Feb. 9, 2015
Game 26
#10/11 Notre Dame (21-4, 9-3 ACC)
vs.
Clemson (14-9, 6-5 ACC)
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015
7 p.m. (ET)
Littlejohn Coliseum
Clemson, S.C.
TV/INTERNET
ESPN2
WatchESPN
Tom Hart (play-by-play)
Sean Farnham (analyst)
RADIO
Broadcast on WatchND (free)
Sirius 84/XM 84
Check affiliates on Pg. 3 of notes packet
Jack Nolan
LIVE STATS
#10/11 FIGHTING IRISH TO MAKE FIRST TRIP TO CLEMSON
– No. 10/11 Notre Dame (21-4, 9-3) will make its inaugural trip to Clemson (14-9, 6-5) for a Tuesday-night showdown. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) inside Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C.
– Tuesday will be the first of two regular-season meetings between the Fighting Irish and Tigers. Notre Dame will play host to Clemson March 7 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
– Notre Dame topped Clemson 68-64 in double-overtime last season inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center in the first ever meeting between the two programs.
– Notre Dame resides in second place in the ACC standings, while Clemson is in seventh place.
– The Fighting Irish are playing their third game in six days. Following Tuesday’s contest, Notre Dame will be off for six days before playing host to Wake Forest on Feb. 17.
– Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and WatchESPN with Tom Hart (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) calling the action.
– A free audio broadcast will be available on WatchND. Jack Nolan will be on the call. The broadcast can also be heard on The Notre Basketball Radio Network headed by WSBT 96.1 FM and 960 AM in South Bend. A complete affiliate list is available on page 3 of this notes packet. The broadcast also is available on Sirius 84/XM 84.
OFF AND RUNNING
– Notre Dame’s 21-4 record matches the best 25-game start under head coach Mike Brey. The 2010-11 squad also began 21-4 before suffering a loss in its 26th game. A win on Tuesday would give Notre Dame its best 26-game record since the 1980-81 team was 22-4 (see box on page 2).
– The 9-3 ACC record matches Notre Dame’s top 12-game start in conference play (BIG EAST & ACC). The Irish were 9-3 in BIG EAST action on four occasions (2000-01, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12).
– This is the fourth time in Notre Dame’s conference era (since 1995-96) that the Irish suffered just one regular-season non-conference loss (2006-07, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15).
ROAD WARRIORS
– Notre Dame boasts a 4-2 road record this season. The Fighting Irish opened ACC play with a 4-0 road mark before dropping games at Pittsburgh and Duke. It signified the first time ever that an Irish team won its first four road games in league play (BIG EAST & ACC).
– The Fighting Irish are in the middle of a stretch in which they will play away from home four times in six games.
CLEMSON CONNECTION
– While Notre Dame and Clemson don’t share much of a history on the basketball court, Fighting Irish senior guard Jerian Grant is quite familiar with the Tiger program. Grant’s older brother, Jerai, played for Clemson from 2007-11 and their father, Harvey, played for the Tigers for one season (1984-85) before eventually transferring to Oklahoma. Harvey’s twin brother, Horace, was a member of the Clemson basketball team from 1983-87.
PLAYING IN THE PALMETTO STATE
– Tuesday will be Notre Dame’s first game in the state of South Carolina since the first and second rounds of the 2002 NCAA Tournament at the BI-LO Center in Greenville. That year, the Irish defeated Charlotte, 82-63, in the first round and fell to Duke, 84-77, in the second round.
HIGH MARKS
– Notre Dame ranks in the top four nationally in four categories: field goal% (2nd, 51.5%), fewest personal fouls per game (3rd, 13.9), assist-to-turnover ratio (4th, 1.66) and fewest turnovers per game (4th, 9.2).
HOT SHOTS
– Notre Dame boasts the nation’s second-best field goal percentage (.515).
– The Irish have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 17 of 25 games this season and they topped 60.0 percent in two contests (Coppin State & Grambling State).
– Seven Notre Dame players are shooting better than 47.0 percent from the field (min. 50 attempts) — Zach Auguste (62.1%), Bonzie Colson (55.6%), Demetrius Jackson (50.9%), Jerian Grant (50.0%), Steve Vasturia (49.4%), Pat Connaughton (48.3%) and V.J. Beachem (47.3%).
TAKING CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
– Notre Dame ranks fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.66) and fourth in fewest turnovers per game (9.2).
– The Irish have committed less than 10 turnovers in 14 games this season (seven times in ACC play).
– Notre Dame had a season-low four turnovers against Michigan State (Dec. 3).
COMEBACK KIDS
– Notre Dame has overcome a deficit of 10 points or larger en route to a victory six times this season (see full breakdown on Pg. 5).
– The Irish are 5-2 this season when trailing at halftime. All five wins have come in ACC play.
FIGHTING IRISH KNOW HOW TO FINISH
– Seven of Notre Dame’s nine ACC wins this season have been decided by eight points or less. In the final five minutes of those seven contests, the Irish are shooting 54.4 percent from the field, while they are holding their opponents to 35.1 percent.
– Steve Vasturia is shooting 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the field in the last five minutes of those games and Jerian Grant is 11-of-21 (.524).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Five Fighting Irish players are averaging at least 9.0 points per game this season – Jerian Grant (16.8), Pat Connaughton (13.3), Zach Auguste (13.1), Demetrius Jackson (12.8) and Steve Vasturia (9.3).
– Notre Dame has had at least four players reach double-figures in 21 of 25 games this season. The Irish have had five or more double-digit scorers on eight occasions. The Irish had a season-high six players reach double-figures against Purdue (Dec. 20).
FIGHTING IRISH GET OFFENSIVE
– The Irish rank ninth nationally (second in the ACC) in scoring (80.0 ppg.).
– Notre Dame’s 80.0 points-per-game average is the highest since the Irish averaged 81.0 ppg. during the 2006-07 campaign.
20-POINT PERFORMERS
– Four different Irish players have scored 20 or more points in a game this season. Jerian Grant has done it a team-best eight times, while Zach Auguste (3), Pat Connaughton (2) and Demetrius Jackson (2) also have netted 20-plus points on multiple occasions this season.
DRAINING FROM DEEP
– Notre Dame is 11th nationally in made three-point field goals (221) and 18th three-point field goal percentage (.401). Both of those figures lead the ACC.
– The Fighting Irish are 19th nationally (first in the ACC) in three-pointers per game (8.8). Notre Dame has made 10 or more treys in a game eight times this season (four times in ACC play).
– Notre Dame made a season-best 14 three-pointers (14-of-25) against Chicago State (Nov. 29).
– Three Irish players are shooting 43.0% or higher from three-point range (min. 50 att.) – Pat Connaughton (45.0%), V.J. Beachem (43.8%), and Demetrius Jackson (43.3%).
– Five Notre Dame players have made at least 35 treys this season – Connaughton (67), Jerian Grant (40), Jackson (39), Steve Vasturia (37) and Beachem (35).
GRANT HAS GAME
– Jerian Grant leads the ACC in assists per game (6.2) and is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.18). He is fifth in the league in points per game (16.8) and first in minutes played (898).
– He ranks seventh nationally in assists (156) and 11th in assists per game (6.2).
– Grant has scored 20-plus points a team-best eight times this season (four ACC games). He netted a career-high 27 points versus Michigan State (Dec. 3).
– Grant posted 23 points and a career-high 12 assists in the 77-73 triumph of Duke on Jan. 28. His 12 assists were the most ever for an Irish player in an ACC game. It was the second 20-point, 10-assist performance of Grant’s career.
– His 3.18 assist-to-turnover ratio this season ranks 11th nationally. His 2.55 career assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fifth among active Division I players.
GRANT ON VERGE OF JOINING 1,500-POINT, 600-ASSIST CLUB
– Jerian Grant needs six assists to become the second player in Notre Dame history with 1,500 points and 600 assists. Chris Thomas tallied 2,195 points and 833 assists from 2001-05.
– Grant ranks 14th in Irish history in points (1,532) and is third in assists (594).
GRANT KEEPS IRISH OFFENSE GOING
– Jerian Grant has had a hand in 41.4 percent of Notre Dame’s 1,999 points this season. He’s netted a team-high 421 points and his team-best 157 assists have led to 407 Fighting Irish points.
– Grant has had a hand in 116 of Notre Dame’s 221 three-pointers this season (52.5%). He has made 40 treys and he’s assisted on 76 others.
POLL WATCHING
– Notre Dame is the only team currently ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll that began the season unranked.
STEVE ON A HOT STREAK
– Sophomore guard Steve Vasturia is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game over the last three contests. His current three-game double-figure scoring streak matches a career best and is the longest active streak on the team.
– Vasturia is 17-of-29 (.586) from the field, including 8-of-17 (.471) from three-point range, in those three games.
CONNAUGHTON A CONSISTENT PRESENCE
– Senior Pat Connaughton has started 107 consecutive games. He is the third player in Notre Dame history to start at least 100 straight games. Chris Thomas (2002-05) started all 128 games during his Fighting Irish career and Pat Garrity (1995-98) was in the starting lineup during all 111 contests of his career.
– Connaughton has played in all 126 games during his career and has started all but 16 of those contests.
GRANT IN CONTENTION FOR PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARDS
– Jerian Grant has been named to the midseason watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy.
PAT’S AN ALL-AROUND PERFORMER
– Pat Connaughton leads Notre Dame in rebounding (8.1 rpg.) and is second in scoring (13.3 ppg.).
– Connaughton has a team-best seven double-doubles this season (three in ACC play) and his 14 career double-doubles are the most for any current Irish player.
– He is 17th nationally (second in the ACC) in defensive rebounds per game (6.88) and he is sixth in the ACC in total rebounds per game (8.1).
– Connaughton leads the ACC (11th nationally) in both three-point percentage (.450) and made three-pointers (67).
– Connaughton is in seventh place in Irish history in made three-point field goals (242).
– Connaughton hauled down his 700th career rebound on Jan. 22 at Virginia Tech. He is the 10th player in program history with 1,300 points and 700 rebounds. Connaughton has 1,322 points and 743 rebounds during his Irish career.
A DYNAMIC DUO
– Jerian Grant leads all current ACC players in career points (1,532), while Pat Connaughton is third (1,322).
– Connaughton leads all ACC players in career rebounds (743) and Grant is first in career assists (594).
– Grant is 14th on Notre Dame’s career scoring list, while Connaughton is 28th.
– The senior duo has combined for 232 games played (214 of them starts), 2,854 points, 1,044 rebounds, 833 assists and 240 steals.
– Connaughton and Grant also have accounted for 7,829 minutes played on the court (33.7 mpg.). Grant and Connaughton rank 14th and 26th, respectively, nationally in minutes played this season.
– Grant boasts a 14.5 points-per-game average during his career and Connaughton has a 10.5 mark.
STARTING FIVE CONSISTENCY
– Demetrius Jackson, Jerian Grant, Steve Vasturia, Pat Connaughton and Zach Auguste have been Notre Dame’s starting five in 23 of 25 games this season.
– Jackson, Grant, Vasturia and Connaughton have started every game this season, while Auguste has 23 starts.
– Last season, the Irish used 12 different starting lineups.
AUGUSTE STAYS HOT FROM THE FIELD
– Junior forward Zach Auguste ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage at 62.1 percent.
– Auguste has been perfect from the field three times this season – 9-9 vs. Coppin State, 7-7 vs. Northern Illinois, 5-5 vs. Grambling State. His performance against Coppin State tied a Notre Dame record for most field goals without a miss in a single game.
– Auguste netted a career-high 26 points against Florida State in the ACC opener. Those were the most points ever scored by an Irish player in an ACC game. He made a career-best 11 field goals (on 15 attempts). That was his third 20-plus point effort of the season (20 vs. Navy, 21 vs. Coppin State).
– Auguste is averaging 13.1 points per game after posting a 6.7 ppg. mark last season (+6.5).
ACTION JACKSON
– Sophomore point guard Demetrius Jackson poured in 11 points Saturday at Duke. Jackson has scored in double-figures 14 times in the last 16 games and 21 times overall this season (10 ACC games.).
– Jackson pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s win over Boston College. He is the third different Irish player with 10 or more rebounds in a game this season (Zach Auguste and Pat Connaughton are the others).
– Jackson ranks fifth in the ACC in steals (41) and is sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.11).
– He has netted a career-high 22 points twice this season (Michigan State & Purdue).
– Jackson is averaging 12.8 points per game after notching a 6.0 mark last season (+6.8).
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
– The Irish are 6-2 this season in games decided by five points or less.
– Last season, Notre Dame was 6-7 in games decided by five points or less.
OVERTIME EXCELLENCE
– The Fighting Irish are 3-0 in overtime games this season (vs. Michigan State, vs. Georgia Tech [2ot], at NC State).
– The Irish are 9-1 in their last 10 overtime contests.
– Notre Dame has won its last five overtime games that have taken place at a true road site.
– Notre Dame is 19-10 in overtime under head coach Mike Brey.
FIGHTING IRISH POST ANOTHER 20-WIN CAMPAIGN
– Notre Dame has notched at least 20 wins in eight of the last nine seasons. Last season (15-17 record) was the only time the Irish failed to reach that mark during this latest stretch.
– The Fighting Irish have reached the 20-win plateau 11 times in 15 seasons under head coach Mike Brey. The most wins for the Irish under Brey are 27 (27-7) in 2010-11.
IRISH PRODUCE 600TH WIN AT PURCELL PAVILION
– The 77-73 victory over Duke on Jan. 28 was the 600th win for Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
– Irish teams are 601-157 (.793) since the building opened during the 1968-69 campaign.
– The Fighting Irish are 15-1 this season at Purcell Pavilion.
– Notre Dame squads have produced five undefeated campaigns at Purcell Pavilion (three under Mike Brey) — 1973-74 (15-0), 1985-86 (15-0), 2006-07 (18-0), 2007-08 (17-0) and 2010-11 (17-0).
BREY NOTCHES 400TH CAREER WIN
– Notre Dame’s season-opening victory over Binghamton was Mike Brey’s 400th career win as a college head coach. He has registered a 420-215 (.661) record in 19-plus seasons at Delaware and Notre Dame.
– Brey earned his 300th win at Notre Dame last season. He has compiled a 321-163 (.663) record in his 14-plus seasons in South Bend. He is one of 19 active head coaches to have 300 or more Division I victories at their current institution.
– Only two other Notre Dame head coaches have reached the 300-win milestone. Digger Phelps led the Fighting Irish to a 393-197 record from 1971-91. George Keogan notched a 327-97 mark from 1923-43.
CAPTAIN CONNAUGHTON
– Senior Pat Connaughton is Notre Dame’s lone captain for the 2014-15 season. Connaughton served as one of four captains for the Irish a year ago and becomes the 22nd different Notre Dame men’s basketball player to serve as a captain in multiple seasons.
– Since the 1985-86 campaign, only four other players have served as lone captains for their Irish teams– Ken Barlow (1985-86), Tim Singleton (1990-91), Ryan Hoover (1995-96) and Rob Kurz (2007-08).
FIGHTING IRISH IN ITALY
– In early August, the Fighting Irish squad traveled to Italy for a 10-day, four-game foreign tour. Notre Dame posted a 4-0 record. The Irish visited Rome, Perugia, Pesaro, Venice and Como during the trip.
– It was the program’s first foreign tour since 2008 when the Irish ventured to Ireland for 13 days.
CONNAUGHTON DRAFTED BY ORIOLES
– The Baltimore Orioles selected Irish swingman Pat Connaughton in the fourth round of June’s Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 121st pick overall.
– Connaughton spent part of June and July pitching for the Aberdeen IronBirds, the Class A Orioles’ affiliate.
– Connaughton finished his Fighting Irish baseball career last spring. He posted a 3.03 ERA and had an 11-11 record on the mound during his three seasons. He fanned 105 batters in 154.2 innings pitched.
CONNAUGHTON A CANDIDATE FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
– Pat Connaughton is one of 30 candidates for the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball.
– He is one of two ACC players up for the award (the other is Cameron Wright of Pittsburgh).
– To be eligible, as student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
– The winner of the Senior CLASS award will be announced during the 2015 Men’s Final Four® in Indianapolis in April.
IRISH FIRST AGAIN IN GRADUATION RATE SUCCESS
– The University of Notre Dame once again claims the 2014 national championship for graduating student-athletes in all sports–in the process posting the top NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) figure (99) for its student-athletes for the eighth straight year.
– The GSR number for all Notre Dame student-athletes rates the Irish first among the football-playing institutions in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). The 2014 NCAA figures are based on entering classes from 2004 through 2007.
– Twenty-one of Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s athletic programs posted GSR numbers that rank them best in the nation within their sports (including 20 perfect 100 scores)– and 11 produced federal graduation rates that led all NCAA FBS institutions (including eight perfect 100 scores). Men’s basketball at 100 tied for first with 14 other schools.
– Five Irish women’s programs had perfect 100 federal rates ranking them first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset. Six Irish men’s programs had federal rates ranking them first within their sports (three with perfect 100 scores) among the NCAA FBS subset. Men’s basketball at 85 ranked tied for first with Penn State.
– Five Irish women’s programs had perfect 100 federal rates ranking them first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset. Six Irish men’s programs had federal rates ranking them first within their sports (three with perfect 100 scores) among the NCAA FBS subset. Men’s basketball at 85 ranked tied for first with Penn State.