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Notre Dame Basketball: Four players named to All-ACC teams

By Noah Strackbein

Feb 18, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players huddle during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players huddle during the first half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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After one of the best seasons in Notre Dame basketball history, Bonzie Colson was award First-Team All-ACC honors.

The 6’5 forward has proven all year that size doesn’t matter. As Notre Dame’s leading scorer and rebounder, the undersized big man has dominated the paint against some of the best players in college basketball. As the Irish claimed the third seed in the ACC Tournament, Colson was named to the All-ACC First-Team.

Averaging 17 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, Colson made his mark game in and game out against teams in the toughest conference in basketball. Becoming the first ACC player under 6’7 to lead the conference in rebounds since 1958, this Notre Dame star made his mark on the college basketball world.

Colson joined Duke’s Luke Kennard, Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell, Wake Forrest’s John Collins, and North Carolina’s Justin Jackson. Jackson also won the ACC Player of the Year Award, while Collins was named the Most Improve Player of the Year.

Other Irish players, Matt Farrell, V.J. Beachem, and Steve Vasturia, were named to the Honorable-Mention Team. Farrell finished third in the Most Improved Player race, and Vasturia received one vote for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. With four players recognized, Notre Dame finished with the most players in the All-ACC teams.

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Head coach Mike Brey finished third in the ACC’s Coach of the Year Award. The Irish came into the season projected to finish seventh in the conference and proved everyone wrong by claiming the third spot in the conference tournament. Brey led this Notre Dame team to a 12-6 ACC record, 23-8 overall. Georgia Tech coach, Josh Pastner was honored with the Coach of the Year Award.

As the Fighting Irish look to claim an ACC title, they will use their recognized stars to drive them through the conference tournament.