March 10, 2003
Providence, R.I. – Senior Matt Carroll (Horsham, Pa.) headlined three Notre Dame players named to the 2002-03 BIG EAST All-Conference teams. Carroll earned first team all-BIG EAST honors, while sophomore Chris Thomas (Indianapolis, Ind.) picked up second-team all-conference. In addition, freshman Torin Francis (Roslindale, Mass.) was named to the league’s all-rookie team.
Carroll’s selection to the first team marks the fourth straight year Notre Dame has had one of its players earn a spot on that team. It also marks the sixth time in seven years that the Irish program has produced a BIG EAST first-teamer – the most first-teamers in that six-year stretch among the 14-team league members.
Carroll is enjoying his best season ever in a Notre Dame uniform, averaging a team-leading 20.9 points in 30 games. He averaged 21.9 points in 16 conference games and is the only Irish player who has scored in double figures in all 30 contests. Carroll heads into the BIG EAST Conference Championship having scored in double figures in 36 straight game dating back to last season.
He holds two Notre Dame career records – three-point field goals made (293) and starts (121). Carroll is within two games of becoming the all-time leader in career games played. He also tied the Notre Dame single-game three-point field goals made mark when he connected on eight three-pointers in a recent outing against Syracuse and hold the school mark for three-point field goals made in a season.
Carroll had a career-high 36-point outing against Georgetown on February 1 and has topped the 30-point mark on three occasions this seasons (four times during his career). In addition, he has scored 20-plus points in 14 contests overall. The 2002 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, Thomas garnered third team all-conference honors as a freshman.
Thomas is Notre Dame’s second-leading scorer with an 18.5 scoring average overall and 19.7 average in BIG EAST play. In his last 16 games, he is averaging 20.3 points and 6.8 assists. His 6.8 conference assist average led the BIG EAST for the second straight season.
Thomas has scored 20-plus points in 14 games this season, dished off 10 or more assists in five contests and registered four double doubles. He is the only player in Notre Dame history to dish off 200-plus assists in consecutive seasons. Thomas has 466 career assists for a 7.4 career average.
Torin Francis leads the team with eight double doubles and tops the rebounding chart with an 8.0 rebounding average. In addition, he is one of four Irish starters averaging double figures (10.2 points per game). Francis has started all 30 games and has reached double figures in 16 contests and grabbed 10-plus rebounds in nine games.
All-BIG EAST First Team
Troy Bell (Boston College)*
Emeka Okafor (Connecticut)
Mike Sweetney (Georgetown)*
Matt Carroll (Notre Dame)
Marcus Hatten (St. John’s)
Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse)
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Craig Smith (Boston College)
Ben Gordon (Connecticut)
Chris Thomas (Notre Dame)
Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh)
Ryan Gomes (Providence)
Andre Barrett (Seton Hall)
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Darius Rice (Miami)
Julius Page (Pittsburgh)
Chevon Troutman (Pittsburgh)
Hakim Warrick (Syracuse)
Drew Schifino (West Virginia)
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
Craig Smith (Boston College)
Torin Francis (Notre Dame)
Donnie McGrath (Providence)
Kelly Whitney (Seton Hall)
Carmelo Anthony (Syracuse)*
Gerry McNamara (Syracuse)*
Kevin Pittsnogle (West Virginia)
*denotes unanimous selection