Game 25 Preview: Irish vs Hokies

NOTRE DAME NOTES | VIRGINIA TECH NOTES

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Three home games and seven overall remain in the regular season for the Notre Dame men’s basketball team to garner some steam ahead of March’s ACC Tournament. Up next for the Fighting Irish (10-14, 2-11) is a team they could very well see on the first day of the ACC Tourney – Virginia Tech (14-10, 4-9). Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 11, inside Purcell Pavilion. The game will be broadcast on RSN. To see if it’s on in your market, click the link in the table above.

CHANGING THE TIDE WITH VA TECH

Notre Dame might lead the overall series with Virginia Tech, 9-8, but its been all Hokies as of late. In fact, Va Tech has won four in a row and seven of the last nine. Both games were decided by single digits last year: Irish lost 79-73 in Blacksburg then lost 87-80 in the ACC Tournament. In the latter, Cormac Ryan played well with 20 points. 

THREAT FROM THREE

Notre Dame’s offense may struggle from time to time, but you can’t argue with the team’s three-point shooting ability. The Irish rank 3rd in the ACC in made three-pointers per game and 34th in the country, converting 9.0 per game. They also rank 3rd in three-point shooting percentage (.366). Their 9.0 threes per game would rank 6th all-time in program history – the program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad. 

23 IN ‘23

Goodwin just ended his best offensive stretch of the season – 10 straight games in double figures from Dec. 27-Jan. 28. He amassed 131 points in that span, averaging 13.1 ppg. It marked the 2nd time of his collegiate career reaching a double-digit scoring streak mark – his career best is 20 from the 21-22 season. 

In 2023 (10 games), Goodwin is averaging 12.5 ppg (125 points) – which ranks 2nd on the team behind Laszewski for that time span. He’s also been more active on the glass in 2023 grabbing 69 boards  aka 6.9 rpg – that number leads the team. 

FEBRUARY GROOVE

Apparently, Dane Goodwin loves playing in the month of February. Starting in 2021 (so over the last 3 seasons), Goodwin is averaging 12.5 ppg in the month of February. He scored 112 points over 8 games in 2021 – Then 81 points in 7 games in 2022. He has 20 through two games in 2023. 

CAREER HIGH STREAK

Cormac Ryan has produced 5 straight games in double figures – a new career best. He’s totaled 68 points in that span, averaging 13.6 ppg. 

Ryan is averaging a career best 11.6 ppg. He’s also 6 three-pointers away from 200 in his career. 

“THAT WAS MARCUS HAMMOND”

Marcus Hammond has been one of ND’s most consistent players as of late and be that guy that Coach Brey thought he could be for the Irish. 

Five double-digit scoring performances in the last 7 games. He led the team in scoring in two of them (Syracuse + BC, Jan. 14-17) –> had back-to-back games with a season high in made threes (4+5). Hammond is averaging 11.9 ppg over said 7-game span (83 points). 

Hammond recently produced his first double-double of the season, and 5th of his career, with 11 points and 10 rebounds at NC State. 

GAMES GETTING AWAY

The Irish have now had 4 ACC games in which they’ve garnered double-digit leads, only to succumb to the opponent’s rally. 

Largest Leads Given Out in Loss This Season

12 vs Wake Forest (12:45 in 1H), 2/4/23

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. 

Recently against Wake Forest on Feb. 4 – the Irish held Demon Deacons scoreless for an 8-minute stretch in the first half, only to garner a 16-4 lead out of it. It was a one-point game at the half with ND down 27-26, before giving up 54 points in the 2nd half. 

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, NC State and at Georgia Tech.  

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. 

At NC State – trailing just 73-76 with 1:51 remaining, the Irish recorded an 0-for-4 stretch from the field to see the gap grow to 7 points before falling 82-85. 

At Georgia Tech – With exactly 8 minutes remaining, the Irish were up 60-54 but didn’t make another field goal until 2:44. Regardless, the game was tied at 68-all with two minutes left and the Irish missed four shots in that final timeframe. Meanwhile, a missed box-out on the defensive end allowed Georgia Tech to have the put-back tip-in at the buzzer. 

WINS VS LOSSES

The stats that stick out:

– Points – ND is averaging 75.6 ppg in wins versus 66.6 in losses. Defensively, allowing 66 in wins vs. 75.9 in losses.

– FG% – shooting 48.4 percent in wins vs. 42.2 percent in losses

– FT Made – ND is averaging 12.4 makes in wins vs. 8.4 in losses. In fact, in losses, opponents have made more free throws (180) than Notre Dame has even attempted (165). 

NOTRE NOTABLES

The Irish currently rank in the top-10 in two statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 2nd in turnovers per game, only surrendering 8.8 per game. Penn State leads there with 8.7. 

They rank 5th in least amount of fouls per game with 13.4. 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 27th in A/TO Ratio – 1.39. Finally, they rank 34th in made three-pointers per game, averaging 9.0. 

— ND —