Notre Dame forward out for the year due to academic issue

Notre Dame is going to be down a player for the rest of the year, Mike Brey said after Wednesday’s win over Clemson.

Forward Elijah Taylor announced he was stepping away from the team Wednesday. After the game, Brey provided the reason.

“He has some work to do academically,” he said, via BlueandGold.com. “We love him, we support him. He will be back.”

Taylor has played in three games this year for the Fighting Irish and has eight total points. He redshirted the 2020-21 season after he had ankle surgery.

“Trials and tribulations,” Taylor wrote, via his Twitter. “Unforeseen circumstances have left me unable to perform my responsibilities as a student-athlete here at Notre Dame. I appreciate those who believe in me, as I will be back very soon.”

He was a three-star recruit from the Class of 2020 and the No. 5 recruit in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the On3 Conensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Brey confirmed Taylor is still on the roster and practicing. It’s part of his plan to keep him involved with the program.

“He wants to be part of this team,” Brey said. “We’re educators, we’ll work with him and grow him up to get him going.”

Wednesday night, Notre Dame won its sixth straight game 72-56 over Clemson at the Joyce Center. Dane Goodwin and Blake Wesley led the way for the Fighting Irish offense with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Notre Dame held Clemson to just 34.4% shooting from the field, as well.

Clemson among last four out in latest Bracketology

Conference play is in full force, which means we’re getting closer to March Madness. As teams upset their league rivals, Bracketology is going to change — and ESPN’s latest metrics reflect that already.

Joe Lunardi released his latest projections on Saturday. Here’s what he has so far:

Bracketology: Last four in/first four out

Last four in (with byes): Florida, Saint Mary’s, Minnesota, Creighton

Last four in: Marquette, San Diego State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech

First four out: Memphis, Belmont, TCU, UCF

Next four out: Michigan, St. Bonaventure, Boise State, Clemson

2022 Bracketology: South Region

1. Baylor vs. 16. UT-Martin/William & Mary

8. BYU vs. 9. Indiana

5. Tennessee vs. 12 Iona

4. Houston vs. 13. St. John’s

6. Providence vs. 11. UAB

3. LSU vs. 14. Liberty

7. Texas Tech vs. 10. Saint Mary’s

2. UCLA vs. 15. Northern Colorado

West Region

1. Gonzaga vs. 16. Gardner-Webb

8. Oklahoma vs. 9. Mississippi State

5. Texas vs. 12. Ohio

4. Kentucky vs. 13. Oakland

6. Xavier vs. 11. Louisville

3. Michigan State vs. 14. Wagner

7. Colorado State vs. 10. Minnesota

2. Arizona vs. 15. Nicholls

Midwest Region

1. Kansas vs. 16. Norfolk State

8. Iowa vs. 9. North Carolina

5. Ohio State vs. 12. Chattanooga

4. Alabama vs. 13. New Mexico State

6. Loyola Chicago vs. 11. Marquette/Wake Forest

3. USC vs. 14. UC Riverside

7. UConn vs. 10. Florida

2. Purdue vs. 15. Cornell

East Region

1. Duke vs. 16. Southern/NJIT

8. West Virginia vs. 9. San Francisco

5. Illinois vs. 12. San Diego State/Virginia Tech

4. Iowa State vs. 13. South Dakota State

6. Wisconsin vs. 11 Creighton

3. Villanova vs. 14. Navy

7. Seton Hall vs. 10. Davidson

2. Auburn vs. 15 Louisiana