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Irish In The NBA: Farrell struggling to find time with the Heat

By Mychal Hunter

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Former Notre Dame stand-out Matt Farrell has had a hard time seeing the court in the NBA summer league with Miami Heat.

Matt Farrell’s summer league team, the Miami Heat, are currently 2-1 over the first three games of the off-season slate. Unfortunately, Farrell has only seen a total of 23 minutes in those 3 contests.

Farrell, who played four years in South Bend, was a third-team all ACC member in 2018, averaging 16.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game. His senior season failed to live up to expectations due to injuries, but he was still able to put together a strong campaign in what was another 20 win season for Coach Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish.

Matt suffered a bone bruise in his ankle in late January that hampered him much of the rest of the season. Also, due to a broken foot, he was without his senior running mate Bonzie Colson for much of the second half of the 2017-18 season.

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Farrell signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Miami Heat. He has found himself on the depth chart behind former Michigan stand out Derrick Walton Jr, who is receiving most of the minutes at the point guard position. Walton was a two-time all conference team member in the Big10, as well as a Big 10 tournament MVP during his time in Ann Arbor.

Farrell’s play while he has been on the court has been somewhat unspectacular as well. In his 23 minutes of play he has gone 2-9 from the field, 1-4 from deep with 2 assists and 2 turnovers along with a +/- of -20.

It should be noted that there is an obvious learning curve in the NBA and you can’t learn if you are not on the court. Farrell does have a game that should translate into some kind of role in today’s NBA given his shooting ability.

Next: Colson's Career Hampered Again

Coach Brey also incorporates a lot of pick and roll activity in his offense which is a staple in the NBA as well. But if not, Matty Ice certainly has the talent to play professionally overseas if he decides to do so.