Game 21 Preview: Irish at NC State

Notre Dame Notes

RALEIGH, N.C. – In the post-game press conference after the Boston College loss, Notre Dame graduate guard Cormac Ryan vowed that this team will keep throwing punches and keep fighting. They’ll get that opportunity on Tuesday night against a team poised to make the NCAA Tournament in NC State. The Fighting Irish, who are still searching for that first coveted road win of the year, will tip against the Wolfpack at 7 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

ND vs NC STATE

Notre Dame leads the overall series 10-8 against NC State and has enjoyed much of that success in PNC Arena where they are 6-2. Last year the Irish achieved a regular-season sweep of the Wolfpack.

The Irish won 69-57 at PNC last season and 73-65 inside Purcell. As far as the returners go, Dane Goodwin posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double in Raleigh and 17 points and 8 rebounds in South Bend. 

THREAT FROM THREE

Over the last 14 games, Notre Dame has knocked down 139 three-pointers (9.9 per game) which leads all Power-Five schools since Nov. 30.  Amongst all D-I schools since that date, it ranks 13th. 

Overall on the season, they are averaging 9.3 threes per game, which would rank 4th all-time. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad. That 9.3 number also leads all teams in the ACC along with their total made threes (185).

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

– Hammond – back-to-back games with a season high in made threes in Syracuse and Florida State –> 4+5. He has connected on multiple threes in 6 of the last 8 games. In fact, he tied his career high in made three-pointers with five vs FSU on Jan. 17. Lastly, Hammond is shooting better from three (.429) than overall from the field (.426).

– Wertz – tied his season high in made threes with four at Syracuse on Jan. 14, totaling 12 points. Only made 2 buckets against Georgia Tech on Jan. 10 but they were the two 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. 

– Laszewski – tied his career high in made threes with a 7-of-9 performance against Boston College on Jan. 21, earning a new career best 29 points in the process. 

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 8 straight games in double figures. He’s amassed 110 points in the last 8 games, averaging 13.4 ppg. He is 45-of-93 (.484) from the field in that stretch.

In 2023 (6 games), Goodwin is averaging 14.0 ppg. Plus, he’s also been more active on the glass in 2023 grabbing 40 boards over the last 6 games aka 6.7 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 at Syracuse and vs Florida State (Jan. 14-17) and back-to-back games with a season high in made threes (4+5). 

He also has compiled 90 points over the last 8 games, averaging 11.3 ppg. Or, one could say he’s averaging 14.7 ppg over the last 3 games. 

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.”

NOTRE NOTABLES

The Irish currently rank in the top-5 in two statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 4th in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.2 per game. Penn State leads there with 8.8. 

They rank 5th in least amount of fouls per game with 13.2. That has been a Coach Brey staple for awhile. 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 25th in made three-pointers per game, averaging 9.3. That number leads the ACC.