18. Looking To Party Like It's 1997

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team feels like they have a fresh start. They are fully healthy, they learned from some tough 1-point losses and now they are ready to build a winning streak. In addition, they are looking to change their road culture and find success away from Purcell Pavilion. In order to start stockpiling wins, the Fighting Irish will have to secure a win in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday when they clash with the Syracuse Orange (8-9, 2-4). That matchup will tip at 4 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

SATURDAY’S TABLE SETTER

A win on Saturday would give the Irish their first ACC road win of the season. A win would also mark Notre Dame’s first at Syracuse since the 2020 season, ending a three-game skid at the JMA Wireless Dome. A victory would also result in a home-and-home season sweep of Syracuse for the first time since 1997.

Last year at Syracuse: The Irish trailed by as much as 29 points and cut it to just three points with one minute remaining in the game. The Irish had two cracks at it to tie in the final minute but both attempts fell short as the Orange escaped with the 88-85 win. It could have marked the greatest comeback in program history. The Irish trailed 29-49 at the half and then outscored the Orange 56-39 in the second in their most prolific scoring half all season. Notre Dame shot 68.8 percent from the field (22-32 FG) in the second half, plus 10-of-15 from three-point range. Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry scored 20 and 18 points respectively in the second half, thus 38 of the team’s 56 points. Burton finished with 28 points and eight assists. Shrewsberry hit all six of his three-pointers in the second half (6-of-9), thus all 18 of his points.

FRESHLY SQUEEZED WIN

Notre Dame won its ACC opener for the first time since the 2017-18 season with a 69-64 victory over Syracuse. The player that helped seal the win was Braeden Shrewsberry. The sophomore had a huge game, tying his career high of 25 points behind six made three-pointers. He shot 8-of-15 overall and 6-for-11 from deep. Two of those triples came in the final four minutes of the game.

J.R. Konieczny was a spark off the bench with a season-high 15 points – 13 of which came in the first half. Despite getting into foul trouble, Tae Davis was a crucial piece of the Notre Dame offense with 15 points, going 6-8 from the floor while also chipping in two assists and two steals. Kebba Njie was just shy of a double-double as he finished with nine points and nine rebounds for the Irish.

The Orange were held to without a three for the first time since Holy Cross on Nov. 28, 2014.

FAITH OVER DOUBT

Coach Shrews had it written on the team board both after Duke and after the BC win. Have faith in this team and don’t let the doubt creep in after tough losses that should have been wins. That faith and belief got the Irish back in the win column with a decisive 78-60 victory over Boston College.

Tae Davis led the Irish in scoring for the seventh time this season, pouring in 26 points, which was one shy of his career high. It marked his fourth game of 20+ in the last seven matchups. Another MVP was Julian Roper II who led the team in +/- with +26.

After committing nine turnovers in the first half, they only coughed it up once in the second. The Irish tied their season high in offensive boards (17) and recorded a season best in second-chance points (25). Defensively, the Irish achieved a season high in steals with 13.

And now the table is set for the Irish to prove they are better than what their record states. The season has been disjointed with injuries but now is the time. The next seven opponents currently have sub-500 ACC records. The next seven opponents are a combined 10-30 in ACC play.

BURTON IS BACK

After 39 days away rehabbing his knee injury, Burton has returned and amplified the ND offense. Before Vegas, Burton was the only player in the country averaging 20+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds.

If you discount the Rutgers game since Burton got injured in the first four minutes, the sophomore has recorded 20+ points in five of his last six games. Even despite that 2-point game dragging down his scoring average, he is still averaging 19.0 ppg on the year.

Over the last week, Burton has dropped 23 points at #4 Duke in which he tied his career high in made three-pointers with four, then netted 20 points with a season high four steals against BC.

Since his return (last four games), Burton is averaging a team best 20.3 ppg on 41.0 percent shooting.

THE TAE-KOVER

Tae Davis has emerged as one of the top talents in the ACC. His dunk in the win over BC on Jan. 13 even got several NBA scouts to notice (check it out @NDMBB on social).

Tae is averaging a career best 16.7 ppg, up from last year’s 9.2 ppg. The Indy native is also shooting a career best 52.4 percent.

In ACC play, Tae’s numbers are even higher. He ranks eighth in the league in scoring (18.3) and sixth in field goal percentage (.534).

Tae is ultimately riding a career best 12 straight games in double figures. He’s posted 20+ points in four of the last seven games.

Over the last five games — Tae is averaging 19.0 ppg on 50.8 percent shooting. He’s 28-34 (.824) from the free-throw line. Plus he’s averaging a team best 3.0 apg in that span.

EVOLVING

When Burton went down, the Irish not only had to make up his 20+ points per game, but also his ability to create shots for his teammates.

Three players in particular stepped up and evolved their game. Tae Davis is not the only Irish posting  career numbers, for Braeden Shrewsberry is doing the same in scoring and field goal percentage. Then there’s Matt Allocco who is on pace to have the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in program history.

We have touched on Tae already but let’s dive a little deeper. The junior has been highly proficient around the rim where he’s 66-of-97 (.680).

Tae uses his explosiveness to attack the rim and he’s been using that to his advantage. He’s averaging 6.5 FD/40 which ranks 43rd nationally according to KenPom. Tae ranks third in the league in FT attempts and third in makes. He’s shooting a career best 77.1 percent from the stripe.

Next is Braeden Shrewsberry, who is averaging 14.9 ppg, up from last year’s 10.2. He’s shooting 43.2 percent, which is up from last year’s 39.8. He’s connecting on 2.8 threes per game this season, with a .366 clip from beyond the arc. Shrewsberry’s sweet spot has been the corner three where he’s 14-31 (.452), which is 9.9 percent above the D1 average.

Shrewsberry boasts higher three ball numbers in ACC play where he ranks fourth in 3pt FG% (.435) and third in in threes/game (3.3).

However, it’s important to point out that he’s added to his overall arsenal with a dangerous floater that keeps defenders guessing. He’s shooting 50.0 percent from the mid-range and he’s 13-16 around the rim. He’s 53.7 percent overall from two.

Last but not least is grad transfer Matt Allocco. The 6-4 guard from Princeton is averaging 10.1 ppg on 45.5 percent shooting from the floor and a career best 46.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Allocco owns a 3.86 assist-to-turnover ratio which ranks seventh in the nation and first in the ACC. The highest A/TO ratio in program history for a season was 3.16 by Martin Inglesby back in 2000-01.

Lastly, Allocco leads the team in the +/- category with +83.

NOTRE NOTABLES

• Matt Allocco scored 13 points in the win over BC on Jan. 13. As a result, he now has over 1,000 points in his career with 1,008.
• Kebba Njie is averaging 7.2 ppg and 6.8 rpg in ACC games. His 3.2 O-Reb/game in league play ranks fifth in ACC.
• Njie, who recorded his first career double-double against NC State on Jan. 8, posted 11 points against BC on Jan. 13. Thus, he’s been in double figures twice over the last three games. He entered the season with four career games in double figures.
• Burton is shooting 51.4 percent from the mid-range, which is 15.8 percent above the D1 average.
• Yes Sir! – The freshman guard impressed at #4 Duke, recording his first double-digit scoring performance with 11 points on 4-7 shooting, plus 2-4 from three.
• Notre Dame is shooting 39.5 percent from three in ACC play – leads all schools.
• Notre Dame continues to rise its KenPom Offense Adj. Efficiency. Over the last few games it has risen from 56th to 45th to now 41st.

–ND–