Twenty-four games, 24 starts.

After spending his first two years at Notre Dame fighting to get into the lineup, senior tri-captain Russell Carter doesn't relinquish his starting assignment easily.

But Thursday night, with Notre Dame's post-season in the balance, Carter came off the bench and scored just two points in the first half.

When the game was on the line, however, Carter tossed in 13 second-half points to help lead Notre Dame to an 81-78 victory over a young but talented Providence team.

"It sucked," laughed Carter of the hip flexor injury. "It wasn't fun at all.

"Not to be able to do the simple things like walking, walking up stairs, just sitting down…It's been real uncomfortable, and a player like myself who likes to run and jump, not to be able to do that just wasn't fun at all.

"But I tried to get healthy, watch practice, learn through observation and just get back into the swing of things."

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