Dane Goodwin Emerging for Notre Dame

It's been an up and down start for Notre Dame on the hardwood, but the emergence of junior Dane Goodwin is something to make note of moving forward. 

A year ago, the 6-foot-6 guard averaged 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, but Goodwin has jumped that to 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds a night. 

On Wednesday, Goodwin tied his career-high with 27 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the floor, which included going 11-for-11 from the line in the 81-70 win over Bellarmine. 

"I think it's just having two years under my belt," Goodwin stated. "It's really done a lot for me. I've played in a lot of games here - 67 games or whatever that number is. I understand the pace I have to play with and what I need to do on the floor. I think it's been great for me learning from certain guys and picking things up here and there." 

Perhaps the most surprising thing is Goodwin scored 27 and didn't hit a three-pointer. The three-ball has become a huge part of basketball, but Goodwin's game is much more than hitting from deep. 

The Ohio native was more concerned about getting to the line to jump-start his offensive game more than anything and it paid off. 

"I think it was a matter of me getting good looks early," said Goodwin, who scored 19 first half points. "I got fouled a couple times early and just going to the line and getting some easy buckets. It helped me down the stretch."

"I think, for the most part, our whole team knows they have to stay ready." 

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey has also noticed Goodwin elevating his game, but he's not surprised. Brey almost expected the jump from his rising junior. 

"He is in a great frame of mind," explained Brey. "He is attacking and extremely confident. He has teammates that keep telling him to go for it and putting him in great positions.

"Dane Goodwin is playing as good as anyone in our league right now. I kind of almost expect it now in year three." 

The Irish now sit at 3-4 and have a date with No. 16 Virginia next Wednesday and Brey's squad hopes to build off the defensive performance against Bellarmine. 

"We went into that zone pretty early," stated Goodwin. "I think we matched up with their shooters pretty well. Juwan (Durham) was taking the high post area. I think we stayed solid. We were ourselves defensively and stayed in front of guys and made them take tough shots. 

"Moving forward, that's what we have to do - staying in front of your guy, especially Juwan being active blocking shots. It's really helped us. Staying solid is kind of the path for us." 

Defense might be the focus, but it will take a back seat over the next two days as the Irish will get some time off Christmas. 

Notre Dame won't go home and that's fine as the team knew they would have to make sacrifices this winter. 

"We knew that going into the season," said Goodwin. "It's no ordinary year by any means. As a group, we've come together a little bit. We have to be there for each other when we can't go home to see family or catch up with friends. 

"Doing things with our team, I think it takes the place of going home and being with family. Doing little things here and there can help us, but we gotta stay here to work towards our goal of the next game."