Jan. 13, 2015
Game 18
#12/12 Notre Dame (15-2, 3-1 ACC)
vs.
Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-3 ACC)
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015
7 p.m. (ET)
McCamish Pavilion
Atlanta, Ga.
TV/INTERNET
Regional Sports Network (check local listings)
ESPN3
Wes Durham (play-by-play)
Dave Odom (analyst)
RADIO
Broadcast on WatchND (free)
Sirius 134/XM 194
Check affiliates on Pg. 3 of notes packet
Jack Nolan (play-by-play)
Jordan Cornette (analyst)
LIVE STATS
#12/12 FIGHTING IRISH TRAVEL TO GEORGIA TECH
– No. 12/12 Notre Dame (15-2, 3-1) will look to rebound from its first Atlantic Coast Conference setback of the season when the Fighting Irish travel to Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-3) on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) inside McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta.
– This will be the second meeting in a 12-day span between the Fighting Irish and Yellow Jackets. Notre Dame topped Georgia Tech 83-76 in double-overtime on Jan. 3 inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
– Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the Regional Sports Network (check local listings) and ESPN3 with Wes Durham (play-by-play) and Dave Odom (analyst) on the call.
– A free audio broadcast will be available on WatchND. Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and former Irish standout Jordan Cornette (analyst) 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 134/XM 194.
A SOLID START
– Notre Dame’s 15-2 record matches the best 17-game start under head coach Mike Brey (since 2000-01 season). The Fighting Irish also began the 2006-07 campaign 15-2.
– A win on Wednesday would give the Irish their best 18-game start since they went 16-2 during the 1978-79 season.
– The Fighting Irish are aiming to begin conference play (BIG EAST & ACC) 4-1 for the first time since the 2004-05 season. This year was the first time the Irish ever began league action 3-0.
– 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).
– The 15 victories equals Notre Dame’s entire win total from last season.
HIGH MARKS
– Notre Dame ranks in the top five nationally in five categories: field goal% (1st, 53.5%), assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd, 1.66), fewest turnovers per game (3rd, 9.2), fewest personal fouls per game (4th, 13.8) and scoring margin (5th, +20.9).
THE GEORGIA TECH SERIES
– Notre Dame and Georgia Tech will be meeting for the 12th time overall and fourth time as ACC foes. The Yellow Jackets lead the series 7-4.
– The Irish have won the last two showdowns, including the 83-76 double-overtime triumph on Jan. 3.
– Notre Dame is 0-4 all-time at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets prevailed, 74-69, in last season’s meeting in Atlanta.
CONNAUGHTON A CONSISTENT PRESENCE
– Senior Pat Connaughton will be making his 100th consecutive start on Wednesday at Georgia Tech. He will become 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. Torin Francis (2003-06) started all 113 games he played in an Irish uniform, but he missed the final 12 contests of his sophomore season.
– Connaughton has played in all 118 games during his career and has started all but 16 of those contests. He has 102 career starts, including 99 straight. Connaughton became the 10th player in program history to notch at least 100 starts.
– Connaughton has been on the court for 127 of a possible 130 minutes over the last three contests. He played all 50 minutes of the double-overtime victory over Georgia Tech (Jan. 3). Last season, Connaughton played every minute of eight games, including six ACC contests.
YELLOW JACKET CONNECTION
– Notre Dame assistant coach Rod Balanis played at Georgia Tech from 1990-94. The Yellow Jackets made four NCAA tournament appearances in that span, including two trips to the Sweet 16 and an appearance in the 1990 NCAA Final Four in Denver, although Balanis was medically redshirted that season.
IRISH IN THE POLLS
– Notre Dame is No. 12 in both major polls (USA Today Coaches & Associated Press). It’s the highest ranking for the Irish since they were No. 5 in the AP poll prior to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
NOTES FROM VIRGINIA
– Saturday’s 62-56 setback to Virginia snapped Notre Dame’s 11-game win streak. It was the program’s third-longest win streak under head coach Mike Brey (since 2000-01).
– The loss snapped Notre Dame’s five-game home win streak against teams ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll. The Irish moved to 13-7 at home against AP top-10 teams under Brey.
– Notre Dame is 5-6 in its last 11 showdowns with AP top-10 teams. The Fighting Irish are 18-29 against AP top-10 foes under Brey.
– It was the ninth meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Virginia and the third as ACC counterparts. The Cavaliers have won eight straight versus the Irish and lead the series 8-1.
– Notre Dame was 10-of-24 from three-point range. It was the sixth time this season (fourth time in the last five contests) the Irish made 10 or more three-pointers in a game.
– The Fighting Irish only committed six turnovers. It signified the 10th time this season (second straight game) Notre Dame had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game.
– Notre Dame’s point total (56) and shooting percentage (.339) both were season lows.
– Notre Dame led Virginia 27-24 at halftime. The Fighting Irish had been 14-0 this season when leading at the intermission.
HOT SHOTS
– Notre Dame leads the nation in field goal percentage at 53.5 percent.
– The Irish have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 14 of 17 games this season and they topped 60.0 percent in two contests — 65.6 percent (40-61) vs. Coppin State and 62.2 percent (28-45) against Grambling State.
– All five Notre Dame starters are shooting better than 48.0 percent from the field — Zach Auguste (65.3%), Demetrius Jackson (55.1%), Jerian Grant (50.3%), Pat Connaughton (49.7%) and Steve Vasturia (48.6%).
TAKING CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
– Notre Dame ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.66) and fourth in fewest turnovers per game (9.2).
– The Irish have committed fewer than 10 turnovers in 10 games this season, including each of the last two contests (North Carolina & Virginia). Notre Dame had a season-low four turnovers against Michigan State (Dec. 3).
FIGHTING IRISH GET OFFENSIVE
– The Irish rank eighth nationally – second in the ACC – in scoring (83.3 ppg.).
– Notre Dame’s 83.3 points-per-game average is the highest since the Irish averaged 85.4 ppg. during the 1976-77 campaign.
– The Fighting Irish have deposited 90-plus points six times this season.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Four Fighting Irish players are averaging at least 14 points per game this season – Jerian Grant (16.6), Zach Auguste (14.3), Pat Connaughton (14.3) and Demetrius Jackson (14.1).
– Notre Dame’s starting five (Auguste, Connaughton, Grant, Jackson, Vasturia) all scored in double-figures three times in the last six games (Purdue, Northern Illinois, Georgia Tech) and four times overall this season.
– Notre Dame has had at least four players reach double-figures in 14 of 17 games this season. The Irish have had five or more double-digit scorers on five occasions. The Irish had a season-high six players reach double-figures against Purdue (Dec. 20).
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 five times, while Zach Auguste (3), Pat Connaughton (2) and Demetrius Jackson (2) have netted 20-plus points on multiple occasions this season.
DRAINING FROM DEEP
– Notre Dame is 10th nationally in made three-point field goals (151) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.407). Both of those figures lead the ACC.
– The Irish are 16th nationally (first in the ACC) in three-pointers per game (8.9).
– The Irish have deposited 10 or more treys in a game six times this season (four times in the last five games). Notre Dame made a season-best 14 three-pointers (14-of-25) against Chicago State (Nov. 29).
– Pat Connaughton ranks 16th nationally in three-point percentage (.457) and 21st in made three-pointers (48). He has made at least four treys in four of the last five games.
– Connaughton ranks eighth in Irish history in made three-point field goals (223).
GRANT HAS GAME
– Senior guard Jerian Grant leads the ACC in assists per game (6.2), assist-to-turnover ratio (3.93) and total minutes (594). He is second in points (282) and fifth in points per game (16.6).
– Grant’s 3.93 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks eighth nationally. His 2.57 career assist-to-turnover ratio ranks third among active Division I players.
– Grant scored a career-high 27 points versus Michigan State on Dec. 3.
GRANT KEEPS IRISH OFFENSE GOING
– Jerian Grant has had a hand in 38.7 percent of Notre Dame’s 1,416 points this season. He’s netted a team-high 282 points and his team-best 107 assists have led to 266 Fighting Irish points.
– Grant has assisted on 10 of Notre Dame’s 20 three-pointers in the last two games.
– Grant has had a hand in 79 of Notre Dame’s 151 three-pointers this season (.523). Grant has made 27 treys and he’s assisted on 52 others.
GRANT ON PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR WATCH LISTS
– Jerian Grant has been named to the watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Naismith Trophy.
PAT’S AN ALL-AROUND PERFORMER
– Pat Connaughton tied a season-high mark with 21 points (a game-best total) on Saturday versus Virginia. It was his second 20-plus point effort of the season (10th of his career). He was 4-of-9 from three-point range and he also hauled down a game-high tying eight rebounds.
– Connaughton has a team-high four double-doubles this season and his 11 career double-doubles are the most for any current Irish player.
– Connaughton leads Notre Dame in rebounding (8.2 rpg.) and is tied for second in scoring (14.3 ppg.).
– He ranks 14th nationally (third in the ACC) in defensive rebounds per game (7.06) and he is seventh in the ACC in total rebounds per game (8.2).
– At North Carolina (Jan. 5), Connaughton pulled down a game-best nine rebounds. He also tied a career-high total with three blocked shots, which were a game-high mark. The three blocks are the most for any Irish player this season.
STARTING FIVE CONSISTENCY
– Notre Dame has fielded the same starting lineup of Jerian Grant, Demetrius Jackson, Pat Connaughton, Steve Vasturia and Zach Auguste in each of its first 17 games.
– Last season, the Irish juggled its starting lineup throughout the season and ended up with 12 different rotations throughout the 2013-14 campaign.
– Through 17 games last season, Notre Dame already had six different starting lineups.
AUGUSTE STAYS HOT FROM THE FIELD
– Junior forward Zach Auguste ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage at 65.3 percent.
– Auguste had his team-best (and career-high) eight-game double-figure scoring streak snapped on Saturday versus Virginia as he finished with four points.
– 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 14.3 points per game after posting a 6.7 ppg. mark last season (+7.6).
ACTION JACKSON
– Sophomore Demetrius Jackson has scored in double-figures in each of the last eight games, which is a career-best streak and the longest active streak on the team.
– The Irish point guard has played 68 minutes over the last two games without committing a turnover.
– Jackson has netted a career-high 22 points twice this season (Michigan State & Purdue).
– Jackson ranks second in the ACC (22nd nationally) in steals (36) and is sixth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.35).
– Jackson is averaging 14.1 points per game after notching a 6.0 mark last season (+8.1).
A DYNAMIC DUO
– Jerian Grant leads all current ACC players in career points (1,393), while Pat Connaughton is third (1,233).
– Connaughton leads all ACC players in career rebounds (681) and Grant is first in career assists (544).
– The senior duo has combined for 216 games played (198 of them starts), 2,626 points, 962 rebounds, 771 assists and 216 steals.
– Connaughton and Grant also have accounted for 7,230 minutes played on the court (33.5 mpg.). They both played all 50 minutes in the double-overtime win over Georgia Tech on Jan. 3.
MILESTONES
– Jerian Grant (1,393 points & 544 assists) is the sixth player in program history to score 1,000 points and dish off 500 assists. Four of those players have played during the Mike Brey era (Chris Thomas, Tory Jackson and Eric Atkins are the others).
– Pat Connaughton (1,233 points & 681 rebounds) is the first Notre Dame player to notch 1,000 points and 600 rebounds since Luke Harangody (2006-10).
1,000-POINT PLAYERS
– Jerian Grant (1,393) and Pat Connaughton (1,233) are the 55th and 56th members of Notre Dame’s 1,000-point club. Grant reached the milestone last season, while Connaughton did so in the 2014-15 season opener against Binghamton.
– Grant is 20th on Notre Dame’s career scoring list, while Connaughton is 34th.
– Grant boasts a 14.2 points-per-game average during his career and Connaughton has a 10.4 mark.
DEFENSIVE DISPLAYS
– Notre Dame ranks fourth in the ACC in total steals (121). Individually, Demetrius Jackson is second in the league in steals (36), while Jerian Grant is ninth (25).
– The Irish have held 10 of 17 opponents under 40.0% shooting from the floor this season.
– The 39 points scored by Binghamton in the season opener marked the third time that a Notre Dame team under Mike Brey has held an opponent to under 40 points and the first time since 2007.
– The Irish limited Chicago State to just 42 points in the 90-42 win on Nov. 29. The 48-point margin of victory was the largest for Notre Dame since a 50-point win (101-51) over Rider on Dec. 28, 2006.
BEACHEM BOMBS AWAY OFF THE BENCH
– Sophomore forward V.J. Beachem is 23-of-44 (.523) from three-point range this season. He is 6-of-10 from beyond the arc in the last two games (North Carolina & Virginia).
– His top three-point effort of the season came against Coppin State (Nov. 19) as he connected on 5-of-6 attempts.
– Beachem missed five straight games earlier this season due to injury, but returned to the floor Dec. 22 versus Northern Illinois.
BREY NOTCHES 400TH CAREER WIN
– Notre Dame’s season opener against Binghamton signaled the beginning of head coach Mike Brey’s 20th season as a head coach. The 82-39 win over the Bearcats marked his 400th career win as a college head coach. He has registered a 414-213 (.660) record in 19-plus seasons at Delaware and Notre Dame.
– Brey earned his 300th win at Notre Dame last season against Georgia Tech (Feb. 26, 2014). He has compiled a 315-161 (.662) record in his 14-plus seasons in South Bend. He is one of 18 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.
IRISH ECLIPSE CENTURY MARK AGAIN
– The 104 points scored by the Irish in the win over Coppin State (Nov. 19) were the most in a regulation contest since a 106-65 victory over Sacred Heart on Dec. 19, 2011. It marked the first time Notre Dame eclipsed the 100-point mark since a 101-67 win over Cornell on Dec. 1, 2013, and the 17th time that an Irish team under Mike Brey scored 100 or more points.
CAPTAIN CONNAUGHTON
– Senior guard/forward Pat Connaughton has been named 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).
TOM HAWKINS TO BE INDUCTED INTO NOTRE DAME RING OF HONOR
– Nearly 56 years have passed since Tom Hawkins played his final collegiate men’s basketball game for the University of Notre Dame, yet the indelible mark he left on the program remains intact today. While dozens of players have donned an Irish uniform since Hawkins last took the court, none have been able to duplicate his rebounding as he remains the career leader in that category.
– Hawkins, whose 1,318 career rebounds rank currently as the oldest record in the 109-year annals of Fighting Irish men’s basketball, will become the seventh inductee into the Notre Dame Basketball Ring of Honor on Saturday (Jan. 17) at halftime of the Notre Dame-Miami men’s basketball game. He will follow six former players–Austin Carr (2011), Adrian Dantley (2012), Skylar Diggins (2013), Luke Harangody (2010) and Ruth Riley (2010)–and former men’s head coach Richard “Digger” Phelps (2014) into the school’s Ring of Honor.
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.
NOTRE DAME 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.