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Clemson Preview - Five Things To Know

Jan. 6, 2017

ND Game Notes vs. Clemson Get Acrobat Reader

Clemson Game Notes vs. ND Get Acrobat Reader

WHO: No. 23/21 Notre Dame (13-2, 2-0 ACC) vs. Clemson (11-3, 1-1 ACC)

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, 3:00 p.m. ET

TICKETS: und.com/buytickets

NATIONAL BROADCAST: ESPNU with Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst).

RADIO BROADCAST: Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network with Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and Zach Hillesland (analyst).

Here are the Five Things To Know about the Irish – Tigers matchup (download the notes package above for complete information on the game) –

NOTRE DAME vs. CLEMSON SERIES HISTORY:

Notre Dame and Clemson will be meeting for the fifth time on Saturday afternoon and the third time at Purcell Pavilion. The Irish have won all four previous meetings, including a 68-64 double overtime win at Purcell Pavilion in the two team’s first-ever meeting on Feb. 11, 2014.

BREY REACHES 700-GAME MILESTONE:

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey will take the sidelines for his 700th career game on Saturday when the Irish face Clemson. Brey will become the 35th active Division I head coach to reach the 700-game plateau.

Brey entered the 2016-17 season 30th on the winningest active coaches list (.665 percentage, currently .670 with a 13-2 record this year) and 36th on the active total wins list.

Brey is 24 wins away from the all-time mark at Notre Dame of 393 victories.

FARRELL EMBRACES THE CHALLENGE OF TOP COMPETITION:

Junior guard Matt Farrell, who entered the starting lineup in the NCAA Championship run to the Elite Eight last season, has saved some of his best performances for Notre Dame’s top competition this season. Notre Dame has faced seven power-conference teams this season (ACC, Pac-12, Big 10 or Big East) and Farrell has rose to the occasion in every contest. In those seven games, Farrell is averaging 18.9 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting .484 from the floor, .472 from 3FG and .926 from the free throw line.

COLSON FILLING UP THE BOXSCORE:

Junior forward Bonzie Colson recorded his ninth double-double of the season against No. 9/9 Louisville with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. He leads the ACC in rebounding (10.7), double-doubles and 20/10 performances (four) this season.

Colson has scored double-figure points in all 15 games of the 2016-17 season, matching Jerian Grant’s run of 15 games with double-figure points to start the 2014-15 season.

Colson is the first non-guard to accomplish that feat since Luke Harangody in 2009-10, who scored double-figures in the season’s first 25 games before an injury vs. Seton Hall ended his scoring streak.

BEACHEM CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS

Senior forward V.J. Beachem needs 96 more points this season to reach 1,000 in his career. He would join classmate Steve Vasturia in the 1,000-point club (Vasturia reached the mark against Northwestern earlier this season) and would become the 60th Notre Dame player to score 1,000 points in a career.

Junior Bonzie Colson could become the third member to reach 1,000 career points this season. Colson is currently at 826 career points.