Irish silencing critics
By BRIAN KESSLER
Assistant Sports Editor
NEW YORK
Busloads of Penn State students made the four-hour trip from State College, Penn., to New York City to cheer on their Nittany Lions Tuesday night.
Their boisterous voices were heard loud and clear during the pre-game warm-ups and player introductions, but Notre Dame quickly quieted the Penn State faithful with a 15-2 run to open the game. The Irish were in control from the opening tip and were able to finish what they started. After the opening surge, Penn State was never able to get closer than four points. A balanced Irish attack and an 11-0 run to close the first half sealed the Nittany Lions' fate as well as the mouths of their supporters. With just over 11 minutes left in the second half and Notre Dame ahead by 21 points, the Penn State fans no longer roared like Nittany Lions. Instead they were as quiet as a mouse and the "Let's go Irish" chant echoed loud and clear at Madison Square Garden.
"I thought the Penn State fans were great and I thought our fans were great," said first-year head coach Matt Doherty, whose Irish squad went wire to wire for the victory. "It was a good college basketball atmosphere."
Notre Dame answered every Penn State basket in the first 10 minutes of the second half and wouldn't let the feisty Nittany Lions back in the game.
Tuesday's win was a total team effort, as eight Irish players contributed with four or more points. Doherty also got 23 points from his bench.
"I think [the balance] was great," sophomore All-American Troy Murphy said. "Penn State was unable to focus on anybody and with Jere [Macura] hitting those threes early, it opened up the inside. We have some great shooters and we showed we can spread it out."
Doherty was also pleased with his team's mental attitude prior to and during the game.
"I was happy with the defensive intensity and that we were able to maintain it in the second half," Doherty said. "It's tough to play with a lead against a dangerous team like Penn State and they didn't allow them to get a string going in the second half.
"I had to threaten them some with electric shocks from the trainers," Doherty joked. "But these kids want to win and I'm glad we have the opportunity in the NIT to play for a championship."
So far everything is going right for the Irish in that quest. They definitely have the motivation.
"We are using this NIT to show people that we belonged in the NCAA Tournament," Murphy said. "We are doing that so far."
They also seem to be very comfortable at the Madison Square Garden.
"I like playing here," Murphy said. "This is our fifth game here and it's a nice place to play."
Now that the ingredients are in place, Murphy and the Irish are in position to bring home the school's first-ever postseason title.
"There are only a few teams that end their season with a win," sophomore David Graves said."If we win, we will be one of them. So that will just be the icing on the cake. No one expected us to be here and it is a relief to prove them all wrong."
But Doherty doesn't know the meaning of relief. When he is on the sideline coaching, he tries his best to keep himself out of that comfort zone.
"Right now I feel in control," Doherty said following the victory. "But I never feel comfortable during the game. I'm always worried. I yanked Jimmy when he threw the ball away twice and didn't contest a short jumper. He walked off the court with a smile on his face, but I wasn't in the mood to smile. I wasn't comfortable until there were 30 seconds left and we were up 20."
Don't worry Matt. One more victory and you'll feel enough relief and gratification to last you through the offseason.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Observer.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, March 29, 2000
