Jan. 8, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind.(AP)-Forward Troy Murphy tries to remind another New Jersey team what got
away
from the Garden State as Notre Dame takes on Seton Hall in a Big East
Conference matchup Monday.
Murphy, a native of Morristown, N.J., had a big game against Rutgers on
Saturday, as No. 21 Notre Dame (9-3, 1-1 Big East) posted an 87-80 victory.
Murphy finished with a career-high 37 points on 13-for-18 shooting, and made
all eight of his free throws.
The 6-foot-11 junior scored most of his points from close range, where
he
was able to operate freely in the low post.
"He was more poised in the low post than he's been in a couple of
weeks,"
Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey said. "He was spinning, turning, maybe that's
because he had one guy on him and he had some room to work."
Murphy is averaging 23.9 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 53.6
percent
from the field. He has been dominant in three career games against Seton
Hall,
averaging 28.8 points and 12 rebounds.
Eleventh-ranked Seton Hall (10-3, 1-1) will have a tough time trying to
bounce back from Saturday's 78-66 setback at No. 19 Georgetown without star
freshman forward Eddie Griffin. He was suspended for this game for violating
team standards. Coach Tommy Amaker did not elaborate on the reasoning.
Griffin has averaged 19.6 points and a team-high 13.2 rebounds and 5.3
blocked shots for the Pirates, but might have been involved in a fight with
guard Ty Shine after Saturday's loss. Shine was seen leaving the MCI center
with a bandage under his right eye, covering an injury he did not have
during
the game.
Griffin's absence will force guards Darius Lane and Andre Barrett to
shoulder a heavier scoring load. Lane leads the team in scoring at 19.5
points
while shooting 40.6 percent on 3-pointers. Barrett, the freshman point
guard,
is adding 11.4 points and 7.1 assists.
Notre Dame has won three of the last four meetings, including a 76-74
victory last season. The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 6-4.
