SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In the search for motivational gambits, no copyrighted material is safe from a coach's grasp.
This includes vaguely co-opting deodorant slogans to manage angst over playing time, which is why Notre Dame implores its bench players never, ever to let them see you fret.
This, of course, is easier said than done.
"That's only natural — all the players want to play," Irish guard Jon Peoples said. "There's always some sort of frustration. At the same time you have to be happy for the guys out there and support them."
Still, despite the bench players' sporadic playing time, the Irish believe they have something in reserve. Peoples, Tyrone Nash and Luke Zeller have provided boosts recently as the team continues an NCAA tournament push Wednesday night against Rutgers.
The current contributions are the byproduct of staying engaged despite infrequent court time. But the role players endured. Why? Everyone said so.
"Kyle [McAlarney] pulls me aside sometimes and says, 'Ty, stay ready, because we're going to need you,' " Nash said. "That's one of your best players telling you that. If he's telling me to be ready, I'm going to make sure I'm ready.
"Luke Harangody, Zach Hillesland, Ryan Ayers, they stay in my ear: 'Be ready, Ty, because you never know when your name is going to be called.' "
Granted, career games like Peoples' 14-point, nine-assist effort Saturday at Providence are not the expectation. The bar is admittedly lower for a group that has scored 296 points combined — barely more than half of Harangody's total.
They, however, can caulk some holes. And as they do so, Irish coach Mike Brey cedes the credit to his regulars for making the reserves recognize their value.
"It's on the rest of the team to stay in their ear and keep them positive," Mc-Alarney said. "You need the team to convey that message: We need you."
