Captain Consistency has Notre Dame positioned for NCAA run
The launched shots, invariably, vary for Dane Goodwin.
Notre Dame’s senior guard is fastidious in his approach, unrelenting in his quest for self-improvement that elevates his teammates, but not so regimented that any given day requires a set number of shots.
The goal is the whole.
“I think just being aware of my body and not trying to do too much but also you need put the work in to be successful,” Goodwin said. “Off days, getting in the training room with Nixon (Dorvilien, athletic trainer), making sure I’m on top of everything. Before practice getting here 45 minutes, an hour early, getting some shots up. Those things all kind of add up and if you’re able to stay consistent with that, I think it all adds up.
“There’s certain days I feel like I need to shoot a little more, and those days I’ll get in there and get some more reps up. It’s all kind of just a feel-based thing and making sure I’m consistent with that and staying on top of a lot of things, especially my body.”
Goodwin in the 2021-22 men’s college basketball season is the Krispy Kreme donut of consistency; 18 games, 18 double-digit outputs.
The Irish (12-6, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) are seeking a 19th such performance tonight from Goodwin when Notre Dame hosts ACC foe North Carolina State (10-10, 3-6 ACC) inside Purcell Pavilion. Tip is 9 (regional TV networks).
“I think it’s probably his demeanor and attitude,” said Irish coach Mike Brey. “He is really just kind of a machine with his focus. I think he handles his day-to-day stuff like that. He’s not very emotional, and that helps us. He’s a rock; you can coach him hard if you have to. I think it’s just kind of been a demeanor. He’s talking a little bit more but he’s never going to be a big talker.
“I think that’s kind of his personality; focus, intense, serious. I try to loosen him up sometimes with a joke, but it’s hard. It’s hard to loosen him up. How he’s playing is, I’m just, it’s machine-like. It’s kind of how he sets up his day.”
Goodwin’s days at the office are setting up the Irish for sustained success in league play, particularly at home. Notre Dame remains undefeated on its own floor and has tonight’s game against the Wolf Pack in addition to upcoming home contests against Virginia (Saturday) and Duke (Monday) before venturing back out onto the road next week.
It’s an offensive rhythm heretofore unseen from Goodwin, the guy Brey recalls blocking five shots in an AAU tournament in Maryland ins Brey’s first chance to recruit Goodwin in high school.
In his fourth season at Notre Dame, the 6-foot-6, 208-pound Goodwin is shooting 51.3% from the floor (100-for-195) and what would be an ACC-leading 48.2% from 3-point range if Goodwin’s 40-for-83 clip met the minimum-shot requirements.
Goodwin is mindful of his mailman consistency but insists it’s an all-around focus he brings every day.
“Obviously I need to have the confidence coming into every game, not wanting to get to a certain benchmark but just knowing that I’ve played well and I feel like I’ve done that so far,” he said. “I don’t feel like I need to score a certain amount of points every game but I feel like I contributed in a good manner every game, however way it is. Defensively, offensively, whatever it is.
“Some games I’m not shooting it well and need to play better on the defensive end. Some nights I am shooting it well and those nights I’ll have a few more points. But I just feel like I’ve played well, if I’ve contributed in the right way.”
Likewise, Goodwin knows the Irish now can keep afloat very real NCAA Tournament aspirations with continued defense of their home floor.
“We know if we play during this stretch, it really kind of sets us up for later in the season,” Goodwin said, “and what we’re looking to accomplish. We’re looking forward to the challenge ahead and everything that can come out of it.”
