Jan. 4, 2015
Game 16
#14/13 Notre Dame (14-1, 2-0 ACC)
vs.
#19/20 North Carolina (11-3, 1-0 ACC)
Monday, Jan. 5, 2015
7 p.m. (ET)
Dean E. Smith Center
Chapel Hill, N.C.
TV/INTERNET
ESPN
WatchESPN
Sean McDonough (play-by-play)
Shane Battier (analyst)
Allison Williams (reporter)
RADIO
Broadcast on WatchND (free)
Sirius 91/XM 91
Check affiliates on Pg. 3 of notes packet
Jack Nolan (play-by-play)
Torrian Jones (analyst)
LIVE STATS
#14/13 NOTRE DAME TRAVELS TO #19/20 NORTH CAROLINA FOR BIG MONDAY
– No. 14/13 Notre Dame (14-1, 2-0) will travel to No. 19/20 North Carolina (11-3, 1-0) for an ESPN Big Monday showdown. The Atlantic Coast Conference clash is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
– The game will be broadcast on ESPN and WatchESPN with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Shane Battier (analyst) and Allison Williams (reporter) on the call.
– A free audio broadcast will be available on WatchND. Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and former Irish standout Torrian Jones (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 91/XM 91 (North Carolina feed).
– The Fighting Irish are 2-0 in ACC play after notching wins against Florida State (83-63 on Dec. 13) and Georgia Tech (83-76 in 2OT on Saturday).
– Monday will be Notre Dame’s first true road game of the season.
STREAKING
– Notre Dame is riding a 10-game win streak, which is the longest for the Irish since they won 12 straight during the 2012-13 season (Nov. 17, 2012-Jan. 7, 2013).
– This is Notre Dame’s fourth winning streak of at least 10 games during the Mike Brey era (since 2000-01). The Fighting Irish won 10 straight contests in 2007-08 and posted 12-game streaks in 2006-07 and 2012-13.
A SOLID START
– Notre Dame’s 14-1 record matches the best 15-game start for the Fighting Irish in 15 campaigns under head coach Mike Brey. The Fighting Irish also were 14-1 in 2012-13. A win on Monday would give Notre Dame 15 wins in its first 16 games of a season for the first time since the 1973-74 campaign when that Irish squad started 24-1.
– The Fighting Irish are aiming to start conference play 3-0 for the first time (BIG EAST or ACC).
– Notre Dame is one win away from equaling its entire victory total from last season (15).
– 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).
– Notre Dame, Maryland and Colorado State are the only teams in the country with 14 wins (as of games played Jan. 3).
HIGH MARKS
– Notre Dame ranks in the top four nationally in seven categories: field goal% (1st, 55.3%), assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd, 1.66), scoring margin (3rd, +24.1), points per game (3rd, 85.9), fewest turnovers per game (4th, 9.5), fewest personal fouls per game (4th, 13.5) and won-lost% (4th, .933).
IRISH IN THE POLLS
– Notre Dame is No. 13 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll and the Irish are No. 14 in the Associated Press rankings. It’s the highest ranking for the Irish since they were No. 5 in the AP poll prior to the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
TAKING ON THE TAR HEELS
– Monday will be the 23rd meeting all-time between Notre Dame and North Carolina. The Tar Heels lead the series 18-4.
– This will be the first time the Irish have faced the Tar Heels as the higher-ranked team.
– The Fighting Irish are 0-3 all-time at North Carolina.
– North Carolina won both matchups last season. The Tar Heels captured a 73-62 decision at Notre Dame and they edged the Irish, 63-61, in Chapel Hill.
– Three of Notre Dame’s four wins against North Carolina have come on a neutral floor.
– The last Irish win in the series was on Jan. 11, 1992 (88-76) at Madison Square Garden.
– Head coach Mike Brey is 0-3 against North Carolina during his Notre Dame tenure.
– Prior to last season’s meetings, the Irish and Tar Heels last squared off in the title game of the 2008 Maui Invitational (a 102-87 UNC victory).
GEORGIA TECH TAKEAWAYS
– The Fighting Irish had at least five players score in double-figures for the fifth time this season.
– Notre Dame trailed at halftime for just the second time this season (the Irish are 1-1 in those contests). Notre Dame’s 27 first-half points were the fewest by the Irish in any half this season.
– Notre Dame’s four three-pointers tied a season-low.
– Zach Auguste scored in double-figures for the seventh straight game (a career-best mark) and 13th time this season. Pat Connaughton registered double-figures for the 12th time this season, while Jerian Grant reached double-figures for the 17th straight game. Grant (a game-high 24 points) topped the 20-plus point mark for a team-best fifth time this season. Demetrius Jackson scored in double-figures for the sixth straight game, which ties a career-best streak, and the 13th time this season. Steve Vasturia scored all 17 of his points in the second half and overtime and it marked his best point total ever in an ACC game. Vasturia reached double-figures for the seventh time the season.
– Connaughton and Grant both played all 50 minutes of the contest.
CONNAUGHTON MAKES 100TH CAREER START
– Senior guard Pat Connaughton made his 100th career start on Saturday against Georgia Tech. He has played in all 116 games during his career and has started all but 16 of those contests. Connaughton has started 97 consecutive games. Connaughton became the 10th player in program history to notch 100 starts.
OVERTIME EXCELLENCE
– Saturday’s 83-76 double-overtime win over Georgia Tech was Notre Dame’s second overtime contest of the season (79-78 win over Michigan State on Dec. 3). The Irish are 8-1 in their last nine overtime contests and they are 18-10 in overtime under head coach Mike Brey.
HOT SHOTS
– Notre Dame leads the nation in field goal percentage at 55.3 percent.
– The Irish have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 14 of 15 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 49.0 percent from the field — Zach Auguste (67.7%), Demetrius Jackson (56.2%), Jerian Grant (53.1%), Steve Vasturia (52.1%) and Pat Connaughton (49.7%).
TAKING CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
– Notre Dame ranks second nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.66) and fourth in fewest turnovers per game (9.5).
– The Irish have committed fewer than 10 turnovers in eight games this season. Notre Dame had a season-low four turnovers against Michigan State (Dec. 3).
FIGHTING IRISH GET OFFENSIVE
– The Irish rank third nationally – and first in the ACC – in scoring (85.9 ppg.).
– Notre Dame’s 85.9 points-per-game average is the highest since the Irish averaged 89.9 ppg. during the 1973-74 campaign.
– Notre Dame has scored 74 points or better in each of its first 15 games of a season for the first time in program history.
– The Fighting Irish have deposited 90-plus points six times this season.
20 TOPPERS
– 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) and Demetrius Jackson (2) also have notched multiple 20-point efforts. Pat Connaughton has netted 20-plus points once this season.
GRANT HAS AN ALL-AROUND GAME
– Senior guard Jerian Grant leads the ACC in assists per game (6.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (3.83), points (268) and total minutes (519) and he is second in points per game (17.9).
– Grant’s 3.83 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks sixth nationally. His 2.58 career assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth among active Division I players.
– He has reached double-figures in points in each of his last 17 games and 80 times during his career, which are the most for any current Fighting Irish player. Grant is the only Irish player to score in double-figures in every game this season.
– Grant scored a career-high 27 points versus Michigan State on Dec. 3 after tying a career-best mark with 26 points in the previous outing against Chicago State.
GRANT A MAJOR FACTOR IN IRISH OFFENSE
– Jerian Grant has had a hand in 38.5 percent of Notre Dame’s 1,289 points this season. He’s netted a team-high 268 points and his team-best 93 assists have led to 228 Fighting Irish points.
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 15 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 15 games last season, Notre Dame already had five different starting lineups.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Four Fighting Irish players are averaging at least 13 points per game this season – Jerian Grant (17.9), Zach Auguste (14.7), Demetrius Jackson (14.2) and Pat Connaughton (13.7).
– Notre Dame’s starting five (Auguste, Connaughton, Grant, Jackson, Vasturia) all scored in double-figures three times in the last four 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 15 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).
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE FOR PAT
– Senior guard Pat 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 has two double-doubles in the last four games. He tallied a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds versus Northern Illinois after going for 19 points and a career-high tying 14 boards against Purdue.
– Connaughton leads Notre Dame in rebounding (8.2 rpg.) and is fourth in scoring (13.7 ppg.).
– He ranks 13th nationally (second in the ACC) in defensive rebounds per game (7.1) and he is eighth in the ACC in total rebounds per game (8.2).
– Connaughton has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game 15 times during his career, including five times this season.
AUGUSTE STAYS HOT FROM THE FIELD
– Junior forward Zach Auguste ranks second nationally in field goal percentage at 67.7 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 14.7 points per game after posting a 6.7 ppg. mark last season (+8.0).
ACTION JACKSON
– Sophomore point guard Demetrius Jackson has scored in double-figures in each of the last six games and 13 times overall this season. The six-game double-figure scoring streak matches a career best that he also achieved earlier this season.
– Jackson tied a career-high mark with 22 points in the victory over Purdue on Dec. 20. He also netted 22 points against Michigan State (Dec. 3).
– Jackson ranks first in the ACC (19th nationally) in steals (33) and is ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.13).
A DYNAMIC DUO
– Jerian Grant leads all current ACC players in career points (1,379), while Pat Connaughton is third (1,196).
– Connaughton leads all ACC players in career rebounds (664) and Grant is first in career assists (530).
– The senior duo has combined for 212 games played (194 of them starts), 2,575 points, 939 rebounds, 754 assists and 213 steals.
– Connaughton and Grant also have accounted for 7,000 minutes played on the court (33.0 mpg.).
– Connaughton and Grant both played all 50 minutes in Saturday’s double-overtime win over Georgia Tech.
– Connaughton played every minute in eight games last season (six ACC contests).
MILESTONES
– With his second assist in the ACC opener versus Florida State, Jerian Grant reached the 500-assist mark for his career. With 1,379 career points and 530 assists, he 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).
– With his fifth rebound against Michigan State (Dec. 3), Pat Connaughton reached the 600-rebound mark for his career. He is the first Notre Dame player to notch 1,000 points and 600 rebounds since Luke Harangody (2006-10). Connaughton has 1,196 points and 664 boards.
DEFENSIVE DISPLAYS
– Notre Dame ranks third in the ACC in total steals (113). Individually, Demetrius Jackson is first in the league in steals (33), while Jerian Grant is eighth (23).
– The Irish have held nine of 15 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 over Chicago State was the largest for Notre Dame since a 50-point win (101-51) over Rider on Dec. 28, 2006.
DRAINING FROM DEEP
– Notre Dame is ninth nationally in made three-point field goals (131) and 12th in three-point field goal percentage (.404). The Irish lead the ACC in made three-pointers and the percentage ranks second.
– The Irish are 18th nationally (first in the ACC) in three-pointers per game (8.7).
– The Irish have deposited 10 or more treys in a game four times this season. Notre Dame made a season-best 14 three-pointers (14-of-25) against Chicago State on Nov. 29.
– Pat Connaughton leads the ACC in made three-pointers (40) and three-point percentage (.449).
– Connaughton ranks eighth in Irish history in made three-point field goals (215).
1,000-POINT PERFORMERS
– With his 17-point performance against Binghamton in the season opener, Pat Connaughton eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career to become the 56th member of Notre Dame’s 1,000-point club. He has netted 1,196 points in 116 career games (10.3 ppg.).
– Connaughton became the second current Fighting Irish player with at least 1,000 career points. Senior Jerian Grant has tallied 1,379 points in 96 games in an Irish uniform (14.4 ppg.).
– Grant ranks 21st in Irish history in scoring, while Connaughton is 38th.
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.
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 413-212 (.661) 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 314-160 (.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 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 Jan. 17, 2015, 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.