Irish Return Home To Take On Wolfpack

ND_MBB_Game Notes vs._NC State

The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball (12-6, 5-2) returns to Purcell Pavilion to start a three-game home stand on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 against NC State (10-10, 3-6) as part of the ACC’s Regional Sports Network Package (9 p.m. ET).

Wednesday night’s game kickstarts a key 11-day stretch of the season in which the Irish will play five games, including another game with the Wolfpack on Saturday, Feb. 5 in Raleigh.    

GAME TRENDS

In 2021-22 the Notre Dame is:

• 10-0 when they shoot better than their opponent.

• 8-0 when they make 10-or-more three-point field goals.

• 7-0 at Purcell Pavilion.

• 7-1 when a Notre Dame player scores 20-or-more points.

A NOTRE DAME WIN WOULD… 

… end NC State’s four-game win streak in the series.

… move the Irish to .500 all-time in ACC regular season games.

… improve the Irish to 6-2 in the ACC.

… be the 9th win in the last 11 games for the Irish.

… improve the Irish to 4-1 on Wednesday’s this season.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

• Has established himself as one of the most efficient and skilled scorers in the country – and is the only major conference player (and one of just two players in the country) to average .500 FG%, .400 3FG%, .900 FT% and score over 15 ppg.

• Has scored in double figures all 18 games this season, which is a career-best streak.

• ACC Co-Player of the Week (12/27/21) who has become an All-ACC level guard this season.

• One of the most dynamic playmaking freshmen in the country, owns five 20-point scoring games, including last three of the last five.

• National Freshman of the Week on January 10 (CBSSports/BWAA) and three-time ACC Freshman of the Week (including this week).

• In his first career start in Purcell Pavilion, hit the game-winning jump shot with :12 left to defeat No. 10/12 Kentucky.

• First South Bend, IN, public school MBB prospect to attend Notre Dame since 1985.

• See page 4 for more breakdowns of Wesley’s noteworthy rookie season.

• Provides a low post scoring option, hitting double digit scoring in seven of last 10 games, set ACC personal high with 19 pts at VT.

• 2019-20 Ivy League Player of the Year at Yale, did not participate in 2020-21 as the Ivy League canceled all intercollegiate athletics.

• Ranked by ESPN+ as the fourth-best transfer prospect in 2020-21.

• His driving lay up with :19 seconds left proved to be the game-sealing basket in the victory at Howard – as he returned to the DMV area to play for the first time.

• Connected on the game-winning jumper with five seconds remaining at Pittsburgh (12/28/21).

• Leads all ACC players in assist/turnover ratio (4.8) in league games this season.

• Preseason All-ACC Second Team.

• Posted break out game of the season in victory over North Carolina (1/5/22) with 20 points, shooting 6-for-7 from three-point range.

• Notre Dame’s best rebounder who carded a 17-point, 13-rebound performance at Howard.

• Scored over 20 points four times last season and has six 20-point games in his career.

OFF THE BENCH

• The team’s best on-ball defender who routinely assumes the assignment of the opponents best perimeter scoring threat.

• Filled up the stat line against No. 10/12 Kentucky with seven points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal.

• Scored 21 points in the first half in the victory at Duke last year, eventually scoring career-best 28 points.

• Went three-for-three from three point range at Louisville on Saturday, surpassing 1,000 career points (747 scored at Santa Clara).

• Provides ball handling and a scoring punch off the bench.

• Planned to sit out 2020-21 after transferring from Santa Clara until all underclassmen transfers were given immediate eligibility in 12/20

• Hit the game-winning three pointer at the buzzer in the first round ACC tournament victory over Wake Forest last season.

IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS

BLAKE WESLEY AMONG THE NATION’S TOP FRESHMAN

Freshman Blake Wesley, the reigning ACC Freshman of the Week (his second such award of the season) is among college basketball’s top scoring true freshmen.

ACC TRUE FRESHMAN SCORING

MAJOR CONFERENCE TRUE FRESHMAN SCORING

Expand to all true freshmen in the country and Wesley is tied for 11th in points per game.

WESLEY’S DEBUT SEASON AMONG THE BEST ROOKIES OF BREY ERA

Freshman Blake Wesley has reached double figures in scoring after 16 of his first 18 career games and has posted five 20-point performances. Those numbers place him among the elite rookies of the Mike Brey era.

Chris Thomas eventually finished 2001-02 by scoring in double digits 24 of 33 games (and in 12 of his first 14 career games). His longest streak of double-digit scoring games that season was nine.

Harangody compiled 2006-07 by scoring double digits in 22 of 32 games (and in 14 of his first 18 games). His longest streak of double-digit scoring games was six. Torin Francis finished 2002-03 with 19 double digit scoring games in 34 total appearances – his longest double-digit scoring game streak was five games.

BREY ERA FRESHMAN DEBUTS

GOODWIN POSTING UNIQUE 50-40-90 SHOOTING PERCENTAGES

Senior Dane Goodwin has become one of the most consistent and reliable scorers in the country and it all points to his offensive efficiency. Basketball fans and pundits will point to the 50 field goal percentage, 40 three-point percentage and 90 free throw percentage as the ultimate threshold to reach.

Goodwin is the only major conference player in the country posting those shooting percentages while averaging over 15 points per game – and one of only two in the nation.

50-40-90 PLAYERS, MIN 15 PPG SCORED THIS SEASON

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTED BY 1,000 POINT SCORERS

Notre Dame has produced 66 1,000 point scorers throughout the history of the program with 25 of those players having been recruited by Mike Brey and exhausted their eligibility (or turned professional early).

Dane Goodwin is the most recent Irish player with 1,000 career points, reaching the mark against Western Michigan on December 20, 2021. Trey Wertz also recently passed the 1,000 point barrier at Louisville, with 747 of those points being scored at Santa Clara.

Nate Laszewski will be the next Irish player to reach 1,000 points at Notre Dame and is currently at 963.   

IRISH INK NATIONALLY-RANKED RECRUITING CLASS

The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball program and Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey have announced that three prospective student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Notre Dame and compete for the Fighting Irish in 2022-23.

The three-member class is composed of forwards Dom Campbell and Ven-Allen Lubin, along with guard J.J. Starling. All three are consensus top-100 players and four-star prospects which provide the Irish the 15th-ranked recruiting class by 24/7 Sports (fifth-best in the ACC) and the 18th-rated (fourth-best in the ACC) group from Rivals.

“Our new staff started with a plan in June and I really like how we stayed focused and committed while being on the road in June and July, then followed through when the visits on campus took place,” Brey said.

“It was a fabulous team effort by our coaching staff to get a three man class that will be part of a bright future for Notre Dame basketball. Our fans will love to watch these guys play and grow as part of our program.”

Dom Campbell | Forward | 6-9, 265 | Phillips Exeter Academy (NH) | Scarborough, ME

“Dom is a gifted low post guy with great hands and footwork. He has the ability to carve out space and step out as well. He can make really good decisions with the ball in his hands.”

– Mike Brey

Rivals 4 Star – 96th overall, 11th power forward

24/7 4 star – 120th overall, 17th power forward, 2nd state

Ven-Allen Lubin | Forward | 6-8, 220 | Orlando Christian Prep | Orlando, FL

“Ven-Allen is a position less basketball player. He has the ability to post up, face up, run and change ends. He also brings great length on the defensive end.”

– Mike Brey

Rivals 4 Star – 63rd overall, 8th power forward

24/7 4 Star – 114th overall, 22nd power forward, 18th state

ESPN 4 star – 75th overall, 12th power forward, 14th state

J.J. Starling | Guard | 6-4, 195  | La Lumiere School (IN) | Baldwinsville, NY

“J.J. is an explosive guard. You can’t pigeonhole him as a point guard or a two man, he does a little bit of everything. The most infectious thing is his energy and charisma that he plays with. He really engages his teammates and leads on the floor.”

– Mike Brey

Rivals 4 Star – 40th overall, 8th point guard

24/7 – 33rd overall, 7th point guard, 1st state

ESPN – 27th overall, 6th point guard, 3rd state