Tag: Zach Auguste

Watch: Notre Dame’s appearances in ‘One Shining Moment’

The Irish have made appearances in the annual NCAA Tournament montage.

When I was 14, I had the opportunity to visit the NCAA Hall of Champions during a family trip to Indianapolis. It was there when I was properly introduced to the annual video montage that has wrapped up TV coverage of every NCAA Tournament since 1987.

While I had seen “One Shining Moment” once before, I figured it was just a typical montage like any that played whenever the NBA Finals or World Series wrapped up. My discovery that this happened every year was my main takeaway from the museum that afternoon, and I’ve looked forward to it every year since.

Notre Dame has not appeared in “One Shining Moment” every year it has made the tournament since the montage began, but let’s not pretend it’s done something significant in every appearance. Case in point, the Irish were not featured prominently in any montage until the three straight years it qualified from 2015 to 2017, which included back-to-back Elite Eights. Take a look at all of them below:

Former Notre Dame players in the 2021 NBA Summer League

The Summer League has a slight Irish flavor to it.

After a one-year absence, the NBA Summer League has returned. Players entering their first and second years in the league along with G League players have a chance to prove themselves in front of coaches and other folks who watch NBA talent year round. That also goes for undrafted players who either are just coming out of college or have continued their careers overseas. For fans, it’s both a chance to watch future NBA stars and a chance to watch more basketball.

This year, three players who have gone through Notre Dame in recent years are in the league. While there obviously are no guarantees, one of them could play well enough to at least merit a spot on a training camp roster. If you’re up for watching some former Irish players this month, here they are:

Celtics may look to add depth via Euroleague with reports of Zach Auguste, Nigel Hayes workouts

Boston may again look across the pond for some rotation help.

The Boston Celtics may again raid the Euroleague for some depth in their 2021-22 campaign with reports surfacing that the team is planning on working our a pair of players from across the pond this week.

Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia is reporting that the Celtics will work out Panathinaikos’ Zach Auguste and Žalgiris’ Nigel Hayes this week. Auguste is a 28-year-old center who logged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in the Euroleague last season, while Hayes — a 26-year-old forward — shot 44.3% from deep overseas last season while putting up 9.5 points, 3.9 boards, and 1.2 assists per game.

While Auguste’s case do not immediately pop based on those numbers, it’s easy to see the potential for a shooter on the wing with the size to play 2 through 4 at 6-foot-7.

We may end up seeing one or both as part of the Celtics’ Las Vegas Summer League squad rotation on a camp deal if their workouts with Boston go well.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=54209,54214,54194,54184]

[listicle id=54191]

Watch: Rex Pflueger’s game-winning tip in 2016 NCAA Tournament

Five years ago Saturday, one of Notre Dame’s most memorable NCAA Tournament moments took place.

Five years ago Saturday, one of Notre Dame’s most memorable NCAA Tournament moments took place. Needing a basket in the final seconds to avoid an embarrassing second-round loss to No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin, the Irish did everything they could to get as close a shot as possible. Demetrius Jackson missed a layup, and Zach Auguste did the same with a putback attempt. Then came freshman Rex Pflueger, who averaged 2.3 points a game that season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qerNHCMqL5s

As excited as much of the Barclays Center crowd was that Sunday afternoon, it was a particularly emotional moment for me. Ten years to the day, I lost my grandfather, a proud Notre Dame alumnus. He and my grandmother had football season tickets for several years, but I never heard him talk about the basketball program. Despite that, I couldn’t help but think he gave Pflueger a spiritual lift at the most opportune time.

Whatever the reason, the Irish road the momentum from Pflueger’s heroics to their second straight Elite Eight appearance. Pfleuger, of course, would go on to become a mainstay in the Irish’s starting lineup. Had COVID-19 not shut down the ACC Tournament during his final season, maybe he would have found one more bit of magic before riding off into the sunset. Still, he has his March Madness moment, and that never can be taken away.

 

2015 ACC Champion Irish Have Twitch Reunion

In this time of quarantine, it can feel a little lonely.

In this time of quarantine, it can feel a little lonely. But when you were part of a championship-winning team, that loneliness has potential to go away for a bit. On Saturday afternoon, the 2014-15 Notre Dame men’s basketball team did just that.

The ’14-15 Irish, who won the ACC championship and were one last-second 3-pointer away from getting to the Final Four, got together on Twitch to reminisce about their team, arguably the best team Mike Brey has coached in his time in South Bend. Never mind that this team got bounced in the semifinals of our Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament. This is the team people think of first when it comes to recent Notre Dame men’s basketball.

Hosted by Demetrius Jackson’s channel and co-hosted by associate athletic communications director Alan Wasielewski, the ’14-15 Irish were well-represented, so there were plenty of stories to be shared. Besides Jackson, the players on the chat were Jerian Grant, Zach Auguste, Pat Connaughton, Steve Vasturia, V.J. Beachem, Bonzie Colson, Austin Torres, Austin Burgett, Martinas Geben, Eric Kantenda and Matt Gregory, whose father crashed the chat at one point. Incredibly, Matt Farrell was the only player absent. Also joining them were team chaplain and Notre Dame’s Director of Campus Ministry, the Rev. Peter M. McCormick.

There were nothing but positive vibes all-around. In the great scheme of things, five years removed from a memorable event is not a long time. Still, it had the feel of a 20-year college reunion. These boys became men together, so they all see each other as brothers.

At the time of this writing, the reunion still was going on, so you might still be able to check it out if you hurry. It’s clear they all still love each other. That’s the glimmer of light we need in these dark times.

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: ’06-07 Irish Topple ’14-15 Irish

In a Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament that’s had some surprises, perhaps the biggest one just happened.

In a Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament that’s had some surprises, perhaps the biggest one just happened. That surprise is the field’s top seed won’t play in the final. The fourth-seeded 2006-07 Irish convincingly upset the 2014-15 Irish, 97-83, in the first semifinal.

After falling behind by six early in the first half, the ’06-07 Irish went on a 10-0 and never trailed again. That first half saw the ’14-15 Irish cut a nine-point deficit to two before the ’06-07 Irish built their lead back up to 14, though they had to settle for an 11-point halftime lead after Jerian Grant hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. In the second half, they led by as much as 19, and the ’14-15 Irish never got closer than nine. To say the least, this game played out in a way few could have expected not only in terms of the outcome, but also how it happened.

Russell Carter led all scorers and the ’06-07 Irish with 20 points. Luke Harangody had another quality game off the bench and scored 18 while shooting 8 of 11 from the field. Rob Kurz was 5 of 7 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to score 16. Colin Falls scored 12, and Kyle McAlarney had 10 off the bench.

Demetrius Jackson paced the ’14-15 Irish with 19 points. Grant was close behind with 17 points while also dishing out a game-high eight assists. Steve Vasturia had 12, and Zach Auguste came close to a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Pat Connaughton was held in check with only nine points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: ’07-08 Irish Squeak Past ’13-14 Irish

We no longer have a double-digit seed in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, but oh Lord, was the last quarterfinal game exciting.

We no longer have a double-digit seed in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, but oh Lord, was the last quarterfinal game exciting. There’s nothing more exciting than a Cinderella team giving a superior team all it can handle. In the end, the third-seeded 2007-08 Irish barely defeated the 14th-seeded 2013-14 Irish, 87-86, with a buzzer beater.

The ’13-14 Irish led by as much as 10 in the first half before the ’07-08 Irish bounced back and took a one-point halftime lead on a Luke Zeller 3-pointer at the buzzer. With just under seven minutes left in regulation, the ’07-08 Irish had built that lead up to 11, but a 15-3 run by the ’13-14 Irish put them up one with two-and-a-half minutes to go. They briefly lost the lead before going up four. A Kyle McAlarney 3 cut the lead to 82-81 going into the final minute.

Pat Connaughton got to the free-throw line with 18 seconds left and made two shots to give the ’13-14 Irish an 84-81 lead. Rob Kurz quickly tied it at 84 with a 3-pointer five seconds later. Connaughton put his team up two with an open fadeaway jumper with two seconds left. That was just enough time for Ryan Ayers to hit his only field goal of the game: a buzzer-beating 3 to send the ’07-08 Irish to the semifinals.

McAlarney led the ’07-08 Irish with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, and four steals. Kurz was just behind with 20 points while shooting 6 of 12 from the field and making all five of his free throws. Luke Harangody did his part with a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Eric Atkins had 19 points, seven rebounds and a game-high eight assists for the ’13-14 Irish. Jerian Grant came off the bench and scored 18 on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Connaughton scored 14, and Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste had 10 apiece.

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: ’14-15 Irish Oust ’09-10 Irish

The top four seeds have been waiting around for a bit to get going in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament.

The top four seeds have been waiting around for a bit to get going in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament. The time to do so finally has arrived. The top-seeded 2014-15 Irish got the quarterfinals going with a come-from-behind 92-83 victory over the eighth-seeded 2009-10 Irish.

The ’09-10 Irish were in front for most of the first half, doing so by as many as eight points with two minutes left before settling on a six-point halftime lead. Midway through the second half, they still led by five, but the ’14-15 Irish went on a 7-0 run to take a two-point lead. The teams battled closely for a little longer until the game was tied at 74 with five minutes to go. V.J. Beachem then scored nine unanswered points on back-to-back 3-pointers and a three-point play, and the ’09-10 Irish never got closer than four points after that.

Jerian Grant was efficient and unselfish in leading the ’14-15 Irish with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and a perfect 3 for 3 from 3-point range, as well as a game-high seven assists. Pat Connaughton scored 17 points and had a game-high four blocks. Thanks to his late charge, Beachem ended with 12 points in nine minutes played. Zach Auguste scored 11 and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

The ’09-10 Irish played only seven players, and that almost was enough. Tim Abromaitis paced them with a game-high 26 points to go with seven rebounds. Tyrone Nash scored 19, and Ben Hansbrough added 11.

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: No. 1 Seed – 2014-15 Irish

Now, we get to the heavy hitters in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, beginning with the top seed.

Now, we get to the heavy hitters in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, beginning with the top seed. The 2014-15 Irish represented the program’s second season in the ACC, but they made it clear to everyone that they intended to compete in perhaps the best conference in college basketball, not simply lay down for the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse. No one could deny it when this season was over.

En route to a 32-6 record, the program’s best since going 33-7 in 1908-09, the Irish jumped out to a 15-1 start and ended up winning 20 of their first 22 games, including eight of their first nine ACC games. That run ended with a four-point win over the No. 4 Blue Devils, at which point the Irish were ranked eighth, as high as they would get during the season. In spite of their 14-4 conference record, it only netted them a No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament. That didn’t matter, however, because the Irish squeezed out wins over Miami, Duke and North Carolina by an average of 8.3 points to win Mike Brey his first championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The close but meaningful games continued in March Madness. Seeded third in their region, the Irish needed everything to get by 14th-seeded Northeastern in a four-point first-round win, and the second-round win over in-state rival Butler required overtime. They breathed a little easier in an 11-point win over Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen, setting up an Elite Eight matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Devin Booker and top-ranked Kentucky. The game was a classic, and the Irish would have made their first Final Four in 37 years had Jerian Grant not air-balled a corner 3 at the buzzer, giving the Wildcats a two-point victory.

Jerian Grant was named to the Consensus All-American First Team alongside Stein, Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Frank Kaminsky. He led the Irish with 16.5 points and 6.7 assists a game. Zach Auguste, Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson all had scoring averages in the neighborhood of 12, and Steve Vasturia averaged 10.1 points a game. All of this made the Irish the second-best shooting team in the nation (50.9 percent), the third-best scoring team (2,963 points) and the ninth-best passing team (576).

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: ’15-16 Irish Hold Off ’18-19 Irish

Was it possible for the lowest seed in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament to work its magic again in the second round?

Was it possible for the lowest seed in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament to work its magic again in the second round? It nearly happened, but the fates said enough was enough. The 2015-16 Irish held on for just long enough to defeat the 2018-19 Irish, 85-78.

John Mooney closed a back-and-forth first half with a buzzer beater to give the ’18-19 Irish a two-point halftime lead. In the second half, they held a five-point lead and briefly turned a four-point deficit into a one-point lead with five minutes to go. But the ’15-16 Irish followed that with a 9-0 run to go up by eight. Over the final minute-and-a-half, unlikely hero Austin Burgett hit a dagger 3-pointer, then made all eight of his free throws to seal the win, scoring 11 of his 14 points during that stretch.

Steve Vasturia led all scorers with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Zach Auguste scored 16 points, and V.J. Beachem had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Demetrius Jackson coupled 10 points with six assists, and Bonzie Colson grabbed a game-high 14 boards.

Despite shooting 5 of 18 from the field, T.J. Gibbs led the ’18-19 Irish with 16 points. D.J. Harvey scored 15, and Mooney added another double-double to his resume with 12 points and rebounds apiece. Prentiss Hubb scored 11, and Nate Laszewski came off the bench with 10.