See Scottie Shoot. See Scottie Score

We caught up with Notre Dame freshman point guard Tory Jackson on Thursday and couldn't help but talk about the play of another freshman, Villanova freshman guard Scottie Reynolds.

Turns out Jackson and Reynolds became friends over the summer and talk and text message occassionally. So seeing Reynolds score 40 points -- the most for any freshman nationwide this season -- against Connecticut even made the Saginaw, Mich., native happy.

"We real cool," Jackson said. "I always pay attention to him. He do a great job. I'm happy for him, man. We talk a lot. We call each other and had a nice summertime together during the USA Festival. I'm happy for him. He put his team on his back and he's been carrying them."

Jackson, though, isn't envious of Reynolds' situation at Villanova, even if the 40-point outburst likely locked up Rookie of the Year honors for Reynolds. Don't forget that Reynolds initially signed with Oklahoma, but once Kelvin Sampson bolted to Indiana he asked for his release and signed with Villanova.

"I'm happy, too, because I don't have to put my team on my back," Jackson said. "I got a lot of help."

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette