Virginia Preview - Five Things To Know

Jan. 23, 2017

ND Game Notes vs. Virginia

Virginia Game Notes at ND

WHO: No. 14/12 Notre Dame (17-3, 6-1 ACC) vs. No. 12/13 Virginia (15-3. 5-2 ACC)

WHERE: Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 8:00 p.m. ET

TELEVISION BROADCAST: ACC Network with Bob Rathbun (play-by-play) and Mike Gminski (analyst).

A complete list of ACC Network affiliates carrying Tuesday’s game – http://theacc.co/mbb17accn0124a

There will be live stream available on theacc.com – http://theacc.co/mbb17live0124

The broadcast also will be available via ACC Network Extra (subject to blackout) – http://es.pn/2iWm6Tg

RADIO BROADCAST: Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network with Jack Nolan (play-by-play) and Zach Hillesland (analyst). The broadcast is available at WatchND.tv , via network affiliates (see the game notes for a full list of affiliates) and at Sirius Channel 93 and XM Channel 385.

Here are Five Things To Know about the Notre Dame – Virginia matchup –

NOTRE DAME vs. VIRGINIA SERIES HISTORY:

Notre Dame will be facing Virginia for the 11th time on Tuesday evening, with the Cavaliers leading the all-time series 9-1.

Virginia is the only ACC team the Irish have not defeated since joining the conference in 2013-14.

NOTRE DAME vs. VIRGINIA | HOME 0-3 | AWAY 0-3 | NEUTRAL 1-3 | ACC 0-4

+ – NCAA Tournament | # – NIT | ~ – ACC Game

THREE-YEAR WIN TOTAL RECORD IN SIGHT:

As the only program in the nation with back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight apperances, Notre Dame has compiled the best two-year stretch of victories already, posting a program-best 56 wins in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

With 17 victories so far in 2016-17, the Irish are one win away from matching the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 teams for the program-best 74 wins in three years.

WINNINGEST CLASS AT NOTRE DAME?

The 2016-17 senior class of Steve Vasturia, V.J. Beachem and Austin Torres (Torres will return for a fifth-year of eligibility in 2017-18) could become the winningest class in Notre Dame basketball history.

The 16-17 class has compiled 88 wins over the past four years, putting the all-time mark of 97 by the 2012-13 group in reach (Notre Dame has at least 13 games remaining this season, including a game in the ACC Championship and a post season apperance).

MOST WINS – FOUR YEAR SPAN

FOUR FOR 14:

Notre Dame has four players averaging at least 14.0 points-per-game in 2016-17 – Bonzie Colson (15.4), Steve Vasturia (15.0), V.J. Beachem (14.7) and Matt Farrell (14.3). If those averages maintain over 14.0, it would be the first time since the 2001-02 season that the Irish will finish the season with four players averaging 14.0 points or better per game.

In 2001-02, current Irish assistant coach Ryan Humphrey averaged a team-high 18.9 ppg, followed by Chris Thomas (15.6), David Graves (14.4) and Matt Carroll (14.1).

BEACHEM CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS:

Senior forward V.J. Beachem needs 13 more points this season to reach 1,000 in his career. He would join classmate Steve Vasturia in the 1,000-point club (Vasturia reached the mark against Northwestern earlier this season) and would become the 60th Notre Dame player to score 1,000 points in a career.

Junior Bonzie Colson could become the third member to reach 1,000 career points this season. Colson is currently at 887 career points.

2017 Infiniti Coaches CHARITY Challenge:

Irish head coach Mike Brey is taking part in the 2017 Coaches Charity Challenge. Voting begins on Monday, Jan. 2 and continues through the completion of the first round on Jan. 22, 2017. After four rounds of voting, the winning coach will receive a 100,000 dollar donation to a charity of his choice, with Coach Brey hoping to send money to Coaches vs. Cancer.

To vote visit www.und.com/brey (fans will need to set up a ESPN.com account to vote) and fans are allowed to vote once per day.

2017 COACHES VS. CANCER THREE POINT CHALLENGE:

The American Cancer Society, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the nation’s premier college basketball programs are teaming up for the Coaches vs Cancer Three-Point Challenge. Teams from coast to coast are squaring off to see who can raise the most money from behind the arc.

You can support the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by pledging for every three-point shot the team makes this February.

Follow the national competition at 3pointchallenge.org and make a pledge at https://pledgeit.org/cvc-notre-dame. The team raising the most from their three pointers will be crowned champion. All proceeds of the 3-Point Challenge will benefit the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs Cancer.