Murphy meets familiar foe in Jarvis, St. John's
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Associate Sports Editor
All-American Irish forward Troy Murphy and St. John's coach Mike Jarvis have a little history between them, one that will rest at the back of Murphy's mind tonight when the Irish host the Red Storm.
Last season, it was Jarvis who started rumors that Murphy would take off for the NBA following his sophomore season when he predicted Murphy wouldn't be around Notre Dame for long.
Late last summer, Murphy played for Jarvis on the U.S. Select team that took on the Olympic squad. Despite being one of the top players on the team, Murphy found himself coming off the bench for limited minutes.
Murphy's also seen more than his share of St. John's basketball. Growing up in Sparta, N.J., not far from the Red Storm's home court, Madison Square Garden, St. John's was a marquis team.
Yet tonight the game's about Notre Dame (14-5, 6-2 Big East) against St. John's (12-8, 6-3), not Murphy against Jarvis.
"There's a lot more at stake than me trying to prove something," said Murphy, who said reports of a personal rivalry with Jarvis were unfounded. "I just have to go out and make this Notre Dame versus St. John's rather than me versus Coach Jarvis."
Since Jarvis won't be taking the court, that's a wise move for Murphy.
Point guard Omar Cook, a likely national choice for rookie of the year, will be taking the court for the Red Storm. Cook leads the Red Storm with 15.7 points per game. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder from Brooklyn tops the Big East — and the nation — with 8.8 assists per game.
Nevertheless, Murphy said he'll take Irish point guard Martin Ingelsby over his St. John's counterpart any day.
"I would take Martin over any point guard in the league," Murphy said, "because he knows how to play the game."
Cook and his cohorts bring a quick attack to the Joyce Center, one that will challenge Irish defenders.
"All five of their players can go off the dribble," Irish guard David Graves said. "We need to stop the drive, and we can't let them penetrate us. We need to box out and keep them to one shot."
Beyond Cook, freshman Willie Shaw and junior Anthony Glover both average better than 13 points per game. The two 6-foot-6 players shore up the post position for St. John's.
"Anthony Glover's a warrior," Murphy said. "I think he's the toughest player in the Big East. He's undersized, but he's got a great heart."
Notre Dame, for its part, is not undersized.
Murphy stands 6-10, while forward Ryan Humphrey is 6-8 and Harold Swanagan measures 6-7. Shooting guards Graves and Matt Carroll each measure at least 6-5.
On the line in the 7 p.m. contest is Notre Dame's goal of going undefeated at home in the Big East.
"We've always said our home presence is important," Irish coach Mike Brey said.
The Irish have won five straight league games, a school record. St. John's is looking to recover from a loss to Providence and make a case for an NCAA Tournament bid.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 5, 2001
