| ACC Tournament: | #12 NOTRE DAME (12-19, 7-13) |
|---|---|
| ACC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: | CLICK HERE |
| WHERE: | WASHINGTON D.C. | CAPITAL ONE ARENA |
| TICKETS: | PURCHASE ONLINE |
| LISTEN: | NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE |
| SOCIAL: | @NDMBB | #GOIRISH |
| 1ST ROUND: | #13 GEORGIA TECH | TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2 PM ET | ACCN |
| 2ND ROUND: | #5 WAKE FOREST | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2:30 PM ET | ESPN |
| QUARTERFINALS: | #4 PITT | THURSDAY, MARCH 14 , 2:30 PM ET | ESPN/2 |
| SEMIFINALS: | #1 NORTH CAROLINA/TBD | FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 7 PM ET | ESPN/2 |
| FINALS: | TBD | SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 8:30 PM ET | ESPN |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (7-5, 0-2 ACC) will have one last non-conference opportunity to get back on track when the Irish host the Jacksonville Dolphins (7-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 27. The Irish are coming off a heartbreaking one-point loss at Florida State on Dec. 21 and will resume ACC play at home on Dec. 30 vs. Miami. The final tune-up is a solid Jacksonville squad with tip scheduled for 7 p.m. ET inside Purcell – the game will air on the ACC Network.
The Irish and Dolphins have only met once before, with Notre Dame taking it 100-74 in December of 2018.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish currently rank in the top-5 in three different statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 1st in fouls per game – only committing 11.9. That has been a Coach Brey staple. In the last 12 years, Notre Dame has only failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just once. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls five times.
Next, they rank 2nd in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.2.
Furthermore, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 4th in free-throw percentage, converting 80.4 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well. Goodwin, Ryan and Laszewski are all shooting above .850 from the stripe.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame has recorded double-digit three-pointers in 4 of the last 6 games, and the two that they didn’t – Boston U and Florida State – they connected on nine. Over that 6-game stretch, they’ve knocked down 61 three-pointers aka 10.2 per game.
That 10.2 average leads all Power-Five schools since Nov. 30. When looking at all D-I schools, it ranks 18th.
Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.9 three’s per game, which would crack the program’s all-time top-10. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
Now, the big reason for that – the squad’s big three who are all shooting above 42 percent. The trio all rank in the top-7 in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage.
Goodwin – .462 – ranks 4th in the ACC
Ryan – .456 – ranks 5th in the ACC
Laszewski – .429 – ranks 7th in the ACC
*Hammond – .400
LET CORMAC COOK
A phrase you may have heard a lot lately – Let Cormac Cook. He’s 21-of-34 (.618) from three over the past 6 games. His 21 three’s are the 2nd most by a Power-Five Conference player since Nov. 30 (top spot is FSU’s Darin Green Jr’s 22). Overall in D-I, his 21 three’s are the 15th most since Nov. 30.
More stats since Nov. 30:
• His 61.8 percent clip from three since Nov. 30 ranks 15th in the country overall
• Since Nov. 30 vs Michigan State, Ryan is averaging a team best 16.2 ppg, which includes two 20+ point performances.
NATE’S GREAT START
Nate Laszewski is averaging a career best 15.1 ppg and a career high 7.8 rpg.
With four years under his belt, he entered the year with nine career double-doubles to his name and six 20-point performances. Already this season he has three double-doubles and four 20+ point efforts.
Laszewski is doing it all for the Irish, simply look at his ACC individual rankings – 13th in scoring (15.1), 7th in rebounds (7.8), 6th in FG% (.550), 7th in 3PT FG% (.429), 3rd in FT% (.870) and 3rd in defensive rebounds (6.9).
Nate is the only player in the ACC to rank in the top-15 in scoring, rebounds, FG% and 3PT FG%
To further illustrate how unique of a player Laszewski is, take this — he’s the only player in the country averaging at least 15 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting above .500 overall, .400 from three and .850 from the free-throw line.
Lastly, Cormac Ryan isn’t the only Irish having a strong December. Laszewski has totaled 52 points over the last 3 games, averaging 17.3 ppg. Also been prolific from three, converting 9-of-18 in those 3 games.
#PROTECTPURCELL
Last season, the Irish went 14-1 inside Purcell Pavilion, and this year they are off to a 7-2 start which includes a ranked win over No. 20 Michigan State. Thus, they are 21-3 at home over their last 24 home games.
STAR(LING) FRESHMAN
All the talk about the grad school vets but there’s a freshmen named JJ Starling looking to make a name for himself in the collegiate landscape.
Starling, who was ranked 18th by ESPN and was the highest ranked ND recruit since at least 2007 (when ESPN recruiting database began), is off to a solid start – averaging 13.3 ppg. In fact, if the season ended today, JJ’s 13.3 ppg would rank 8th all-time at ND for a freshmen.
He ranks 3rd in scoring amongst ACC freshmen. The top two spots belong to Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Syracuse’s Judah Mintz. All-in-all, they’re the only 3 ACC freshmen in double figures.
JJ TAKING OFF
In what was an achilles heel at the beginning of the season is now a strong point as of late – that’s JJ’s three-point shooting. He’s 7-of-14 from beyond the arc over the last 4 games.
Did what he could in Florida State matchup on Dec. 21 – recording his 2nd 20-point performance of the season. Starling went on a 6-0 run to end the game to pull the Irish within one and give them an opportunity to win the game with 6 seconds left.
With that said, Starling has tied his career best with 4 straight games in double figures, averaging 15.3 ppg in that span.
ANOTHER DYNAMIC FRESHMAN
Ven-Allen Lubin is another freshman you need to know. He’s averaging a modest 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds off the bench, but the latter ranks 2nd on the team.
He’s one of the most athletically gifted individuals on the team and most efficient shooter as well. Case in point – he’s shooting 66.7 percent from two. He’s also knocking down a team best 59.3 percent from the floor overall. In fact, that number would rank 5th all-time for a ND freshman if the season ended today. Top spot is Harold Swanagan’s .645 in 98-99.
He’s also a big presence defensively, leading the team in blocks with 0.9 per game. A shining example of such – Lubin was subbed in for his defense with under a minute left in the Boston U game and it paid off, earning a pivotal block and rebound, then converting a free throw on the other end. He finished with nine points, 5 rebounds and a career best 3 blocks.
Lastly, he boasts one double-double to his name as well, earning it on Nov. 25 vs St. Bonaventure with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
— ND —