The ‘Beast of the BIG EAST’

Published 10:21 am Thursday, January 14, 2010

Notre Dame's Luke Harangody has been named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career. (The Daily News/Bryan Wild)

Notre Dame's Luke Harangody has been named the BIG EAST Player of the Week for the fifth time in his career. (The Daily News/Bryan Wild)

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the first time this season and fifth time during his career, Irish forward Luke Harangody (Schererville, Ind.) has been named the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week.

The senior captain earns the honor after averaging 30.0 points and 5.5 rebounds as Notre Dame registered a 2-0 week with a road win at USF (74-73) and victory at home against then eighth-ranked West Virginia (70-68).

Alex Oriakhi of Connecticut was named the league’s rookie of the week, while the Weekly Honor Roll comprised Austin Freeman of Georgetown, Jeremy Hazell of Seton Hall, Dominique Jones of USF, Wes Johnson of Syracuse and Scottie Reynolds of Villanova.

In the two wins, Harangody shot 57.9 percent from the field (22-of-38) and 75.0 percent (six-of-eight) from three-point range. He scored a season-high 36 points against USF as he topped the 30-point mark for the third time this season and 12th time during his career.  In addition, he grabbed six rebounds.  In the contest, he finished 13-23 from the field and was 4-5 from three-point range. Harangody also was 6-7 from the charity stripe and hit the game-winning free throw with 1.9 seconds remaining in the contest.

In the upset win over the Mountaineers, Harangody netted 24 points and grabbed five rebounds. He shot nine-of-15 from the field, two-of-three from three-point range and hit all four of his free throw attempts.

For the third consecutive year, Harangody leads the team in both scoring (24.9) and rebounding (9.4). He is shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 79.5 percent from the free-throw line.

In 116 contests, he has made 110 career starts and is one of just eight players in school history to have made 100 starts during his career. He stands second all-time with 2,247 points (19.4 per game) and third in rebounding (1,111).