Dec. 10, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Prior to last year’s game against Miami of Ohio, Notre Dame had not face them in action in 30 years. The 1968-69 game left a bitter taste in the mouth of Irish fans, as the RedHawks doused Notre Dame’s hopes of reaching the next level of the NCAA tournament.

Irish head coach Johnny Dee led an enthusiastic group into Carbondale, Illinois for their first game in the NCAA tournament. Dee’s group boasted three seniors in the frontcourt with Bob Arnzen and Dwight Murphy at forward and Bob Whitmore at Center. Two sophomores, Jackie Meehan and Austin Carr controlled the pace in the backcourt for the Irish.

Carr came into the game averaging the most points for Dee’s squad. Irish fans knew something would have to be done as Notre Dame entered the locker room down by three at halftime. Carr managed only to score six points in the first half but came out ready to play in the second. Just two minutes into the half, the super sophomore fell hard to the floor after making a cut. He broke another bone in his left foot and could not re-enter the lineup.

“I made a move to my right putting the weight on the left foot,” Carr said. “It just snapped and it feels worse that it did when it was stepped on in practice in January.”

Earlier in the season, Carr injured the same foot and was out for several games.

The team could not rally without Carr and eventually fell to the RedHawks 63-60. Poor shooting plagued the Irish as they shot 32 percent from the field. In the end, the game came down to free throws, which Notre Dame made 16 out of 27.

“Miami did what we should have done,” Dee said. “Coach Locke had his team well prepared, and we cooperated with a bad shooting game. Several times I felt like we were about ready to break out of it. I feel especially sorry for the seniors. Because of all the injuries they didn’t get the chance for the recognition they deserved.”

Whitmore led the Irish with 13 points that night while Arnzen and Murphy each chipped in 11 points. After the game, Whitmore finished his career with 1,580 points, which placed him at the time third on the Notre Dame all-time points leader. His teammate, Arnzen finished his career with 1,665, which placed him in second place just ahead of Whitmore.

Currently the two stand at the seventh and eighth spots on Notre Dame’s all-time points leader.