May 11, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame men’s basketball forward Scott Martin (Valparaiso, Ind.) has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and will return to play for the Irish in 2012-13.
Martin, who averaged 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in helping lead the Irish to a 22-12 record in 2011-12, transferred to Notre Dame in June of 2008 following his freshman year (2007-08) at Purdue University. After sitting out the 2008-09 campaign due to the NCAA transfer rule, Martin missed the entire 2009-10 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during a preseason workout on October 2, 2009.
“We’re thrilled in the NCAA’s decision to grant Scott a sixth year of eligibility,” Irish head coach Mike Brey said. “Scott was our ‘glue guy’ this past season with our young team. He helped drive us with his experience and leadership. I was so proud of him in how he handled himself once Tim Abromaitis went down with his ACL injury. Scott is a great example for college basketball and we’re excited that he gets an opportunity to play one more season in a Notre Dame uniform.”
Martin started all 33 games he played for the Irish in ’11-’12, scored in double figures in 17 contests and grabbed 10-plus rebounds in three games while averaging 34.7 minutes per contest. Two of his three double-doubles came in both of Notre Dame’s victories over USF. In a 60-49 victory during the regular season on Jan. 10, 2012, Martin netted 15 points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds against the Bulls. He also tallied a career-high 23 points against Delaware State on Nov. 18, 2011.
Martin served as one of three captains for the season, but his leadership was truly put to the test when Abromaitis, the only other returning starter on the Irish roster, tore his ACL. After an 8-5 start to the non-conference season, Martin was instrumental in leading the Irish to a 13-5 BIG EAST mark, the second-most regular-season league wins in program history, and third-place finish in the final BIG EAST standings.
Notre Dame was 3-3 following its first six conference contests, but then rattled off a school-record nine-game BIG EAST win streak that began with the upset of top-ranked and unbeaten Syracuse (67-58) on Jan. 21. Martin and his teammates also made a third straight appearance in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship.
Martin has started all 66 games he has played in for the Irish and scored 633 points for a 9.6 scoring average and grabbed 346 rebounds (5.2 per game). Over the past two seasons, Notre Dame is 49-19 overall and 27-9 in BIG EAST play.
Martin graduated in December 2011 from Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in history and computer applications and is currently enrolled in graduate school at the University. He recently was honored at the team’s annual postseason awards presentation as the Notre Dame Monogram Club Team MVP.
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