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Kebba Njie, Matt Zona to represent Notre Dame men's basketball in … – South Bend Tribune
SOUTH BEND — He’s in the club.
It didn’t take a secret handshake or a password or an exclusive invitation or anything else for Notre Dame men’s basketball senior power forward Matt Zona. All it took was some patience and plenty of perseverance for Zona to get to a place he long dreamed of going.
On Wednesday morning in Charlotte, North Carolina, Zona will be there.
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This week marks the unofficial start to college basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the league’s annual “ACC Tipoff” formerly “Operation Basketball” for the men (Wednesday) and women (Tuesday). That’s when the league brings together each of the conference’s 15 coaches and a handful of players from each school for a day-long series of media-centric events.
Every coach, every player from every school is put through a car wash of interviews, television appearances and just about everything else (lunch, too!) the league can think of over nine hours to build interest for the upcoming season. It’s a long day. It’s a fun day. It’s a basketball day.
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For each of his first three years at Notre Dame, Zona watched a different set of Irish teammates get chances to skip class — and practice — for a day to attend the event with their head coach.
That, Zona remembers thinking, would be sweet if he could one day do the same. But the trip is often reserved for key players. At the very least, starters. Over his first three seasons, Zona was neither, often relegated to the back of the bench and the back end of the rotation.
This year’s different. He’s different. Zona’s expected to play — maybe even start — for first-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry.
On Wednesday at a downtown Charlotte hotel, North Carolina power forward Armando Bacot will be there. Duke forward — and likely league preseason player of the year — Kyle Filipowski will be there. Syracuse guard — former Irish guard — J.J. Starling will be there.
Zona also will be there. Mind boggling? Maybe for some, but not to someone who has played in only 43 games with 53 total points and 57 total rebounds over his first three seasons.
It’s just a feel-good story in what could be a feel-good season for him.
“It’s humbling to know where I had been,” Zona said. “To go to ACC media day, when I came to college, was something I always was envious of the other guys doing.
“It was something I dreamed about, so I’m excited about that.”
Joining Zona is another first-time Irish representative, former Penn State power forward Kebba Njie. A year ago, Njie was a freshman trying to figure it out in State College. Now, he’s considered what they call an “old head” for a young and inexperienced Irish basketball team. As a sophomore.
Njie hasn’t played a game yet at Notre Dame, yet he’s already looked to as a leader. Thus, the ACC Tipoff invite.
“It’s just a blessing, man,” Njie said. “I feel like this is a big year for me. It’s a year where I can go and prove what I’ve been working on. At the end of the day, I’ve got to make the most of the opportunity.”
Same goes for Zona, who’s impressed Shrewsberry with his willingness to work, to talk, to lead. Traveling to North Carolina by charter plane Tuesday with his head coach and his teammate was something that would bring a smile of satisfaction to Zona. Like, yes, I made it.
“It’s little things like that where I’ll pinch myself,” he said. “I think I’ve put in the work to be able to go to that. I’m grateful.”
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.