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Game 16 Preview: Irish vs Tar Heels

Saturday, Jan. 7 | 11:30 am ET | Dean E. Smith Center | ESPN2

ACC Tournament:#12 NOTRE DAME (12-19, 7-13)
ACC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL:CLICK HERE
WHERE:WASHINGTON D.C. | CAPITAL ONE ARENA
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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

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team is looking to right the ship and there’s no better way to do it than earning a statement win at North Carolina on ESPN2. The Irish will also be searching for just their second-ever win inside the Dean E. Smith Center, just 1-8 there all-time. It’ll be an early one for those tuning in, as tip-0ff is set for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 7.

ND vs UNC

Notre Dame has some catching up to do in the overall series against North Carolina, currently trailing 9-27. With that said, the Irish are coming off a victory over the Tar Heels a season ago, downing UNC 78-73 in South Bend.

Laszewski shot 7-for-11 in the game and 6-for-7 from behind the three-point arc to lead the Irish with 20 points. His back-to-back clutch three-pointers with under three minutes proved to be the key shots in the victory.

Dane Goodwin scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half while Blake Wesley ended the contest with 18 points and four steals. North Carolina was led by Armando Bacot’s 21 points and 17 rebounds, but the Irish defense did hold the Tar Heel big man to five points in the second half.

A DIFFERENCE OF A FEW POSSESSIONS

A difference in a few possessions – one in each of the following games in fact (Syracuse, Florida State, Boston College) and the Irish could easily be sitting at 3-1 in ACC play. 

Syracuse – Down five, with under 1:20 to play, Cormac Ryan and Marcus Hammond recorded back-to-back three-point plays to go up 61-60, but the Orange answered with 14 seconds on the clock. Notre Dame couldn’t connect on the buzzer-beater, falling 62-61.

Florida State – With six seconds remaining on the clock down one, Notre Dame ran a great in-bounds play to Wertz but his next pass to an open and sprinting Cormac Ryan was thrown just a tad too high/long as the Seminoles tracked it down and escaped with a 73-72 win. The Irish were on a 6-0 run with two big defensive stands in the final minute before the final play of the game.

Boston College – The Irish led for the first 37:19 of the game but Boston College closed on a 17-4 run to take it 70-63. Notre Dame led 59-53 with four minutes remaining. When BC took its first lead at 1:43, 62-61, Notre Dame went 0-for-3 on its next three possessions.

“The older guys have been through it all on this team. I gave an example of the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, plus previous teams of mine, teams who have been dead in the water and came back.” – Coach Brey

THREAT FROM THREE

Over the last 9 games, Notre Dame has knocked down 87 three-pointers (9.7 per game) which leads all Power-Five schools since Nov. 30. When looking at all D-I schools, it ranks 12th. The Irish have recorded double-digit threes in five of the past nine games. 

Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.9 threes 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 is the squad’s big three:

Goodwin – .460 – career best

Ryan – .390

Laszewski – .371  

*Hammond – coming along at .417

“So much rides on us making three-point shots. We are making 10 a game and it’s still not enough. We’re probably going to have to make 13-14 threes to win league games. That’s just how we are built offensively right now.” – Coach Brey at media availability ahead of UNC. 

DANE TRENDING

After five straight games (Dec. 3 vs Syracuse) in single digits, Goodwin has found his offensive rhythm with 3 straight games in double figures. He’s amassed 42 points in the last 3 games, averaging 14.0 ppg. He is 18-of-35 from the field over the last 3 games and 5-of-11 from three. 

And how about this – despite battling a bad sinus infection, Goodwin still managed to deliver a team high 16 points against Boston College on Jan. 3. 

JJ FINDING HIMSELF AS OF LATE

Starling has recorded double-digit points in six of the last seven games and has produced the most overall double-digit scoring performances on the team this season with 11. 

One of the main reasons for the recent surge — 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 11-of-23 from beyond the arc over the last 7 games aka 47.8 percent. 

JJ co-led the team in scoring at BC with 16 points. Prior, vs Jacksonville on Dec. 27, JJ scored all 11 of his points in the 2nd half. More impressively, he impacted the game elsewhere, grabbing a season high 8 rebounds.

“JJ is getting better,” Brey said. “And more comfortable, in a good rhythm. He’s improved defensively. He’s moving the ball and playing. I’m excited about where he’s at. He has just been really good. To shake off a tough 1st half and say, ‘I’m going to keep playing.’ When he can square his shoulders and we get some cutters and we move and he can turn a corner, we don’t have anybody like that. He’s the guy.”

JJ almost singlehandedly won the Irish the game at Florida State 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, giving them an opportunity to win with 6 seconds left.

“THAT WAS MARCUS HAMMOND”

The Hammond breakout game was Dec. 27 vs Jacksonville when he poured in a team best 15 points in the win. He shot 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from deep, taking control of the Irish offense and pushing the tempo.  

“That was Marcus Hammond,” said Coach Brey. “He’s a scorer. He’s really gifted. Coach Slo spent some time with him; I think he was thinking too much. He’s really gifted. Man, he’s played a lot of basketball and I’m thrilled for him. He deserved that.”

A few days later, Hammond scored 10 of his 12 points in the 2nd half vs. Miami, which included a four-point play which made it a one-possession game with 12 min remaining. 

Now, he has 32 points over the last 3 games, averaging 10.7 ppg. He is 12-of-24 from the floor, with a 6-of-14 mark from three. 

NOTRE NOTABLES

The Irish currently rank in the top-10 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 5th in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.6.

Furthermore, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 6th in free-throw percentage, converting 79.9 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well.  Goodwin, Ryan and Laszewski are all shooting above .850 from the stripe.

LET CORMAC COOK

He’s averaging a career best 12.1 ppg and shooting 39.0 percent from beyond the arc – latter ranks 12th in the ACC. He’s also shooting a career best 86.5 percent from the free-throw line. 

He has really come into his own since his breakout performance vs No. 20 Michigan State back on Nov. 30. Since that date, Ryan is 25-of-54 from three. His 25 made threes rank 3rd in the ACC since Nov. 30 — also tied for 5th most of any Power-Five player. Furthermore, his .463 three-point percentage since that date ranks 3rd amongst ACC players. 

And even when his shots weren’t falling against Miami on Dec. 30, he still got it done in other areas with season highs in rebounds (9) and assists (5). 

NATE LA CHEF’S KISS SKI 

Nate Laszewski is averaging a career best 13.4 ppg and a career high 7.7 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 has been an all-around player for the Irish – 7th in rebounds (7.7), 3rd in FT% (.880) and 3rd in defensive rebounds (6.9). In fact, his D-Reb average ranks 20th in the country. And if charges taken was a recorded statistic, he would lead the Irish in that. 

— ND —