SOUTH BEND — Sick and tired about being sick and tired, Notre Dame
junior power forward Jack Cooley decided to stop coughing and worrying
about his confidence level and just play.
Free from a stay in the infirmary this week after feeling so lousy
that he wanted no part of anything basketball, Cooley delivered a
career game when the Irish needed it.
Determined not to worry about his energy level, his role or anything
else, Cooley scored a career-high 22 points with 14 rebounds for his
second career double double as Notre Dame (6-4) ran its home win
streak to 25 consecutive games with an 87-78 victory over Maine.
“I just told myself that I need to be more aggressive out there,”
Cooley said. “I knew I could do this. I did it last year, especially
against Maine (he went for 13 points and five rebounds in that game).
I just knew I had to get out there and be more confident.
“That was my main problem. I thought I played a little better today.”
Sophomore Eric Atkins scored a team-high 26 points, one shy of his
career best set in the first game this season against Mississippi
Valley State. That also was the last game that Atkins truly felt
himself before losing 10 pounds with tonsillitis. On Thursday, he felt
junior power forward Jack Cooley decided to stop coughing and worrying
about his confidence level and just play.
Free from a stay in the infirmary this week after feeling so lousy
that he wanted no part of anything basketball, Cooley delivered a
career game when the Irish needed it.
Determined not to worry about his energy level, his role or anything
else, Cooley scored a career-high 22 points with 14 rebounds for his
second career double double as Notre Dame (6-4) ran its home win
streak to 25 consecutive games with an 87-78 victory over Maine.
“I just told myself that I need to be more aggressive out there,”
Cooley said. “I knew I could do this. I did it last year, especially
against Maine (he went for 13 points and five rebounds in that game).
I just knew I had to get out there and be more confident.
“That was my main problem. I thought I played a little better today.”
Sophomore Eric Atkins scored a team-high 26 points, one shy of his
career best set in the first game this season against Mississippi
Valley State. That also was the last game that Atkins truly felt
himself before losing 10 pounds with tonsillitis. On Thursday, he felt
