ND seniors leave program as one of most successful in program history
It wasn’t the way the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball team scripted this one.
The Irish were ousted in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to West Virginia 83-71.
This is a game V.J. Beachem wishes he could forget. Finishing 2-14 from the field, he admitted this one will stick with him for a while but the success that he and Steve Vasturia achieved in their time at Notre Dame is something that will never be forgotten.
“It’s been a great run, you know just really proud of what we’ve been able to do, really excited for what these guys have in the future,” said Beachem, Senior Forward.
Steve Vasturia, Senior Guard added, “It’s the last game of your career, and having it be a loss I’m sure I’ll always remember it but you know it was a great season, won a lot of games, accomplished a lot, great group of guys. I think we left it all out on the court today and that’s all you can ask for.”
The seniors’ teammates and coach will miss them on and off the court.
“It’s tough to go out this way, we knew it was going to end someday, two really good players and two really good guys, I just think I’m going to miss them off the court, but they’ve got something to celebrate, two great careers there,” said Matt Farrell, Junior Guard.
Bonzie Colson, Junior Forward said, “It’s the worst feeling for them, I’m hurting for them even more, we have two of the best Notre Dame Men to ever come out of here, they did everything they could to get us here, leading, hitting big shots. It’s a really bad feeling when you have seniors who got us here who fought and fought adversity. I love them, I feel for them, and we just really wanted to win for them.”
“Some of the shots, some of the plays I feel I could’ve made and you know you never want to go out with a loss, it’s just tough right now,” Beachem added.
“Those guys were unbelievable. The careers they’ve had, winning in this tournament and overall and again as I told the young guys you had another great example of two seniors that have led and been men and have come prepared every day, I’ll miss those guys but I feel we’re turning them loose into the world as men,” said Mike Brey, Notre Dame Head Coach.
Vasturia and Beachem will leave Notre Dame with three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, two Elite Eights, and the most tournament wins ever in program history.
They set the bar high for excellence in South Bend but they walked off the court Saturday for the final time in a Notre Dame uniform.