Online Critique

I read Adam Rittenberg's "Harangody emerging as Big East's best big man" and as the big college basketball fan that I am, I'm disappointed that I didn't know more about Luke Harangody from Notre Dame. Averaging just 11.2 points and 6.2 boards a game in only 20.6 minutes, Harangody has significantly stepped up his game. The 6-foot-8 and 251 pound big man is averaging 20.2 points and 10.5 rebounds a game, tallying 16 double-doubles on the season, leading the Big East.

Notre Dame is currently ranked 17th in both polls, while holding a 21-5 record (11-3 in the much competitive Big East) overall.

Harangody was dominated in games against UConn and Georgetown because of dominating centers in Hasheem Thabeet and 7-foot-2 giant Roy Hibbert, but would soon redeem himself in a second chance, posting a career-high 32 points and matching his best with 16 rebounds. The sophomore has learned how to play with the big boys.

Most of all, I love the background of Harangody's childhood in Schererville, Indiana that Rittenberg gave. The competitive relationship that he had with his older brother (by one month) Ty was intense. The rivalry would become so fierce that their father would remove privileges. And as it always ends up, the older brother always won. "I still look back on that as where most of my competitive nature comes from," Luke said. "To beat him, I'd go all out, all the time."

Even though this was more of a "feel good" story than anything else, Rittenberg didn't mention much downfall in the games that Notre Dame failed to prove themselves in. Despite Harangody's 32 points and 16-rebound game against UConn, the Huskies took the win 84-78. Roy Hibbert and Georgetown had their way with the Irish, pouncing them 84-65.

Never the less, I enjoyed the story and will definitely be keeping a tag on him in the future, especially in the NCAA tournament this March. Because that's really when it counts.