Notre Dame's V.J. Beachem Building On Strong Tournament
V.J. Beachem played the best basketball of his life days after a root canal.
The 6-foot-8, 201-pound Notre Dame swingman caught a blow to the face during a blowout loss to North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals. The hit knocked his right front tooth
Beachem had so much swelling in his face that he had to get it drained the day before the NCAA Tournament. He said he lost about 10 pounds while recovering because it was difficult to eat.
Injury aside, the main motivator in March was Beachem’s 2014-15 late-season struggles. A year after tallying just 14 points in seven postseason games, Beachem averaged 16.7 points per game in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments combined, up from his season average of 12.0.
“The No. 1 thing, just hearing about how well I didn’t play the March before, a lot of people were talking to me about that,” Beachem said at Notre Dame media day Tuesday. “Front that point on, I wanted to come out and play well. It was something I prayed on a lot and something I really worked for. It ended up working out and it ended up being great for me and for our team.”
Beachem, a 21-year-old senior, is expected to be one of Notre Dame’s main scoring options alongside fellow senior Steve Vasturia. Notre Dame is ranked at No. 25 in the ESPN preseason Top 25.
As the Irish made their run back to the Elite 8, Beachem took a bigger leadership role on the team.
“Right after the Carolina loss, because I feel like once we beat Duke in the ACC Tournament, I feel like we had a chance to win the ACC tournament again, then we got hit pretty hard by Carolina in that semifinal,” Beachem said. “After that, I really tried to step up vocally as well.
“It’s something that growing up, you want to be a great basketball player and things like that, but you don’t always realize it takes being a great leader as well if you want your team to be successful. It’s a challenge for me to grow out of my shell, but it’s something that I’ve grown going back to March of last year, especially this summer. I’ve done a good job so far, but I can do even better.”
Beachem’s rise to NCAA Tournament stardom was not a surprise to his teammates.
“We’ve told him that he had to do this, so it started with us giving him the confidence that he can do it, and it’s finally just doing it,” junior forward Bonzie Colson said. “He did it at the right time when we needed it, and he’s been steady doing that here too.”
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey said he felt the impact of Beachem’s vocal role in March.
“In March, my memory was coming in and being surprised to hear V.J. Beachem being vocal,” Brey said. “Obviously he was playing good so he was feeling better about himself. I love him talking in huddles because he’s really steady and he’s a voice of reason.”
Beachem submitted his name for NBA consideration after last season and played in front of NBA scouts. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native ultimately decided to return to South Bend, now a more confident player.
“It’s helped out a lot as far as my confidence and knowing things that I can improve on to have a successful career down the line,” Beachem said. “It’s something that I haven’t tried to put any added pressure on myself.”
He now fits into a Notre Dame offense that is built more around off-ball screens to free up himself and Vasturia. It’s a change from the ball screen offense of recent seasons.
“That’s something I probably have to do more of than I have in the past, more one or two dribble pull ups,” Beachem said. “Just anytime I can get an open look, Coach Brey has really stressed to me to take it. That’s something I plan on doing.
“I don’t want to force it and just pounding the ball and pounding the ball. If it’s there, take one or two dribbles and shot fake a guy. I have to step up and do it.”