Counterpoint

SOUTH BEND, Ind. â€”  Chris Thomas knows what it’s like being Jordan Farmar.

Thomas knows how it is to be the freshman point guard for an esteemed college basketball program that has fallen on hard times. He knows how it is to come from high school as a national star. He knows what it feels like to be a rookie and to realize quickly, as he says, “That you’re going to play 40 minutes a game because there’s no one else.�

When Notre Dame plays host to UCLA today at 11 a.m. PST, Thomas will be the senior point guard for the Fighting Irish going against Farmar, the rookie point guard for the Bruins.

“We’re very similar,� Thomas said of he and Farmar. “He’s a very talented young point guard. He was handed the ball just as I was and I think he’s done a tremendous job with that team. His coach has given him a lot of freedom and it’s a lot of pressure for a young guy in the spotlight at a program that expects to be at a certain level. I hope Jordan has fun.�

Thomas, 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, was considered one of the best recruits in the country four years ago. He was a McDonald’s All-American from Indianapolis Pike High and the first Indiana Mr. Basketball to choose Notre Dame. Most everybody figured Coach Mike Brey would be lucky to have Thomas two seasons before the flashy guard would leave for the NBA.

And when Thomas led the Fighting Irish to the Sweet 16 as a sophomore while averaging 18.7 points, 6.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals, when he impressed everyone by averaging 21.9 points in three NCAA tournament games and by finishing with 20 points and five assists in a loss to Arizona in Anaheim in the West Regional semifinals, Thomas made the decision everyone expected.

He went off to NBA tryout camps.

Then he came back. NBA scouts told the little guard to return to school. Thomas found he wouldn’t be a first-round pick. There would be no guaranteed money. He needed to get stronger. He needed a better shot.

So if Thomas could teach Farmar lessons, this would be one. Don’t make firm plans. Plans change. Today, Thomas will make his 123rd consecutive start, a school record. It’s not a record he ever expected, but it makes Thomas proud.

“I am not disappointed about anything,� said Thomas, who will earn a degree in economics this spring. “But also my dreams haven’t worked out exactly as planned yet.�

Everything has been a struggle for Thomas since he returned to Notre Dame. He suffered through most of his junior season because of an aching knee and he had surgery last summer. The cartilage was worn away so he had bone rubbing on bone. When another starter, 6-11 Torin Francis, needed back surgery, Thomas picked up the slack.

Even though the Fighting Irish did not reach the NCAA tournament and Thomas didn’t get to star in the postseason, Brey said he considered last season a triumph for Thomas.

“The kid basically drove us to the [NCAA tournament] bubble,� Brey said. “We were thoroughly talked about as dead in the water when Francis went down and Chris was the only one on our team who could make something out of nothing.

“The knee was worse than we thought too. The surgery he had after the season was more detailed than anyone expected. It’s the same surgery Chris Webber is coming back from. Penny Hardaway was never able to come back from it.�

Thomas’ numbers are down this season, especially his scoring, which is more than five points a game less than last season. Brey said it was silly to look only at numbers.

“This is a kid who has been more over-analyzed than anybody I’ve ever seen,� Brey said. “He’s a fearless guy. I don’t know of a more competitive kid. What he wants for this team and for him is to finish the year playing in the NCAA tournament. Sometimes, he plays with all those expectations on his back.�

Thomas said he was still battling the knee injury.

“I’m 100% mentally but not physically,� he said. “With that surgery, I don’t think I can ever expect to be 100% again.�

But Thomas still plays. He has averaged 38.2 minutes in Big East Conference play and he looks forward to matching his experience against the unabashed enthusiasm of Farmar. Maybe not what he expected, but still good.

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No Doubting Thomas

Notre Dame’s Chris Thomas has been everything the Irish could hope for in a point guard for four seasons in a row. Thomas’ averages, heading into today’s game against UCLA:

*--* Season Min. PPG RPG APG TOPG 2001-02 38.0 15.6 3.5 7.6 3.1 2002-03 36.6 18.7 4.0 6.9 4.2 2003-04 38.3 19.7 4.2 4.7 2.4 2004-05 37.2 14.3 5.0 6.5 2.8 Career 37.6 17.3 3.9 6.4 3.2

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