourse area features a variety of theming elements that highlight the history of the venue and the various programs and events that have occurred within the building over the past 42 seasons. The building opened in the fall of 1968 and was originally named the Athletic and Convocation Center.
The lower concourse area soon will recognize former Irish men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball student-athletes and their accomplishments.
During his three seasons (1968-71) at Notre Dame, Carr led his Irish teams to a 34-6 (.850) mark at home and helped begin a list of upsets for which the building has become famous for throughout the years. The first, and one of the most celebrated upsets to occur inside the building, took place on January 23, 1971 when Carr scored 46 points in an 89-82 win over top-ranked UCLA. The Bruins entered the contest that day riding a 19-game win streak and had defeated 48 straight non-conference opponents. UCLA went on to finish the season 29-1 and won its fifth consecutive national crown.
In 74 career outings, Carr failed to score in double figures on just two occasions. Inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007, he was a consensus All-American as a senior in ’71 and was named the national player of the year by both Associated Press and United Press International. As junior and senior, Carr ranked second nationally in scoring with averages of 38.1 and 37.9, respectively. At the time of his graduation, he held 33 different Notre Dame records for scoring and field goals, 25 of which still stand today.
Carr ranks as the greatest scorer in NCAA tournament history with a 41.3 career scoring average. His single-game record 61-point effort against Ohio University in a first-round NCAA tournament game still stands. He recorded 22 double-doubles during his career and scored 20 or more points in each game during his junior and senior seasons — 58 straight contests — and in 70 of 74 career games.
“Austin Carr left an indelible mark on Notre Dame and the entire University community during the time he spent here as a student-athlete,” Notre Dame vice president and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick says. “His athletic exploits and achievements on the basketball court were truly remarkable and exceptional. He is a true Notre Dame man and has carried himself with great dignity and class throughout his entire life.
“Austin loves and cares about this University, and tonight, we are able to honor his legacy and all that he has meant to Notre Dame and our basketball program in a very unique and special way.”