March 4, 2018
WHO: NO. 10 Notre Dame (18-13, 8-10 ACC) vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh (8-23, 0-18 ACC)
WHAT: 2017 ACC Championship First Round
WHERE: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
WHEN: Tuesday, March 6, 2 p.m. ET
TICKETS: Gain access to the game through the ND Ticket Exchange powered by Vivid Seats
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
ESPN2 national broadcast with Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Dan Dakich (analyst) and Maria Taylor (sideline). Also available anywhere the WatchESPN app is accessible.
ACC Network with Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Mike Gminski (analyst). Available at any ACC Network affiliate.
Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network with Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and Zach Hillesland (analyst). Available locally at WSBT AM 960/FM 96.1, worldwide on WatchND.tv and via any network affiliate (listed on page 8 of the notes package).
Here are Five (or more) Things To Know about the Irish in Brooklyn…
IRISH HEAD TO BARCLAYS CENTER FOR THE ACC TOURNAMENT
The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team (18-13, 8-10 ACC) will begin competition in the 2017 ACC Championship on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, against Pittsburgh (8-23, 0-18 ACC) on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET. The Irish are the 10th seed in the 15-team field while the Panthers are the 15th seed. It will mark the second consecutive game against Notre Dame for Pittsburgh (the Irish defeated the Panthers 73-56 on Feb. 28, 2018).
QUICK FACTS
- Mike Brey is one victory away from reaching 500 wins in his career. Already the all-time wins leader in men’s basketball at Notre Dame, Brey looks to become the 23rd active Division 1 coach to win 500 games. Brey’s 400th win at Notre Dame against Pittsburgh on February 28 was his 750th career game. Saturday’s game at Virginia will be his 600th game coached at Notre Dame and 90th ACC regular-season game.
- With Bonzie Colson back in the line up against Pittsburgh, Notre Dame recorded its best scoring run of the season in the first half, outscoring the Panthers 16-0 over a 5:02 minute stretch.
NOTRE DAME – PITTSBURGH SERIES HISTORY
Notre Dame and Pittsburgh will be meeting for the 64th time on Tuesday afternoon, with the Irish leading the all-time series 33-30. The Irish and Panthers basketball series is the eighth-most prolific in the history of the Notre Dame program, with meetings dating back to the 1928 season. Pittsburgh also is the most frequent opponent of any ACC foe (the 47 meetings with Syracuse is the next highest).
The ACC series is led 3-2 by the Panthers, who won the first three ACC meetings between the two teams starting in 2013-14. Each of the three victories by Pittsburgh against Notre Dame as ACC opponents were decided by four points, while the first Notre Dame victory over Pittsburgh in the ACC came last season by one point (78-77) in overtime on New Years Eve (Dec. 31, 2016).
Notre Dame defeated Pittsburgh February 28, 2018, 73-56 on Senior Night at Purcell Pavilion. It marked the return of Bonzie Colson to the Irish line up (12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks in 21 minutes) and the 400th victory of Mike Brey’s Notre Dame career.
WINNINGEST CLASS AT NOTRE DAME
The 2017-18 senior class of Bonzie Colson, Matt Farrell, Martinas Geben, Matt Gregory and graduate student Austin Torres has set the mark as the all-time winningest senior class at Notre Dame.
The 2016-17 senior class of Steve Vasturia, V.J. Beachem and graduate student Patrick Mazza and the the 2012-13 group of Joey Brooks, Mike Broghammer, Jack Cooley and Scott Martin previously held the school record with 97 wins.
MOST WINS AT NOTRE DAME – FOUR YEAR SPAN:
|
Year 1 |
Wins |
Year 2 |
Wins |
Year 3 |
Wins |
Year 4 |
Wins |
Total |
|
2014-15 |
32 |
2015-16 |
24 |
2016-17 |
26 |
2017-18 |
18 |
100 |
|
2013-14 |
15 |
2014-15 |
32 |
2015-16 |
24 |
2016-17 |
26 |
97 |
|
2009-10 |
23 |
2010-11 |
27 |
2011-12 |
22 |
2012-13 |
25 |
97 |
|
2007-08 |
25 |
2008-09 |
21 |
2009-10 |
23 |
2010-11 |
27 |
96 |
|
2012-13 |
25 |
2013-14 |
15 |
2014-15 |
32 |
2015-16 |
24 |
96 |
|
2011-12 |
22 |
2012-13 |
25 |
2013-14 |
15 |
2014-15 |
32 |
94 |
Matt Farrell EARNS ALL-ACC HONORS
Senior guard Matt Farrell was named to the All-ACC Third Team on Sunday, March 4, 2018. He was an honorable mention selection as a junior.
Despite missing five conference games this season with a severly sprained ankle, Farrell averaged 16.7 points per game, 5.5 apg and shot .408 from three-point range. He connected on an ACC-best 10 three-point field goals in a victory at Boston College on Feb. 17, 2018, and leads the conference in three-point field goals per game in conference play (3.92).
2017 ACC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Notre Dame’s run to the 2017 ACC Championship game earned three members of the team all-tournament honors, including returning seniors Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell.
Colson and Farrell were first-team selections, while senior Steve Vasturia was named to the second team.
Here is a look at Colson and Farrell’s 2017 ACC tournament statistics:
|
Player |
FG-FGA |
FG% |
3FG-3FGA |
3FG% |
FT-FTA |
FT% |
REB |
R/G |
AST |
A/G |
ST |
BLK |
PTS |
PPG |
|
Colson |
24-48 |
.521 |
3-6 |
.500 |
15-22 |
.682 |
25 |
8.3 |
2 |
0.67 |
4 |
3 |
68 |
22.7 |
|
Farrell |
15-35 |
.429 |
5-17 |
.294 |
7-11 |
.636 |
3 |
1.0 |
17 |
5.67 |
3 |
0 |
42 |
14.0 |
IRISH HAVE SHORT BUT STRONG HISTORY IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT
Notre Dame is finishing its fifth season as a member of the ACC and has already compiled a distinguished resume at the league tournament. The Irish are 6-3 all-time in the championship competition, including the 2015 title (defeating both Duke and North Carolina in Greensboro, North Carolina) while also advancing to the 2017 championship game against Duke.
NOTRE DAME ACC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
|
Date |
City |
Site |
Opponent |
ND Rank |
Opp Rank |
W/L |
ND |
Opp |
|
2014 |
||||||||
|
3/12/2014 |
Greensboro, NC |
Greensboro Coliseum |
Wake Forest |
L |
69 |
81 |
||
|
2015 |
||||||||
|
3/12/2015 |
Greensboro, NC |
Greensboro Coliseum |
Miami |
11 / 9 |
W |
74 |
64 |
|
|
3/13/2015 |
Greensboro, NC |
Greensboro Coliseum |
Duke |
11 / 9 |
2 / 2 |
W |
74 |
64 |
|
3/14/2015 |
Greensboro, NC |
Greensboro Coliseum |
North Carolina |
11 / 9 |
19 / 19 |
W |
90 |
82 |
|
2016 |
||||||||
|
3/10/2016 |
Washington, DC |
Verizon Center |
Duke |
19 / 20 |
W OT |
84 |
79 |
|
|
3/11/2016 |
Washington, DC |
Verizon Center |
North Carolina |
3 / 3 |
L |
47 |
78 |
|
|
2017 |
||||||||
|
3/9/17 |
Brooklyn, NY |
Barclays Center |
Virginia |
22/16 |
21/21 |
W |
71 |
58 |
|
3/10/17 |
Brooklyn, NY |
Barclays Center |
Florida State |
22/16 |
16/17 |
W |
77 |
73 |
|
3/11/17 |
Brookyn, NY |
Barclays Center |
Duke |
22/16 |
14/14 |
L |
66 |
75 |
BARCLAYS CENTER SUCCESS
Notre Dame boasts and impressive resume of victories at the Barclays Center, including the 2016 Legend Classic Championship and two victories in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Of all ACC teams, Notre Dame has the most apperances (nine) and wins (seven) – followed by Duke (6-0), Pittsburgh (4-4) and Florida State (3-1).
|
Date |
ND Rank |
Opponent |
Opp Rank |
Result |
Score |
Tournament |
|
11-16-12 |
20/21 |
St. Joseph’s |
L (OT) |
70-79 |
Coaches vs. Cancer Classic |
|
|
11-17-12 |
20/21 |
BYU |
W |
78-68 |
Coaches vs. Cancer Classic |
|
|
3-18-16 |
Michigan |
W |
70-63 |
NCAA Tournament |
||
|
3-20-16 |
Stephen F. Austin |
W |
76-75 |
NCAA Tournament |
||
|
11-21-16 |
Colorado |
W |
89-83 |
Legends Classic |
||
|
11-22-16 |
Northwestern |
W |
70-66 |
Legends Classic |
||
|
3/9/17 |
22/16 |
Virginia |
21/21 |
W |
71-58 |
ACC Championship |
|
3/10/17 |
22/16 |
Florida State |
16/17 |
W |
77-73 |
ACC Championship |
|
3/11/17 |
22/16 |
Duke |
14/14 |
L |
66-75 |
ACC Championship |
COLSON AND FARRELL IN BARCLAYS
Notre Dame is 7-2 all-time in the Barclays Center – but the current group of Irish players have a 6-1 record in the home of the Brooklyn Nets.
Among the Irish players who have been on the Notre Dame roster for the seven most-recent Barclays Center games – seniors Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell boast impressive individual statistical lines in their Barclays history.
COLSON IN BARCLAYS CENTER
|
Date |
Opponent |
Tourn. |
MP |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
O-D-TR |
PF |
AST |
TO |
BLK |
STL |
PTS |
|
3/18/16 |
Michigan |
NCAA |
18 |
4-5 |
0-0 |
4-4 |
2-3-5 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
|
3/20/16 |
Stephen F. Austin |
NCAA |
13 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
4-5 |
1-1-2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
|
11/21/16 |
Colorado |
Legends |
27 |
6-13 |
1-1 |
9-9 |
4-8-12 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
22 |
|
11/22/16 |
Northwestern |
Legends |
38 |
4-13 |
1-3 |
4-6 |
4-7-11 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
13 |
|
3/9/17 |
Virginia |
ACC |
33 |
6-14 |
1-3 |
8-11 |
3-7-10 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
21 |
|
3/10/17 |
Florida State |
ACC |
37 |
7-13 |
0-0 |
4-6 |
2-4-6 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
|
3/11/17 |
Duke |
ACC |
38 |
12-21 |
2-3 |
3-5 |
5-4-9 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
29 |
|
Totals |
204 |
41-82 |
5-10 |
36-48 |
21-34-55 |
14 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
8 |
123 |
||
|
Avg |
29.1 |
.500 |
.500 |
.750 |
7.9 |
2.0 |
17.6 |
FARRELL IN BARCLAYS CENTER
|
Date |
Opponent |
Tourn. |
MP |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
O-D-TR |
PF |
AST |
TO |
BLK |
STL |
PTS |
|
3/18/16 |
Michigan |
NCAA |
22 |
2-4 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
1-0-1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
3/20/16 |
Stephen F. Austin |
NCAA |
31 |
3-5 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
0-2-2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
11/21/16 |
Colorado |
Legends |
32 |
7-13 |
2-4 |
4-4 |
0-1-1 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
20 |
|
11/22/16 |
Northwestern |
Legends |
34 |
5-11 |
2-4 |
6-6 |
1-2-3 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
18 |
|
3/9/17 |
Virginia |
ACC |
37 |
4-8 |
1-3 |
5-7 |
0-0-0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
|
3/10/17 |
Florida State |
ACC |
36 |
6-15 |
3-8 |
0-1 |
0-0-0 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
15 |
|
3/11/17 |
Duke |
ACC |
39 |
5-12 |
1-6 |
2-3 |
1-2-3 |
2 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
|
Totals |
231 |
32-68 |
10-28 |
19-23 |
3-7-10 |
11 |
37 |
11 |
0 |
7 |
93 |
||
|
Avg |
33.0 |
.471 |
.357 |
.826 |
1.4 |
5.3 |
13.3 |
A SEASON OF MILESTONES CONTINUES FOR Mike Brey
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey has reached two milestones in his coaching career this season and is poised to reach another before the season ends.
Brey became the all-time men’s basketball coaching wins leader at Notre Dame (400 current – 394 was the record-breaking total) with an 88-58 victory over NC State on January 3, 2018.
Brey won his 400th game at Notre Dame against Pittsburgh on February 28, 2018, making him the 11th active coach to have 400 wins at his current school.
Brey is one win away from 500 in his coaching career and is looking to become the 23rd active Division 1 coach to reach 500 career wins.
Should Brey reach the 500-win barrier, he will join Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams, Greg Kampe, Tony Shaver, Tom Izzo, Fran Dunphy, Bob McKillop, Jay Wright and Mark Few as the only current coaches to win 500 or more games while coaching at just one or two schools.
See pages 14 and 15 of this notes package for more historical and background information on Mike Brey.
BY THE NUMBERS – IRISH IN BROOKLYN
|
1 |
Notre Dame leads the country in personal fouls per game (13.0) and fewest fouls committed (404). |
|
2 |
The Irish are the only ACC team with two players shooting over .400 from three point range (with the minimum to rank among the league leaders) – sophomore T.J. Gibbs (.411, 3rd in the ACC) and senior Matt Farrell (.406, 6th). |
|
6 |
In four previous ACC tournaments, Notre Dame has compiled a 6-3 record, including appearances in the 2015 (W) and 2017 (L) championship games. |
|
7 |
Notre Dame is 7-2 all-time at the Barclays Center, which includes a six-game win streak that was snapped in the ACC Championship game last season (see page 4 for more details). The nine games played by the Irish in the Barclays Center are the most for any ACC team. |
|
11 |
Approaching 500 career wins, Mike Brey will be the 11th active coach to reach that career milestone coaching at just one or two institutions. See page 5 of the notes package for more details. |
|
25 |
Rebounds combined for Bonzie Colson (15) and senior Martinas Geben (10) at No. 1/1 Virginia on March 3. It was the first time two Irish players compiled a double-double since Feb. 6, 2016, against No. 2/1 North Carolina. |
|
16.7 |
Points-per-game average in ACC play for All-ACC Third Team selection Matt Farrell. The Bridgewater, New Jersey, native also posted 5.5 assists per game in conference play. |
|
30 |
Combined games missed due to injury this season by Bonzie Colson (15), Matt Farrell (5) freshman forward D.J. Harvey (10) and junior Rex Pflueger (1). |
|
30.9 |
Points-per-game average combined for Bonzie Colson (17.6) and Matt Farrell (13.3) at the Barclays Center in seven career games in the facility. |
|
36 |
Points scored in 58 minutes of action for Bonzie Colson after missing two months and 15 games with a broken bone in his left foot. He also has pulled down 24 rebounds in two games – giving him 18.0 ppg and 12.0 rpg averages in his two games back in the Notre Dame line up. |
|
89 |
Free-throw percentage for T.J. Gibbs in ACC play (75-84), the best in the league for conference-only games. |
|
100 |
The 2017-18 senior class has set the mark as the all-time winningest four-year class in Notre Dame basketball history and became the first group to win 100 games in four seasons against Pittsburgh on Feb. 28. |
|
857 |
Career rebounds by Bonzie Colson, the 11th Notre Dame player to collect 850 rebounds in a career. He also is just the seventh Irish player to reach the 1,500-point / 850-rebound statistical plateaus. |