B-Ball Season Tips Off Tuesday
Frank Vitovitch
November 15, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind - Is this the year ND gets back to the tournament after numerous frustrating years in a row?  Maybe not, but for the first time in years there is a sign of hope going into the season.  New head coach Matt Doherty has some people believing again.  The no nonsense head coach has people thinking that the basketball program has a bright future.

One of the main reasons for all the optimism this year is because of the super star ND will have playing at power forward.  The sophomore will look to improve on an amazing freshman season where there were hopes of him being named Big East Player of the Year.  He lead the conference in rebounding and field goal percentage and settled for being the Big East Rookie of the Year.  He comes into this season being on the preseason All Big East First Team as well as being named a Naismith Award Finalist as the best player in the country in college basketball.  He has back these accolades up with two 28 point performances and 26 rebounds in the Irish's two exhibition games earlier this month.

Fellow Sophomore's David Graves who started 28 games last year and played in 30 and Harold Swanagan who played in 30 games as well will both play big roles this season.  Graves averaged 12.3 points a game, second on the team, last year as a freshman while adding around 4 boards a game and shooting over 40% from beyond the three point line.  Graves' impressive freshman campaign was over shadowed, however, by Murphy's stellar season. 

Graves has played well in the two exhibition games averaging 12 points per game with 9 assists and hitting on 4 of 5 three pointers.   Swanagan's freshman season was not as prolific as Graves' or Murphy's but the 6-6 forward has gotten off on the right foot this season with 18 points in the two games to go along with his 16 boards.

Three more freshman this season are expected to make an impact.  The 6-11 center from Croatia, Ivan Kartelo, is slated to be the starting center after averaging 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks a game for Winchendon School in Massachusetts.  Kartelo is the lone Irish tall threat so he will be looked upon to blocks some shots and help on the glass.  He was injured in the first exhibition game against the International Select All Stars, but should be ready for tip off Tuesday night against Ohio State.

Another freshman, Jere Macura, has shown some skills in the first two exhibition games as well.  Macura had 19 points and 17 boards in the two games along with 3 steals.  Macura also comes from Croatia, but unlike Kartelo has not played organized basketball in the United States.

The last freshman who looks like he will play a major role in 99 is Matt Carroll.  In the Irish's two exhibition games, Carroll averaged 16 points a game scoring 20 in the first game against the International Select All Stars, but has had a knack for turning the ball over - a problem that the whole Irish team had in their 105-81 loss to Marathon.

The season tips off Tuesday night against Ohio State in the first round of the NIT.  Ohio is a top 10 team this year in every publication you can find lead by one of the best back courts in the country with Michael Redd and Scoonie Penn.  Ohio State made it all the way to the final four last year and have hopes of returning there this year.  Notre Dame has an immediate chance to puts itself back on the college basketball map if they could upset the Buckeyes.  The game will be televised on ESPN2 with tip off at 8:30 PM EST.