Dec. 5, 2014
Game 9
Fairleigh Dickinson (3-3)
vs.
Notre Dame (7-1)
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014
8 p.m. (ET)
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
Notre Dame, Ind.
TV/INTERNET
ESPN3
David Wilson (play-by-play)
Sean Harrington (analyst)
RADIO
Broadcast on WatchND (free)
Sirius 132/XM 203
Check affiliates on Pg. 3 of notes packet
Jack Nolan (play-by-play)
Torrian Jones (analyst)
LIVE STATS
FIGHTING IRISH TO FACE FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON FOR THE FIRST TIME
– Notre Dame will play host to Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Fighting Irish and Knights will square off at 8 p.m. (ET) inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
– The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3 with David Wilson (play-by-play) and Sean Harrington (analyst) on the call. A free audio broadcast will be available on WatchND.tv. Jack Nolan will handle play-by-play duties, while Torrian Jones will serve as the analyst. The contest also is available on Sirius 132 and XM 203.
FIGHTING IRISH EDGE SPARTANS IN OT
– Backcourt mates Jerian Grant (27) and Demetrius Jackson (22) both netted career-high point totals in Wednesday’s 79-78 overtime win over #19/18 Michigan State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge inside Purcell Pavilion.
– In addition to scoring a career-high 27 points, Grant notched game-high totals for assists (6) and steals (3) while playing all 45 minutes against the Spartans.
– Notre Dame committed a season-low four turnovers. The Irish did not have a turnover in the second half and turned the ball over just once in overtime.
– The Irish had season-high marks in made free throws (20) and free throw attempts (25).
– Grant (45), Jackson (44), Pat Connaughton (44) and Steve Vasturia (42) all played over 40 minutes and all four players scored in double-figures (Connaughton & Vasturia both had 12 points).
– Notre Dame improved to 17-10 in overtime contests under head coach Mike Brey. The Irish are 7-1 in their last eight overtime affairs.
– Michigan State was the first ranked opponent Notre Dame defeated since the Irish topped #7/8 Duke, 79-77, on Jan. 4, 2014. The Irish were 0-3 against ranked foes since that victory over the Blue Devils. Notre Dame is 50-73 versus ranked opponents under Brey.
– The Fighting Irish improved to 13-12 in one-point games under Brey.
NOTRE DAME AGAINST THE NEC
– Notre Dame is 20-0 all-time against teams currently in the Northeast Conference. Saturday will be the first time the Irish have squared off against an NEC opponent since a 70-59 victory over Bryant on Dec. 9, 2013.
– The Irish will face another NEC foe, Mount St. Mary’s, on Tuesday.
HOT SHOTS
– Notre Dame leads the nation in field goal percentage at 56.6 percent.
– The Irish have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in seven of eight 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.
– Wednesday’s 46.4 percent effort against Michigan State was the first time this season Notre Dame was held under 50 percent.
– Four of Notre Dame’s five starters are shooting better than 50.0 percent from the field — Zach Auguste (65.7%), Demetrius Jackson (58.5%), Jerian Grant (58.1%) and Pat Connaughton (50.7%).
EN FUEGO
– Jerian Grant has posted a career-high point total in each of the last two games. He deposited 26 points last Saturday versus Chicago State and then netted 27 on Wednesday against Michigan State.
– Grant is 17-29 (.586) from the field, 8-16 (.500) from three-point range and 11-12 (.917) from the free throw line in those two contests.
– He has committed just three turnovers in the last three games while averaging 34.7 minutes per contest.
– Grant has scored 20-plus points four times in the last five games.
– He has reached double-figures in points in each of his last 10 games and 73 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.
– Overall, Grant is averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 assists per contest and owns a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
GRANT HAS AN ALL-AROUND GAME
– Senior guard Jerian Grant leads the ACC in points per game (19.5) and assists per game (7.0).
– Grant has had a hand in 43.0 percent of Notre Dame’s 683 points this season. He’s netted 156 points and his 56 assists have led to 138 Fighting Irish points.
– Grant ranks 11th nationally – and second in the ACC – with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio this season. His career 2.52 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth nationally among active Division I players.
DEMETRIUS ON DISPLAY
– Sophomore point guard Demetrius Jackson has scored in double-figures in each of the last six games, which is a career-best streak. He tallied a career-high 22 points on Wednesday against Michigan State.
20 TOPPERS
– Jerian Grant (27) and Demetrius Jackson (22) both topped the 20-point plateau against Michigan State. It was the first time Notre Dame had two 20-point scorers since Jan. 21, 2014, at Florida State (Eric Atkins 24, Garrick Sherman 21).
TAKING CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
– Notre Dame ranks sixth nationally in fewest turnovers per game (9.4) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.76). The Irish had a season-low four turnovers on Wednesday versus Michigan State. That was the fifth time this season Notre Dame had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game.
MILESTONES
– With his fifth rebound against Michigan State, 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). Harangody finished his Irish career with 2,476 points and 1,222 rebounds. Connaughton has 1,098 points and 603 boards.
– Jerian Grant needs seven assists for 500. With 1,267 career points and 493 assists, he would become the sixth Irish player in the 110-year history of the program to score 1,000 points and dish off 500 assists.
IRISH GET OFFENSIVE OUT OF THE GATE
– The Fighting Irish rank 13th nationally in scoring (85.4 ppg.). Notre Dame’s 683 points are the most for the Irish through the first eight games of a season since they tallied 690 in 2006-07.
– Notre Dame has scored 74 points or better in each of its first eight games. It’s the first time since the 2001-02 campaign that an Irish team has opened up the season with eight straight 74-plus point efforts.
– Notre Dame scored 90-plus points for the third time in 2014-15 in its 90-42 victory over Chicago State last Saturday.
STARTING FIVE
– 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 eight 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 eight games last season, Notre Dame already had three different starting lineups.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Four Fighting Irish players are averaging double-figures in points – Jerian Grant (19.5), Zach Auguste (13.9), Pat Connaughton (13.5) and Demetrius Jackson (13.1).
– Notre Dame has had at least four players reach double-figures in every game this season. The Irish had five double-figure scorers twice this season (Coppin State and Providence).
DRAINING FROM DEEP
– Notre Dame is seventh nationally in made three-point field goals (75) and 20th in three-pointers per game (9.4).
– Pat Connaughton (21-45/.467), V.J. Beachem (15-27/.556) and Steve Vasturia (13-29/.448) all are shooting 44.0 percent or above from three-point range this season. As a team, Notre Dame is shooting 41.4 percent (75-181) from beyond the arc.
– Connaughton’s 21 three-pointers and three-point percentage (.467) rank second among ACC players.
– Notre Dame made a season-best 14 three-pointers (14-25) last Saturday against Chicago State.
AUGUSTE HAS A HOT START
– Junior forward Zach Auguste posted a career-high point total in each of the first three games of the season. He tallied 19 points in the season opener versus Binghamton and followed that up with a 20-point effort versus Navy. Against Coppin State, Auguste topped the 20-point mark for the second straight game with a personal best 21 points.
– Auguste was a perfect nine-for-nine from the field against Coppin State and five-for-five versus Grambling State. His performance against Coppin State tied a Notre Dame record for most field goals without a miss in a single game.
– Auguste ranks 11th nationally – and first in the ACC – in field goal percentage at 65.7 percent (44-67).
A DYNAMIC DUO
– Seniors Pat Connaughton and Jerian Grant have spent a lot of time on the court together since they first stepped onto the floor during the 2011-12 campaign.
– The duo has combined for 198 games played (180 of them starts), 2,365 points, 856 rebounds, 709 assists and 198 steals.
– Even more impressive is the fact they have accounted for 6,586 minutes played on the court (33.3 mpg.).
IRONMAN
– Pat Connaughton has never missed a game during his Fighting Irish career. He has played in all 109 contests, including 93 starts. Connaughton has started 90 consecutive games.
– Connaughton never left the court in eight games in 2013-14 (six times in ACC play).
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE FOR PAT
– Senior guard Pat Connaughton is averaging 13.5 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game.
– Connaughton has two double-doubles this season. He registered 13 points and 11 boards versus Providence and notched 17 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Binghamton.
– He has nine career double-doubles, which are the most of any current Irish player.
– Connaughton has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game 13 times during his career, including three times this season.
TAKEAWAYS FROM THE TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT
– Notre Dame posted a 1-1 record at the Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Fighting Irish topped UMass, 81-68, and fell to Providence, 75-74.
– Jerian Grant averaged 22.0 points and 7.0 assists per game and he was named to the all-tournament team along with teammate Pat Connaughton, who averaged 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two contests.
– All five Notre Dame starters – Grant (20), Zach Auguste (15), Connaughton (13), Steve Vasturia (11) and Demetrius Jackson (11) – scored in double-figures against Providence. Connaughton also chipped in a game-best 11 rebounds.
– After falling behind UMass 23-13, the Fighting Irish finished the first half on an 18-5 run to lead 31-28 at halftime. The run eventually reached 37-10 when the Irish took a 50-33 lead before going on to win 81-68. Grant scored a game-high 24 points, while Auguste notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
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.
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 1,098 points in 109 career games (10.1 ppg.).
– Connaughton became the second current Fighting Irish player with at least 1,000 career points. Senior Jerian Grant has tallied 1,267 points in 89 games in an Irish uniform (14.2 ppg.).
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 406-212 (.657) 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 307-160 (.657) record in his 14-plus seasons in South Bend. He is one of 17 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 AGAINST COPPIN STATE
– 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.
DEFENSIVE DISPLAYS
– 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 last Saturday’s 90-42 win.
– 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.
– Notre Dame leads the ACC in steals (68).
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.
ANOTHER CROSSROADS CLASSIC CLASH
– Notre Dame will battle Big Ten rival Purdue in the fourth annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. The game between the Irish and the Boilermakers will be the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Dec. 20. Butler and Indiana will square off in the first contest.
– The Fighting Irish are 2-1 in their three previous Crossroads Classic showdowns. Notre Dame topped Indiana, 79-72, last season and the Irish downed Purdue, 81-68, in 2012. Notre Dame fell to Indiana, 69-58, in the inaugural event in 2011.
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.