July 24, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind – Seniors David Graves (Lexington, Ky.), Ryan Humphrey (Tulsa, Okla.) and Harold Swanagan (Hopkinsville, Ky.) have been named captains for the 2001-02 men’s basketball season.
Graves, a 6-6 forward, started 17 of 30 games and averaged a career-best 13.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a year ago. He became the 41st player in Notre Dame basketball history to score 1,000 and currently ranks 21st on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,272 points. A starter in 81 of the 97 contests he has played in at Notre Dame, Graves has never missed a game during his collegiate career and owns a 13.1 career scoring average. During the NCAA tournament in March, he averaged 13.0 points and 3.5 rebounds and connected on a personal-best seven-for-seven three-pointers against Xavier in leading the Irish to the first-round victory. He scored in double figures 21 times last season and has reached that mark in 67 games throughout his career.
Humphrey, a 6-8 forward, started 29 games in his first season with the Irish after transferring from the University of Oklahoma and sitting out the 1999-2000 campaign. A third-team all-BIG EAST selection, he averaged 14.1 points and 9.0 rebounds (both second best on the team). Humphrey averaged 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in Notre Dame’s two NCAA tournament and also posted 10 double-doubles during the season, while scoring in double figures in 24 of the 29 games he played. He also recorded a team-high 79 blocked, the second most in a single-season by an Irish player. Humphrey enters his final season with career totals of 1,046 points and 703 rebounds.
Swanagan, a 6-7 forward, started 15 games for the Irish and averaged 4.1 points and 3.4 rebounds last season. He has played in all 97 games during his career, earning 51 starts. Swanagan scored in double figures in three games a year ago and has netted double digits 19 times during his career. He owns career averages of 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.
Notre Dame won the BIG EAST West divisional title last season, its first-ever BIG EAST regular season crown in school history after finishing with an 11-5 conference mark and 20-10 overall record. The Irish made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990 in 2001 and won their first NCAA tournament contest since 1989 with its victory over Xavier (83-71) in the first round.
“David, Ryan and Harold all deserve the opportunity to serve as captains during the upcoming season,” says Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey, who begins his second season with the Irish. “I’m excited for them and for our team that they will have the opportunity to lead us. They have been through a great deal during their careers here at Notre Dame and have always conducted themselves and represented this University in a very positive way. They have handled themselves like men and were so instrumental in helping us win our first BIG EAST championship.
“They certainly taught me a great deal and were very helpful to me during my first season at Notre Dame. David, Ryan and Harold each have their own distinct style of leadership that is respected by all of the players and coaches on this team.”