Monday, February 11, 2013
How one big minute may impact Jerian Grant
By Joe Kaiser
In a night of unforgettable moments, there was a minute in Saturday's five-OT thriller between Louisville and Notre Dame that potentially could take Jerian Grant's college career to another level.
Let me explain.
Ryan Feldman of ESPN Stats & Info points out today an interesting statistic: "Grant scored 12 points in the final minute of regulation against Louisville on Saturday, shooting 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 on 3-point attempts to help the Irish send the game into overtime. For the rest of the game -- the first 39 minutes and in overtime until he fouled out -- Grant shot 0-for-7, including 0-for-4 from behind the arc."
Grant's played well as a third-year sophomore this season (which is considered a junior by Notre Dame), and proven himself to be a good but not great 3-point option for the Fighting Irish. But we have to believe this type of clutch shooting exhibition on the grand stage has to take Grant's confidence to an entirely different level going forward, particularly in the final moments of close games.
It says something that Grant had the guts to take those shots against the Cardinals even after shooting so poorly earlier in the game, and with a jolt to his confidence it wouldn't be surprising if the Notre Dame point guard came up clutch many more times in his college career. Grant's 12-point minute against Louisville could be the gift that keeps on giving.
