Article in the Chicago Tribune on Notre Dame sophomore Tyrone Nash. Nash was kicked out of practice last week for not giving his best effort. What resulted afterwards were three spirited practices, a better effort out of Nash, and a 33 point victory over # 7 Louisville to snap Notre Dame's 7 game losing streak:
"My job is not to score," Nash said. "My job is to play defense, work hard and, if I get the opportunity to score, then take that chance and try to score. My job is to rebound, make the right passes and screen, be the glue of the team. Keep things going."
Thus Brey raised a familiar specter: missing the physical presence of Rob Kurz, who has graduated to the NBA. Before practice Friday, Head Coach Mike Brey was set to show his team clips from Louisville in which, as the Irish coach put it, Nash "really crushes people with screens."
"That was a bit of the Kurz presence we need against those bodies," Brey said. "And we have a bunch more coming. If he can do that consistently, that can really help us."
Consistency is at the root of everything for Nash. He has 11 games of 10 or more minutes played and nine of three or fewer. Brey eventually may regret limiting Nash's minutes before the Irish lost seven straight — but then again Brey noted Nash hasn't always had his "engine running at the highest of levels."
Hence getting bounced from practice for having no bounce in his step. At the time, Nash returned to his dorm room to clear his head. Whether it keeps clearing a path for the Irish is the question.
"It helped make me realize you have to cherish every moment in practice because what you do in practice is what you do in the game," Nash said. "I don't hope it happens again, but if it has to happen again for us to play like that, I'll let it happen."
