March 25, 2009

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Photo Gallery

2008-09 Notre Dame Men’s Basketball
Notre Dame vs. Kentucky
National Invitation Tournament
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 * Joyce Center * Notre Dame, Ind.

Postgame Notes

• Tonight was the 59th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Kentucky.
• Tonight’s win over the Wildcats marked the first time in school history that Notre Dame has beaten Indiana, Louisville and Kentucky in the same season (104-year history of Notre Dame basketball).
• The Irish will make their sixth NIT semifinal appearance, carrying a 4-1 all-time semifinal record to Madison Square Garden. The Irish are 9-5 all-time in NIT games at Madison Square Garden.
• The win over Kentucky sets up a semifinal rematch against Penn State. The Irish defeated the Nittany Lions 73-52 in the 2000 NIT semifinals.
• With the win, the Fighting Irish upped their home record to 15-3 this season.
• Notre Dame has won 37 straight games against non-conference opponents at the Joyce Center since suffering a 71-67 setback to Michigan on Dec. 3, 2005.
• With his 30 points and 11 rebounds, Luke Harangody notched his 24th double-double of the season. That mark ranks in a tie for first (Robert Whitmore, 1967-68) all-time in Irish history for double-doubles in a single season.
• Tonight also marked Luke Harangody’s 49th career double-double. That total ranks fourth alltime in Fighting Irish history.
• Luke Harangody scored 30 points in a game for the sixth time this season, tying him for seventh (Troy Murphy, 2000-01) all-time for 30-plus point performances in a season. His 30 points tonight marked his ninth career 30-point performance, good enough for fifth all-time in the Irish record books.
• Luke Harangody has reached the 20-point plateau in 25 of 33 games played this season. That figure ranks in a tie for third (Adrian Dantley, 1974-75, 1975-76) in school history for a single season. His 46 career games with 20 or more points are tied for seventh (Chris Thomas, 2001-05) in program history.
• Notre Dame has made a three-pointer in 336 straight games, a mark that dates back to the 1998- 99 campaign. The Irish went 12-25 from three-point range against Kentucky on Wednesday night.
• This is the 10th straight year that Notre Dame has played in the postseason (five NCAA, five NIT). That’s the longest postseason run in program history.
• Notre Dame is making its 11th overall appearance in the NIT and the first since 2006. The Irish are now 26-10 all-time in NIT games and 6-3 under head coach Mike Brey.
• The Irish are 11-8 in postseason games under Mike Brey.
• The win over Kentucky upped Notre Dame’s record to 21-14 on the season. This is the third straight 20-win season for the Irish and the sixth in head coach Mike Brey’s nine-year tenure. The last time Notre Dame posted three straight 20-win campaigns was during Brey’s first three seasons. This is the 33rd 20-win season in school history.
• Notre Dame is 18-1 this season when leading at halftime.
• Jonathan Peoples tied his career high with three three-pointers.
• On 4-7 three-point shooting tonight, Ryan Ayers moved into eighth place all-time in career three-point field goals attempted.