Notre Dame Basketball Recap: Monmouth 57-Notre Dame 84
By Andrew Hall
Nov. 12, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Monmouth Hawks guard Stephen Spinella (23) goes up for a shot as Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Cameron Biedscheid (1) and forward Zach Auguste (2) defend in the first half at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 84-57. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE
Notre Dame has a history with great transfer players. The most recent of which was Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough. Now, the Fighting Irish have another great transfer player in Garrick Sherman, transfer Forward/Center from Michigan State.
On Monday night, Sherman dominated the game. He scored 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 22 minutes of play. The 6’10” 246 lbs Center from Kenton, Ohio transferred from Michigan State where he played two seasons. He averaged 7.2 and 12.1 minutes respectively in his two years. He was not just a bench warmer for the Spartans. But, Sherman needed a change so he marched to Notre Dame where he appears poised to have a promising career.
His contributions helped Notre Dame pound Monmouth 84-57 at the Purcell Pavilion. The Fighting Irish dominated throughout the game and ended up playing 11 players including walk-on Patrick Crowley. The Irish were solid from the field shooting 53.4% against the Hawks. However, they were an uncharacteristic 6-21 or 28.6% from 3-point range.
Their lack of production from beyond the arch could have been because of an 0-5 performance by Freshman Cameron Biedscheid. The standout Freshman from St. Louis, Missouri has worked his way into the 7-man rotation for the Fighting Irish but has yet to find his true stroke. He is averaging 8.0 points per game in two games for the Irish. These are significant points but his potential suggestions that he can perform much better. If he heats up from downtown, he could turn it around quickly. He is currently shooting 10.0% from 3-point ranger.
Biedscheid is not the only Freshman who has seen the court this season. Both Zach Auguste and Austin Burgett saw their first game action against the Monmouth Hawks. Auguste scored 4 points, had 2 blocks and snared 3 rebounds. Burgett added in 2 points.
The Irish were much more effective in their game against the Monmouth Hawks. Brey has continued to use a 7-man rotation despite having more depth this season. His rotation is Cooley, Martin, Connaughton, Grant and Atkins with Sherman and Biedscheid coming off the bench. The Irish have the option of going deeper, especially against teams like Monmouth. One knock on Mike Brey’s team are that they fade in March. The Irish now have the opportunity to play several players including Zach Auguste and Tom Knight. This would mean that Notre Dame could have a 9-man rotation and might possibly keep the pressure of the big guys like Cooley and Sherman.
They now move on in the Coaches vs. Cancer Championship Round to play St. Joseph’s on Friday night at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Depending on the outcome of that game and the other games, Notre Dame will play Florida State or BYU in the Championship Game or the Third-Place game.