Game 20 Preview: Irish vs Eagles

NOTRE DAME NOTES | BC NOTES

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A new chapter and turning point is upon the Notre Dame men’s basketball team, as they look to put emotions aside for a matchup against Boston College on Saturday inside Purcell Pavilion. With Glenn & Murphy Stacey Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey announcing he will be stepping down at the conclusion of the season, the Fighting Irish will look to send the 23-year coach out on a high note and it starts with BC.

The Irish square off against the Eagles on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on RSN (regional sports networks). For those in the Michiana area – the game will be on Marquee Network. For a full listing nationwide, click here.

ND vs BC

Notre Dame leads the overall series 25-14 and owns a commanding 16-5 record at home against the Eagles. 

The two sides have already met this season, back on Jan. 3. Notre Dame led for the first 37:19 of the game but couldn’t rid its ACC road demons, as Boston College closed on a 17-4 run to take it 70-63.

Dane Goodwin has achieved great success against the Eagles over the past few years. He has scored 83 points in his last five games against BC, averaging 16.6 points in that span. Goodwin scored 15 of his 16 points in the first half and finished 6-of-12 overall and 3-of-5 from three. 

JJ Starling registered a co-team-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting and a 3-for-6 clip from three. 

GAMES GETTING AWAY

The Irish have now had three ACC games in which they’ve garnered double-digit leads, only to succumb to the opponent’s rally. Coach Brey has emphasized that this group has to learn, and quickly, how to close out games, especially on the road. 

Largest Lead Given Out in Loss

12 at Syracuse (12:54 in 2H), 1/14/23

11 at Florida State (10:41 in 1H), 12/21/22

10 at Boston College (17:53 in 2H), 1/3/23

And what’s tough specifically about the Syracuse and Boston College losses was that Notre Dame led for almost the entire game in both. Take this stat – in those two games, Notre Dame led for a combined 63:38 out of the 80 minutes. More on that below

A DIFFERENCE OF A FEW POSSESSIONS

A difference in a few possessions – one in each of the following games – Syracuse x2, Florida State, Boston College.

1st game vs. 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 4 minutes remaining. When BC took its first lead at 1:43, 62-61, Notre Dame went 0-3 on its next three possessions.

2nd game at Syracuse – Irish led for a majority, 26:19 in fact, leading as much as 12 points with 12:54 to play. However, the Orange ultimately closed the game on a 24-10 scoring run, stealing the victory from the Irish in the closing minutes. The Irish, who made a season high 15 three-pointers in the contest, suddenly went cold, missing 8 of their last 9 three-pointer attempts. 

THE POSITIVES OUT OF SYRACUSE

Offensively, that was one of ND’s best games of the season. They converted a season best 15 three-pointers. In fact, they recorded a stretch in which they made 11 of 16 three attempts. But as much as three-ball giveth, the three-ball taketh, as one has to wonder if they could have gotten a few more – for the Irish missed on 8 of their last 9 three attempts of the game. 

Next, the Irish dished out a season high 21 assists on 27 made baskets. Plus, they didn’t turn the ball over, only committing five in the game. 

Four different Irish had at least three treys – Laszewski, Wertz, Hammond and Goodwin. 

23 IN ‘23

Goodwin has found his offensive rhythm and is Notre Dame’s best player right now with 7 straight games in double figures. He’s amassed 97 points in the last 7 games, averaging 13.9 ppg. He is 40-of-80 from the field and 10-of-27 from three. 

In 2023 (5 games), Goodwin is averaging 14.2 ppg. He’s also been more active on the glass grabbing 35 boards over the last 5 games aka 7.0 rpg. 

He had a season high 6 assists to go with his 15 points at Syracuse on Jan. 14. A game prior vs Georgia Tech, he produced a team high 19 points and a career best 12 rebounds. Goodwin connected on a big three in the overtime period to help seal the win.  

“THAT WAS MARCUS HAMMOND”

Marcus Hammond is starting to get in a groove as of late and be that guy that Coach Brey thought he could be for the Irish. 

How about back-to-back games leading the team in scoring, amassing 37 total points. How about back-to-back games with a season high in made threes –> 4+5. 

He also has compiled 83 points over the last 7 games, averaging 11.9 ppg in that span. 

And here’s an odd stat for you –> he is shooting better from three (.442) than overall from the field (.432). 

Now more on that three-ball. He’s connected on multiple threes in 6 of the last 7 games. He’s 19-for-42 during that stretch (.452). 

Hammond tied his career high in made three-pointers with five, leading the team with 19 points vs FSU on Jan. 17. Prior, Hammond knocked down 4 threes to register 18 points at Syracuse on Jan. 14. 

VOCAL LEADER – RYAN

A three-time captain, Ryan used his voice and his leadership ability to rally the Irish in a huddle down seven with 2:30 to go against Georgia Tech on Jan. 10. 

“C-Mac’s huddle,” said Brey. “Coach didn’t need to say anything. The guys react to him. He was unbelievable. Cormac wants it so bad. He’s invested so much.”

Notre Dame then closed regulation on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 65-all to force overtime, where they ultimately won it 73-72. 

“Cormac kind of lit a fire under us and I think that certainly helped,” Goodwin said. “He just kind of got into us. It happens. That’s what a veteran leader should do. I think we responded well and I think we responded how we should have.”

MILESTONE APPROACHING

Cormac Ryan sits at 990 career points, which spans his four year career (including freshman year at Stanford). However, he still needs 219 points to reach 1,000 at Notre Dame. 

THREAT FROM THREE

Over the last 13 games, Notre Dame has knocked down 127 three-pointers (9.8 per game) which leads all Power-Five schools since Nov. 30. Amongst ACC schools it’s not even close, with the 2nd highest number being 105 by Wake Forest. 

Overall on the season, they are averaging 9.1 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. 

Furthermore, let’s dive in to the recent three-point shooting trends of the team:

– Hammond – back-to-back games with a season high in made threes –> 4+5. He has connected on multiple threes in 6 of the last 7 games. He’s 19-for-42 during that stretch (.452). In fact, he tied his career high in made three-pointers with five vs FSU on Jan. 17.

– Wertz – 13-of-30 from three in the last 6 games aka 43.3 percent. He tied his season high in made threes with four and grabbed a season best 7 rebounds at Syracuse on Jan. 14, totaling 12 points. Only made 2 buckets against Georgia Tech on Jan. 10 but they were the 2 most clutch of the game. Wertz hit a three in the corner which tied the game at 65-all with 53 seconds left and sent the game to overtime. Then in OT, he hit a go-ahead three with 55 seconds left.  Lastly, 10 of Trey’s last 15 made buckets have been threes. 

— ND —