Humphrey awaits chance to shine
By KATHLEEN O'BRIEN
Assistant Sports Editor
Double and triple teams are nothing new to Troy Murphy. The sophomore All-American candidate draws a crowd every time he catches the ball in the post, leaving him beaten and bruised by opposing squads.
It's only natural to wonder how good this year's Notre Dame basketball team could be with a second standout post player. What if they had someone to complement Murphy down low — an explosive power player capable of scoring and rebounding?
It's not a pipe dream for Notre Dame. Junior transfer Ryan Humphrey is exactly what the doctor ordered.
"We wish we had him this year," junior reserve point guard Martin Ingelsby said.
Humphrey, at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, was a third-team all-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma last season, but made the switch to Notre Dame this year. He can't don a Notre Dame uniform during the 1999-2000 season; he can only practice with the team.
"It's been hard because I wish I was out there playing," Humphrey said. "But what I can do is help make the team better by going out there and practicing. I feel like I'm making them better."
NCAA guidelines force Humphrey to watch Notre Dame — win or lose — from the sidelines.
"It's hard for Ryan," Notre Dame head coach Matt Doherty said. "He can't go out there and do what he loves to do, which is play basketball."
In victory, Humphrey celebrates along with his Irish teammates. Likewise, he suffers with them in defeat. But always from the bench.
"I sit on the bench often, and I kind of wonder why is this happening to me?" Humphrey said. "Why am I not playing? But I feel like God is ordering my steps here, and it will all pay off next year. This year, my goal is just to come practice hard and help the team get to the NCAA Tournament."
Although Humphrey's name won't appear on any stat sheets this season, his contribution is there.
"He brings an energy and intensity to the team every day in practice," Doherty said.
Suiting up with the gold team (the reserve squad) for Notre Dame in practice, Humphrey's role is to study opposing teams' scout reports so he can play the part of a top players, challenging Irish athletes to contain him and withstand his defense.
"He's contributed a lot this year," Murphy said. "He's intense. He's a great competitor. I don't think I've played against a better player this year."
High praise from a guy who's gone up against the likes of Connecticut's Khalid El-Amin, Indiana's A.J. Guyton, Maryland's Terence Morris, Syracuse's Etan Thomas and Arizona's Michael Wright — all candidates for the highest award in college basketball, the Wooden Award.
But Humphrey deserves the acclaim.
He's got skills
An easy-going but energetic player, Humphrey netted 11.1 points per game and 7.5 rebounds as a sophomore for the Sooners. In Oklahoma's first-round NCAA tournament game against Arizona last year, his tip-in basket during the closing seconds delivered the win to Oklahoma, allowing his team to advance to the Sweet 16.
Humphrey stormed to national recognition in high school. Considered the best prep power forward by several recruiting publications, he earned All-American honors from Nike, Gatorade, McDonald's and Parade. His athleticism extended beyond basketball, winning him Parade All-American honors as a football tight end.
The skills Humphrey developed in high school and at Oklahoma make him an exciting addition to Notre Dame basketball.
"They are expecting him to help the program out," Ryan's twin sister Robyn said. "I think they're just as anxious as he is even to play."
Putting Humphrey on a roster that loses only one senior with significant playing time to graduation — point guard Jimmy Dillon — should sky rocket Notre Dame to the top of any pollster's picks to win a Big East championship.
"It will take an immense amount of pressure off of me if they can't double-team us," Murphy said, "If he can go down and dunk over two or three guys."
Taking the heat
Humphrey traveled a rocky road to Notre Dame, enduring more criticism or hostility for choosing the University than any of his teammates did.
Humphrey, a power forward, decided it was time for a change after playing for Oklahoma for two years. After considering several colleges, he settled on Notre Dame, in part because of a connection with Doherty. While Humphrey was in high school, Doherty recruited Humphrey to play at Kansas. When Humphrey selected Oklahoma, he played against Doherty's team for two years in the Big 12.
Humphrey knew Oklahoma fans probably wouldn't be thrilled at the decision. But the Tulsa, Okla., native was stunned at the depth of the animosity that filtered his way.
"When I decided that I wanted to leave, I received a lot of heat," Humphrey said. "I received a lot of hate mail, death threats. I received the full third degree when I decided to transfer."
One of the things that hurt the most was having former supporters turn on him in anger.
"It was somewhat frustrating because those people that were standing there and saying things about him were the ones who were just applauding him in a game," Robyn said. "Being from Oklahoma, you would think they would want what was best for him."
Ryan Humphrey took the emotional beating as a lesson.
"I learned who my really true friends are," Humphrey said. "You have a lot of friends when things are going well."
One friend Humphrey is grateful for is his sister, who transferred with him to Notre Dame.
"She is my best friend," Humphrey said. "If there is anyone who knows about Ryan Humphrey, it's her, because she is my best friend and I've been blessed to have her."
With all the anger directed at her twin, Robyn found it in her best interests to come to Notre Dame with her brother.
As high school seniors, the pair decided to attend the same college. Robyn was also recruited to play college basketball, but not by Oklahoma. She hung up her basketball shoes when Ryan chose Oklahoma.
"We made a pact that we would go together," Robyn said, "and Oklahoma wasn't really recruiting me."
Ryan Humphrey anxiously awaits the day when his name will be announced in the starting lineup for the Irish.
"I think we have all the potential to be a top-10 team," Humphrey said. "The whole coaching staff has done an excellent job of instilling in us that we have the tools. We control our own destiny."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, February 15, 2000
