Notre Dame (9-11, 6-8) at Louisville (11-5, 6-4)
📍 KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
📅 Tuesday, February 23, 2021
🕕 7:00 p.m. ET
📺 ACC Network with Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander
📻 Notre Dame Radio Network with Jack Nolan
BY THE NUMBERS: IRISH at CARDINALS
|
.660 |
Shooting percentage in ACC play for graduate student forward Juwan Durham, which leads the conference for league play. Durham’s .580 career FG% at Notre Dame is third among all players with at least 200 FGM. |
|
2 |
Notre Dame is the only team in the nation with two players shooting over .600 from the field with at least 125 field goal attempt this season – Nate Laszewski (.648) and Juwan Durham (.603). |
|
3 |
Statistical categories in which junior forward Nate Laszewski is among the top eight in the country – EFG% (.753, 1st); FG% (.648, eighth) and 3FG% (.515, fourth). Laszewski is the only player in the country shooting over .600 from the field, .500 from three-point range and averaging over 7.0 rebounds per game. |
|
5 |
Three-point field goals from junior guard Trey Wertz at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon, the second time this season that Wertz has hit five three pointers in a game. He is shooting .426 from behind the arc this season. |
|
5.0 |
Nate Laszewski (7.8), junior guard Dane Goodwin (5.3) and Juwan Durham (5.2) are all averaging over 5.0 rebounds per game. They join seven other teams in the ACC with three or more players averaging over five rebounds and as a group mark the first season since 2011-12 the Irish have three players averaging over 5.0 rebounds (that season it was Tim Abromaitis (7.8), Jack Cooley (8.9) and current Irish assistant coach Scott Martin (5.7). |
|
6.2 |
Assists-per-game average for junior guard Prentiss Hubb this season, which would rank ninth on the Notre Dame single-season list. Hubb has recorded five or more assists in 11 of his last 13 games played. |
|
7.6 |
You would be hard-pressed to find a more improved player in the country than Nate Laszewski, in addition to increasing his scoring average by close to eight points per game entering Saturday’s contest, he has increased his FG% from .410 a season ago to .648 and his three-point percentage fro .310 to .515. |
|
8 |
So far this season, Notre Dame has seen eight scheduled games affected by COVID-19 safety guidelines enacted by the opposing team. Two games (at Pittsburgh Jan. 30, Syracuse, Feb. 20) were rescheduled while Notre Dame’s postponed home games with Georgia Tech (Jan. 6) and Clemson (Feb. 17) have not yet been set for a make up date. |
|
11.9 |
Notre Dame’s NCAA-leading fouls per game number, as the Irish continue their tradition of not fouling the opponent to allow easy points late in a contest. The Irish are ahead of ACC conference members Virginia (12.8) and Miami (12.9) on the national chart. |
|
17 |
Strength of schedule rank for the Irish according to KenPom.com – the second-highest in the ACC behind Clemson (13th). |
|
13 |
Adjusted offensive efficiency rank (116.6) for the Irish from KenPom.com – the highest for the team since they finished the 2016 season ranked ninth. Notre Dame is 56th in the latest KenPom overall ranking which ranks the 2020-21 Irish schedule as the 12th-toughest in the country. |
|
42 |
Notre Dame and Louisville will be meeting for the 42nd time on Tuesday night, with the Cardinals leading the all-time series 26-15. After the Irish won three consecutive over Louisville from 2015-17, the Cardinals have won five straight in the series including a three-point win in Purcell Pavilion last season. |
|
167 |
Career blocked shots for Juwan Durham, who swatted three shots at Syracuse last weekend to surpass current Irish assistant coach Ryan Humphrey (166) for third on the Notre Dame career list. Durham, Humphrey and LaPhonso Ellis are the only Irish players to average 2.0 blocks per game during their Notre Dame careers. |
|
417 |
Career assists for Prentiss Hubb, who is one of just two major conference players to have over 400 assists and 160 three point field goals in a career, joining Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon who is in his fifth year of competition. Hubb is the 13th Notre Dame player to reach 400 assists and already owns the school record for assists in ACC play with 276. As of Monday, February 22, Hubb is 11th in the country in total assists with 124 and second among major conference players with 99 in ACC play (Georgia’s Sahvir Wheeler has 100 in SEC play). |
CHARTING LASZEWSKI’S HOT SHOOTING
Junior Nate Laszewski has established himself as one of the best and most efficient shooters in college basketball this season.
A look at where Laszewski ranks among the NCAA, major conference and ACC leaders:
|
Statistic |
Number |
National Ranking |
Major Conference Ranking |
ACC Ranking |
Notes |
|
EFG% |
.753 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
min 5 FGM per game, 8 GP |
|
3FG% |
.515 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
min 1.5 3FGM per game, 8 GP |
|
FG% |
.648 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
min 5 FGM per game, 8 GP |
LASZEWSKI FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE ON PACE FOR A SPOT ON SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS
Junior Nate Laszewski is currently shooting 65% from the field (.646) – a mark that would rank fourth all-time and first in the Mike Brey era (2000-01 – current). With 155 attempts this season, Laszewski has qualified for the all-time single-season lists.
NOTRE DAME SINGLE-SEASON FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
|
Player |
Season |
FGM |
FGA |
FG% |
|
|
1. |
Bruce Flowers |
1978-79 |
100 |
166 |
.656 |
|
2. |
NATE LASZEWSKI |
2020-21 |
105 |
162 |
.648 |
|
3. |
Orlando Woolridge |
1980-81 |
156 |
240 |
.650 |
|
4. |
Keith Robinson |
1987-88 |
123 |
190 |
.647 |
|
5. |
LaPhonso Ellis |
1991-92 |
227 |
360 |
.631 |
|
6. |
John Shumate |
1973-74 |
281 |
449 |
.627 |
Behind the three-point line, Laszewski is at .515 – which would rank second on the Irish single-season charts.
NOTRE DAME SINGLE SEASON THREE POINT PERCENTAGE
|
Player |
Season |
3FGM |
3FGA |
3FG% |
|
|
1. |
Joe Fredrick |
1988-89 |
37 |
71 |
.521 |
|
2. |
NATE LASZEWSKI |
2020-21 |
34 |
66 |
.515 |
|
3. |
Joe Fredrick |
1989-90 |
34 |
72 |
.472 |
|
4. |
Keith Friel |
1997-98 |
45 |
97 |
.464 |
|
5. |
Martin Ingelsby |
2000-01 |
51 |
110 |
.464 |
|
6. |
David Graves |
1999-2000 |
83 |
182 |
.456 |
|
7. |
Chris Quinn |
2004-05 |
66 |
145 |
.455 |
DURHAM CAREER FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE HIGH ON IRISH CAREER CHARTS
Graduate forward Juwan Durham boasts a .580 career field goal percentage at Notre Dame, a mark that would rank him third among Irish players with 200 or more FGM since 1996-97:
|
Player |
Seasons |
FGM |
GP |
FG% |
|
|
1. |
Martinas Geben |
2014-18 |
216 |
108 |
.608 |
|
2. |
Jack Cooley |
2009-13 |
394 |
123 |
.601 |
|
3. |
JUWAN DURHAM |
2018-21 |
242 |
79 |
.580 |
|
4. |
Harold Swanagan |
1998-2002 |
301 |
127 |
.569 |
|
5. |
Zach Auguste |
2012-16 |
507 |
128 |
.567 |
|
6. |
Bonzie Colson |
2014-18 |
609 |
125 |
.528 |
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTED BY 1,000 POINT SCORERS
Notre Dame has produced 64 1,000 point scorers throughout the history of the program with 23 of those players reaching that statistical milestone during the Mike Brey era (2000-01 – current). Of the 85 players who have suited up for Notre Dame under Mike Brey, 36 of them were recruited by the staff and exhausted their eligibility with the Irish – 20 of those players have scored more than 1,000 points in a career.
Since 2000-01, Notre Dame leads all ACC teams in 1,000 point scorers (23) and is second in the country over that time frame to Villanova. On the Irish roster currently, junior Prentiss Hubb is closing in on 1,000 points with 929 as of February 18, 2021.
|
School |
All-Time 1,000 Point Scorers |
1,000 Point Scorers since 2000-01 |
|
North Carolina |
77 |
20 |
|
Louisville |
69 |
18 |
|
Duke |
67 |
20 |
|
NOTRE DAME |
64 |
23 |
|
Villanova |
64 |
24 |
|
Syracuse |
62 |
19 |
|
Kansas |
61 |
19 |
HUBB AMONG IRISH ASSIST LEADERS
Junior Prentiss Hubb has given out 124 assists so far this season, becoming the 13th Irish player to reach 400 career assists. In 2020-21, Hubb is averaging 6.2 assists per game which would place him 10th on the Irish single-season list.
|
Player |
Season |
Assists |
Games |
Average |
|
|
1. |
Chris Thomas |
2001-02 |
252 |
33 |
7.63 |
|
2. |
Jackie Meehan |
1970-71 |
214 |
29 |
7.38 |
|
3. |
Chris Thomas |
2002-03 |
236 |
34 |
6.94 |
|
4. |
Tim Singleton |
1988-89 |
298 |
30 |
6.93 |
|
5. |
Chris Thomas |
2004-05 |
195 |
29 |
6.72 |
|
6. |
Admore White |
1996-97 |
201 |
30 |
6.7 |
|
7. |
Jerian Grant |
2014-15 |
253 |
38 |
6.66 |
|
8. |
Martin Ingelsby |
2000-01 |
193 |
30 |
6.43 |
|
9. |
Chris Quinn |
2005-06 |
187 |
30 |
6.23 |
|
10. |
PRENTISS HUBB |
2020-21 |
124 |
20 |
6.2 |
|
11. |
Elmer Bennett |
1991-92 |
204 |
33 |
6.18 |
|
12. |
Tory Jackson |
2007-08 |
193 |
32 |
6.03 |
Hubb’s 4.9 career assists-per-game average would be ninth on the all-time career list at Notre Dame.
A DECADE OF ‘NO FOUL’ CONTINUES
One of the mantras of Notre Dame basketball under Mike Brey has been to keep the amount of opponent foul shots down. Defend without fouling is a way of life for Irish basketball and the statistics bear out that trend.
In the last 11 years, Notre Dame has failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just twice. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls three times.
The NCAA has been tracking the least amount of fouls committed in a season since 1993. Notre Dame is the only team since 1993 to lead the country in least amount of fouls more than twice (four times) and could be on pace to make it six times this season.
NOTRE DAME FOULS PER GAME NATIONAL/CONFERENCE FINAL RANKING
|
Year |
Fouls Per Game |
NCAA Raking |
Conference Ranking |
|
2009-10 |
15.1 |
10 |
2 |
|
2010-11 |
15.2 |
11 |
1 |
|
2011-12 |
13.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2012-13 |
14.1 |
8 |
1 |
|
2013-14 |
16.2 |
15 |
5 |
|
2014-15 |
15.1 |
6 |
1 |
|
2015-16 |
15.1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2016-17 |
14.9 |
4 |
1 |
|
2017-18 |
13.1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2018-19 |
13.8 |
1 |
1 |
|
2019-20 |
12.4 |
1 |
1 |
|
2020-21 |
11.9 |
1 |
1 |
FOUR VETERANS NAMED TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2020-21
Glenn and Stacey Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey has announced four student-athletes to serve as team captains for the University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team.
Graduate students Nikola Djogo and Juwan Durham, along with juniors Prentiss Hubb and Cormac Ryan, will make up a four-player group of captains in 2020-21.
All four Irish players will be serving as team captains for the first time in their careers.
IRISH RECEIVE COMMITMENTS FROM TWO AREA PROSPECTS
Rising high school seniors J.R. Konieczny (Ko-nez-nee) and Blake Wesley, both from South Bend, Indiana, have signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at the University of Notre Dame.
Rated among the top 150 high school players in the 2020-21 class, Konieczy (Kah-nez-nee) is a four-star recruit according to ESPN.com and earned third-team all-state honors as a junior in 2019-20. He averaged over 24 points a game last season, including a 42-point outburst in the 2020 sectional semifinal – a performance that earned him the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Week honors.
A consensus four-star recruit, Wesley is ranked 96th nationally by Rivals and 113th by 247Sports. An honorable mention all-state selection as a junior in 2019-20, Wesley led all local area players with a 26.0 points-per-game average last season.
2019-20 IVY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE YEAR PAUL ATKINSON JR. TO JOIN IRISH IN 2021-22
The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball program has announced the addition of Paul Atkinson Jr. as a graduate transfer from Yale who will join the Fighting Irish roster for the 2021-22 season. The 2019-20 Ivy League Player of the Year, Atkinson Jr. was unable to play his senior season at Yale due to the Ivy League’s shut down throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am excited to join the Notre Dame family and get to play alongside a group of really talented guys as well as being able to learn under a great coaching staff that will help me further my game,” Atkinson Jr. said.
Owning a career field goal percentage of .661 and 16 20-point scoring performances, Atkinson Jr. will step into a front court in transition next season due to the departure of fifth-year seniors Juwan Durham and Nikola Djogo at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. In a February 3, 2021, ranking from ESPN+, Atkinson Jr. was selected as the fourth-ranked transfer prospect in college basketball.
“Paul brings a great combination of academic and athletic ability to our basketball program and he will work toward an accelerated graduate degree next year,” Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey said.
“The timing with his arrival and our roster turnover for next season works out and we are excited to add his skill set and experience to our team.”
JACK NOLAN, VOICE OF IRISH ATHLETICS, ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT
Jack Nolan, a fixture of Notre Dame athletics broadcasts for 39 years, has announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2020-21 men’s basketball season.
“I have been truly blessed to have been associated with the Notre Dame Athletics Department for 39 seasons,” Nolan said.
“I will be forever grateful to all the athletes, coaches, colleagues and fans who have been so wonderful to me over the years. However, the time has come for my wife Rhonda (Brown) and I to live a more normal life.
“We want to get off the road and off the nights, weekends and holidays work schedule we have both navigated for so long. We hope to indulge our passion for travel, our desire to be warm during Michiana winters and be able to spend much more time with family and friends.”
A jack of all trades, Nolan has been a staple around Notre Dame football and men’s basketball games for close to 40 years. He’s taken home many awards as both a news and sports anchor, served as master of ceremonies for innumerable Irish special events and established himself as one of the most recognizable faces of Notre Dame athletics.
“Jack Nolan has been with us since I started at Notre Dame and it is hard to think about our broadcasts without him,” Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey said. “His professionalism has made my job easier and his broadcast calls are as much a part of our basketball legacy as ‘The Burn’ or the three-point shot. I will miss having him around the program, but if anyone deserves the ability to enjoy a long and happy retirement it is Jack and Rhonda.”
Nolan joined the South Bend community in 1982 after spending a year at upstart cable news network CNN after graduation from Missouri in 1981. The opportunity to call play-by-play of Notre Dame football games was the catalyst for him to take the job at WNDU, the local NBC affiliate.
At the time of his arrival at WNDU, the station was owned by the University and broadcast Irish football games that were not selected to be on national television. Nolan had an immediate award-winning impact on the football broadcast crew, taking home Associated Press play-by-play awards in 1983, 1987 and 1989.
Nolan also anchored the WNDU sports desk throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, while adding in weekend news anchor duties in 1993. He met his future wife, Rhonda Brown, while working together and the couple co-anchored WNDU’s NewsCenter 16 Sunday Morning from 1996 through 2002.
His long run with Notre Dame men’s basketball began in 1982 on both radio and television, eventually becoming the regular radio analyst with Jack Lorri and then assuming the play-by-play duties for Irish hoops after Lorri’s retirement in 2006.
Also in 2006, Nolan left WNDU to become a full-time employee on campus as part of Notre Dame Sports Properties, who handled the radio broadcasting rights for Irish athletics and helped lead Notre Dame through its first steps of online video productions. Nolan soon became synonymous with Irish athletics both over the air and online, hosting the Brian Kelly and Mike Brey television and radio shows, checking in from Irish football practices and calling numerous Notre Dame olympic sport events.
Nolan’s radio talents were not just limited to play-by-play or analyst duties. From 1982 through 1999 he co-hosted WNDU’s popular SportsTalk show with the late Jeff Jeffers and was the host of the Official Notre Dame Football Post Game Show for over 25 seasons.
In addition to Lorri and Jeffers as notable long-time colleagues of Nolan, Reggie Brooks and the late Mirko Jurkovic spent several seasons both on radio and und.com as part of his broadcast crew. It was also with Nolan on Notre Dame men’s basketball radio crew that ESPN’s LaPhonso Ellis and Jordan Cornette began their broadcast careers.
“The time Jack, Mirko and I spent on the air together was a great professional memory for me,” said Brooks, a former Notre Dame All-American and current Assistant Athletics Director at the University. “Jack was a great guy to work with and we will all miss him being around campus.”
Nolan’s tireless work with Notre Dame Sports Properties and Fighting Irish Media was honored in November 2015 when he won the Outstanding Crafts Achievement Emmy for On-Camera Talent-Sports awarded by the Chicago Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
A native of Winchester, Massachusetts, Nolan was awarded an Honorary Monogram by the University in 2013.