Irish Enter Bounce Back Mode Against Chaminade

ND_MBB_Game Notes vs Chaminade

2021-22 FIGHTING IRISH – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season in the second round of the 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational against Chaminade on Tuesday evening at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Depending on the outcome of the games on Tuesday, Notre Dame will complete the tournament Wednesday against either Butler or Texas A&M.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

#20 | PAUL ATKINSON JR. | Graduate Student | 6-9 | 230 | West Palm Beach, FL

Leads the Irish with 16.0 ppg, scored 11 of his 13 points vs. St. Mary’s (CA) in the second half of the game • 2019-20 Ivy League Player of the Year at Yale • did not participate in 2020-21, as the Ivy League cancelled all intercollegiate athletics • ranked by ESPN+ as the fourth-best transfer prospect in  2020-21 • boasts a .661 career field goal percentage – top for any returning NCAA Division I player this year – and led Ivy League in FG% all three seasons in which he competed.

#3 PRENTISS HUBB | Senior | 6-3 | 176 | Upper Marlboro, MD

Failed to record an assist for the first time in his Notre Dame career against St. Mary’s (CA) • preseason All-ACC Second Team • leads all returning ACC players in career assists (451) • led the Irish in  scoring (14.6) and three-point field goals made (65) last season • one of five major conference players to reach 100 assists in league play last season.

#5 CORMAC RYAN | Senior | 6-5 | 195 | New York, NY

Led the Irish with 16 points on 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc against St. Mary’s (CA) • started 16 of 25 games in his first year with the Irish last season • scored 21 points in the first half in the victory at Duke last year, eventually scoring career-best 28 points • shot .344 from 3FG range last season.

#23 DANE GOODWIN | Senior | 6-4 | 202 | Upper Arlington, OH

Has scored in double figures in all three games this season • averaging 13.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg • posted career highs of 11.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 2020-21 • one of the best free throw shooters on the team, boasting a .821 career average from the stripe.

#14 NATE LASZEWSKI | Senior | 6-10 | 235 | Jupiter, FL

Has pulled down 31 rebounds (including career-high 16 vs. High Point) in first three games of the year • improved FG% 19 percent, 3FG% 11% and RPG by 3.1 last season • scored over 20 points four times last season and has five 20-point games in his career.

OFF THE BENCH

#2 TREY WERTZ | Senior | 6-5 | 192 | Charlotte, NC

Led the Irish with five assists vs. St. Mary’s (CA) and played a season-high 26 minutes • planned to sit out 2020-21 season after transferring from Santa Clara until all underclassmen transfers were given immediate eligibility in December of 2020 • appeared in 21 games making 14 starts, shooting .429 from three-point range • hit the game-winning 3FG at the buzzer vs. WF in 2021 ACC tournament.

#0 BLAKE WESLEY | Freshman | 6-5 | 185 | South Bend, IN

First Mike Brey freshman to score 20 points in a career debut (vs. CSUN) since Chris Thomas in 2001 • first South Bend, IN, public school MBB prospect to sign with Notre Dame since 1985 • consensus four-star prospect • athletic backcourt player expected to be an immediate key contributor.

#1 J.R. KONIECZNY | Freshman | 6-6 | 195 | South Bend, IN

(pronounced Ko-NEZZ-knee) Saw action in first career game vs. CSUN • all-time leading scorer in St. Joseph County history (1,996) • joins classmate Blake Wesley as the first Northern Indiana Conference players to sign with Notre Dame since 2012 (D. Jackson, A. Torres).

#22 ELIJAH TAYLOR | Sophomore | 6-8 | 242 | Philadelphia, PA

Missed CSUN game as a precaution due to minor lower leg injury, then the High Point game with the flu • missed 2020-21 while recovering from ankle surgery • athletic front court player will provide depth on the Irish front line.