As a senior, Juwan Durham averaged the fewest minutes of any regular Notre Dame starter (17.1). In spite of this, he built on one solid performance after another. On Dec. 10 against Detroit Mercy, he matched what was then a career high of 16 points to go with nine rebounds and five blocks. He turned in another 16-point performance Jan. 25 at Florida State before setting a new career best Feb. 15 at Duke with 21 points.
Durham averaged 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds a game while accumulating a team-high 66 blocks. With another year of eligibility, the Irish expect him to return as a graduate student next season. That will be a relief to a team that won’t have John Mooney anymore. While not a double-double machine like Mooney, Durham will continue to provide the Irish with much-needed size and the productivity it requires on both ends.
Notre Dame needs a leader in the paint with Mooney not there anymore, and assuming he comes back, Durham will be that man.