Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Murphy Tries To Complete Sweep Of Big East Teams From New Jersey

Jan. 8, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind.(AP)-Forward Troy Murphy tries to remind another New Jersey team what got away from the Garden State as Notre Dame takes on Seton Hall in a Big East Conference matchup Monday.

Murphy, a native of Morristown, N.J., had a big game against Rutgers on Saturday, as No. 21 Notre Dame (9-3, 1-1 Big East) posted an 87-80 victory. Murphy finished with a career-high 37 points on 13-for-18 shooting, and made all eight of his free throws.

The 6-foot-11 junior scored most of his points from close range, where he was able to operate freely in the low post.

“He was more poised in the low post than he’s been in a couple of weeks,” Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey said. “He was spinning, turning, maybe that’s because he had one guy on him and he had some room to work.”

Murphy is averaging 23.9 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. He has been dominant in three career games against Seton Hall, averaging 28.8 points and 12 rebounds.

Eleventh-ranked Seton Hall (10-3, 1-1) will have a tough time trying to bounce back from Saturday’s 78-66 setback at No. 19 Georgetown without star freshman forward Eddie Griffin. He was suspended for this game for violating team standards. Coach Tommy Amaker did not elaborate on the reasoning.

Griffin has averaged 19.6 points and a team-high 13.2 rebounds and 5.3 blocked shots for the Pirates, but might have been involved in a fight with guard Ty Shine after Saturday’s loss. Shine was seen leaving the MCI center with a bandage under his right eye, covering an injury he did not have during the game.

Griffin’s absence will force guards Darius Lane and Andre Barrett to shoulder a heavier scoring load. Lane leads the team in scoring at 19.5 points while shooting 40.6 percent on 3-pointers. Barrett, the freshman point guard, is adding 11.4 points and 7.1 assists.

Notre Dame has won three of the last four meetings, including a 76-74 victory last season. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 6-4.