March 13, 2017
ND Game Notes vs. Princeton 
| Irish NCAA Central | Wednesday Gallery 
WHO: #5 Notre Dame (25-9) vs. #12 Princeton (23-6)
WHAT: 2017 NCAA West Region First Round
WHERE: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
WHEN: Thursday, March 16, 2017, 12:15 p.m. ET
NATIONAL BROADCAST: CBS with Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Jim Spanarkel (analyst) and Allie LaForce (sideline).
WESTWOOD ONE RADIO: Scott Graham (play-by-play) and Donny Marshall. Available on Sirius Channel 134.
NOTRE DAME RADIO BROADCAST: Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and Zach Hillesland (analyst). In the NCAA Tournament, the Notre Dame broadcast can only be heard on the Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network affiliates.
Here are Five (or more) Things To Know about the Notre Dame – Princeton match up:
BY THE NUMBERS, IRISH IN BUFFALO:
|
1 |
Junior Bonzie Colson is the only player in the ACC to finish the season averaging a double-double (17.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg). An All-ACC First Team selection, Colson also is among the final 15 in consideration for the 2017 John R. Wooden Award and the 2017 Karl Malone Trophy (best power forward in the nation). |
|
1.69 |
Assist-to-turnover ratio for Notre Dame this sesason, the second-best in the nation behind UCLA (1.86). |
|
2 |
Notre Dame has appeared in the ACC Championship game in two out of its four years in the conference. |
|
6 |
Notre Dame has won six NCAA tournament games over the past two seasons, the best two-year total in school history and one win away from maching the record for the most over a four-year span. |
|
8 |
Notre Dame is the only school in the country to advance to the Elite Eight in the past two seasons. |
|
9 |
Notre Dame is ninth all-time in NCAA Tournament appearances with 36 and has a 38-38 (.500) all-time touranment record (see page 11 for a complete history of Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament). |
|
12 |
The Irish are making their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in 17 years under head coach Mike Brey. |
|
10.2 |
Rebounds-per-game average for Naismith Award and Karl Malone Trophy Award finalist Bonzie Colson, which leads the ACC and is 15th in the country (as of March 13). Colson also leads the ACC in overall double-doubles (19) and 10-rebound performances (20). |
|
17.5 |
Points-per-game average for senior V.J. Beachem in the NCAA tournament last season, earning him a spot on the East Region All-Tournament Team (see page 3 for more details). |
|
18 |
Notre Dame has played in the city of Buffalo, New York 18 times in the history of the program. The most recent trip occurred in Mike Brey’s first year, an 84-73 Irish victory over Canisius at KeyBank Center. Current Notre Dame assistant coach Ryan Humphrey (14 pts, 11 reb) and Director of Basketball Operations Harold Swanagan (15 pts, 5 reb) played in that game. |
|
24 |
Junior Matt Farrell has connected on at least one three-point field goal in 24 consecutive games, the second-best streak of any ACC player (L. Kennard, Duke, 37 games). Farrell is fourth in the ACC in 3FG% at .425. |
|
79.9 |
Free throw percentage for Notre Dame this season, the best in the nation. The Irish have led the country in field goal percentage since the first weeks of the 2016-17 season. |
|
81 |
Program-record number of victories over the past three seasons for the Irish. |
|
91.5 |
Free throw percentage for Steve Vasturia this season, first in the ACC and eighth in the nation. |
|
381 |
Victories at Notre Dame for head coach Mike Brey, the second-most in Notre Dame history and 12 away from matching the all-time record (393). |
NOTRE DAME NCAA TOURNAMENT QUICK FACTS:
- Notre Dame is making its 36th NCAA tournament appearance, the ninth-most in the history of the event.
- Notre Dame is 38-38 all-time in the event, including six victories over the past two seasons.
- Notre Dame is the only team to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in the past two seasons.
- Since the field expanded to 64 or more teams in 1985, Notre Dame has advanced to the Sweet 16 four times (1987, 2003, 2015 and 2016) and the Elite Eight twice (2015 and 2016).
- Regardless of the number of teams in the field, Notre Dame has advanced to the Sweet 16 15 times (10 times since the field expanded to at least 32 teams).
- Notre Dame has been among the final eight teams in the tournament, regardless of the number of teams in the field, eight times (five times since the field expanded to at least 32 teams).
- Notre Dame has reached the Final Four one time (1978).
NCAA POSTSEASON SUCCESS:
Not only did Notre Dame advance to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1978-79, but the Irish combined for six NCAA tournament wins over the past two seasons – the most in program history over a two-year stretch. The previous high was Notre Dame’s three wins in 1978 (the team’s lone appearance in the Final Four) and two victories the next season.
The Irish were the only team in the nation to advance to the Elite Eight in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and the back-to-back regional final games are a first for the program since the NCAA touranment expanded to 64 or more teams in 1985.
Notre Dame’s six NCAA touranment victories over the past two seasons:
|
Teams |
Date |
Site |
Region |
Outcome |
Score |
|
#3 Notre Dame vs. #14 Northeastern |
3-19-15 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Midwest |
W |
69-65 |
|
#3 Notre Dame vs. #6 Butler |
3-21-15 |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Midwest |
W (OT) |
67-64 |
|
#3 Notre Dame vs. #7 Wichita State |
3-26-15 |
Cleveland, OH |
Midwest |
W |
81-70 |
|
#6 Notre Dame vs. #11 Michigan |
3-18-16 |
Brooklyn, NY |
East |
W |
70-63 |
|
#6 Notre Dame vs. #14 Stephen F. Austin |
3-20-16 |
Brooklyn, NY |
East |
W |
76-75 |
|
#6 Notre Dame vs. #10 Wisconsin |
3-25-16 |
Philadelphia, PA |
East |
W |
61-56 |
NCAA WINS RECORD IN SIGHT:
The senior class of V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia, along with graduate student walk on Patrick Mazza, who could become the winningest graduating class in school history, could also claim their place as the winningest class in terms of NCAA victories.
Notre Dame has won six games over the past two years in the NCAA tournament, just one win away from matching the 1979 class with seven NCAA victories.
A breakdown of the winningest four years, in terms of NCAA tournament victories, at Notre Dame:
|
Year 1 |
Wins |
Year 2 |
Wins |
Year 3 |
Wins |
Year 4 |
Wins |
Total |
|
1976 |
1 |
1977 |
1 |
1978 |
3 |
1979 |
2 |
7 |
|
2013 |
0 |
2014 |
0 |
2015 |
3 |
2016 |
3 |
6 |
|
1978 |
3 |
1979 |
2 |
1980 |
0 |
1981 |
1 |
6 |
|
1977 |
1 |
1978 |
3 |
1979 |
2 |
1980 |
0 |
6 |
|
1974 |
2* |
1975 |
2 |
1976 |
1 |
1977 |
1 |
6 |
* – includes a regional final consolation victory
NCAA TOURNAMENT STATISTICS:
A breakdown of Notre Dame’s players NCAA tournament career statistics –
|
Player |
G |
FG |
FG% |
3FG |
3FG% |
FT-FTA |
FT% |
REB |
R/G |
AST |
A/G |
ST |
BLK |
PTS |
PPG |
|
Beachem |
8 |
28-45 |
.622 |
12-24 |
.500 |
6-8 |
.750 |
19 |
2.3 |
4 |
0.5 |
4 |
4 |
74 |
9.3 |
|
Vasturia |
8 |
29-72 |
.403 |
10-30 |
.333 |
17-19 |
.895 |
19 |
2.3 |
22 |
2.3 |
10 |
0 |
85 |
10.6 |
|
Colson |
8 |
15-35 |
.429 |
0-0 |
– |
17-18 |
.944 |
25 |
3.1 |
0 |
– |
5 |
6 |
47 |
5.9 |
|
Pflueger |
4 |
1-3 |
.333 |
0-0 |
– |
2-2 |
1.00 |
4 |
1.0 |
1 |
0.3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1.0 |
|
Ryan |
4 |
1-3 |
.333 |
1-3 |
.333 |
0-0 |
– |
4 |
1.0 |
1 |
0.3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0.8 |
|
Farrell |
4 |
10-17 |
.588 |
4-7 |
.571 |
2-2 |
1.00 |
3 |
0.8 |
14 |
3.5 |
1 |
0 |
26 |
6.5 |
|
Torres |
1 |
1-1 |
1.000 |
0-0 |
– |
0-0 |
– |
0 |
– |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2.0 |
BEACHEM’S MEMORABLE 2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT:
Senior V.J. Beachem earned a spot on the 2016 East Regional All-Tournament Team with a series of outstanding performances in last season’s touranment.
Beachem shot 7-7 from the field, including 4-4 from three point range, to lead the team with 18 points in the first round win over Michigan, including several key shots late in the contest with the Wolverines.
His three pointer at 6:12 tied the game at 56-56, then he struck again from behind the arc at 3:43 to break a 59-59 tie. Beachem followed up to put the Irish ahead by five with a pull up jumper on the next possession.
Beachem finished with 15 points in Notre Dame’s win over Stephen F. Austin in the second round, grabbing seven rebounds.
Moving onto the regional, Beachem continued to bring his `A’ game, scoring a team-high 19 points vs. Wisconsin and 18 points against North Carolina.
BEACHEM’S 2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT STATISTICS:
|
Opponent |
MP |
FG |
3FG |
FT |
O-D-R |
PF |
A |
TO |
BLK |
STL |
TP |
|
vs. Michigan |
35 |
7-7 |
4-4 |
0-0 |
0-6-6 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
18 |
|
vs. Stephen F. Austin |
34 |
6-13 |
2-8 |
1-1 |
1-6-7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
vs. Wisconsin |
35 |
7-11 |
3-5 |
2-2 |
0-2-2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
|
vs. North Carolina |
39 |
6-9 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
0-1-1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
|
Totals |
143 |
26-40 |
12-22 |
6-8 |
1-15-16 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
70 |
|
Averages |
35.8 |
.650 |
.545 |
.750 |
4.0 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
1.5 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
17.5 |
NOTRE DAME – PRINCETON SERIES HISTORY:
Notre Dame and Princeton will be meeting for the fourth time, the first since 1977 and the first time in the NCAA tournament. The Irish lead the all-time series 2-1.
NOTRE DAME VS. Princeton 2-1 | Home 2-0 | Away 0-1
|
Date |
City |
Site |
ND rank |
Opp rank |
W/L |
ND |
Opp |
|
12/31/1927 |
Notre Dame, IN |
Fieldhouse |
W |
35 |
24 |
||
|
12/7/1974 |
Notre Dame, IN |
Purcell Pavilion |
13 / nr |
W |
80 |
66 |
|
|
1/3/1977 |
Princeton, NJ |
Jadwin Gymnasium |
2 / 2 |
L |
62 |
76 |