Notre Dame names four captains

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame has named seniors Kyle McAlarney, Luke Zeller, Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland captains for the 2008-09 basketball season.

Coach Mike Brey said Friday the selection of four players as captains for the No. 9 Irish was an easy choice because of the tone they have set for the entire team. Only four previous teams in the 104-year history of Notre Dame basketball had four players share the captaincy.

McAlarney was a first-team all-Big East pick last year, when he averaged a career-high 15.1 points.

Ayers (7.8) and Hillesland (6.1) also averaged career highs. Zeller scored 4.5 points a game as a reserve.