19. Searching For A First In Charlottesville

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The perfect opportunity awaits the Notre Dame men’s basketball program on Saturday. The Fighting Irish (8-10, 2-5) are coming off a tough 69-77 loss at Syracuse in which they built a 17-point first-half lead. Thus, the Irish are still searching to correct two narratives:

1) That they can get over the hump in all these close games and execute down the stretch – one-point loss to UNC, one-point to NC State, eight at #4 Duke, eight at Syracuse.

2) Get that elusive first ACC road win.

Thus, it’s almost fate that up next for the Irish is a road game at Virginia. Why? Because this program has never won inside JPJ Arena – the Irish are 0-9 there all-time. So if you want to correct a narrative – there’s no better time or place.

Last season, the Irish and Cavaliers split, each winning on their home court. Coach Shrewsberry and company recorded a dominant 76-54 victory over Virginia inside Purcell Pavilion, as the 76 points were the most scored by Notre Dame all-time in the series. The Irish also handed Virginia its biggest loss to an ACC opponent since 2017.

Markus Burton averaged 16.0 points in two games against UVA last season, shooting a highly proficient 60.0 percent from the field (12-20).

Saturday will mark the 23rd all-time meeting between the two programs with the Irish trailing, 4-18. Notre Dame and Virginia will tip off at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

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 six of his last seven games.

Burton is averaging 21.8 ppg since his return on Jan. 4. When you look at January-only scoring averages amongst ACC players, Burton only trails Cooper Flagg and Hunter Sallis.

Last game out, Burton dropped a first-half career-high 22 points, before finishing the Syracuse game with 28. Prior, Burton netted 20 points with a season-high four steals against BC and dropped 23 points at #4 Duke in which he tied his career high in made three-pointers with four.

Despite that 2-point Rutgers game dragging down his scoring average, he still averages 19.8 ppg on the year.

CHASING ACHIEVEMENTS

Markus Burton is currently riding three straight games with 20+ points and if he gets to five, he’ll be the first Irish player to achieve said feat since Ben Hansbrough in February of 2011.

Looking bigger picture now … Burton is currently averaging 19.8 ppg and 3.3 apg. If he finishes the season at 20.0+ ppg and 3.0+ apg, he’ll become the first Irish player ever to do so. When we broaden the scope, he would become just the 15th ACC player to do so since 1996.

However, Burton isn’t the only one who can cement their name in the Irish record books this season. Grad transfer Matt Allocco owns a 3.86 assist-to-turnover ratio which ranks sixth 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.

FAITH OVER DOUBT

Coach Shrews had it written on the team board both after the close Duke loss and again after the BC win just a few days later. 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. Another MVP was Julian Roper II who led the team in +/- with +26.

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.

THE TAE-KOVER

Tae Davis has emerged as one of the top talents in the ACC and should be a candidate for Most Improved. 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 16.4 ppg, up from last year’s 9.2 ppg. The Indy native is also shooting a career best 50.3 percent, up from last year’s 48.4. In ACC play, Tae’s scoring average is slightly higher at 17.3 ppg.

Tae is ultimately riding a career best 13 straight games in double figures. Where is he getting it done at? Well, the junior has been highly proficient around the rim where he’s 66-of-97 (.680).

He’s also improved from the free-throw line over the course of the season. He’s 19 for his last 22, raising his FT% to a career best 77.4 percent.

Tae is averaging 6.5 FD/40 which ranks 46th nationally according to KenPom. Tae ranks second in the league in FT attempts and fifth in makes.

EVOLVING

When Burton was recovering, other Irish had to step up and evolve and we saw it unfold.  We’ve already mentioned how Tae Davis is posting career numbers, but so is Braeden Shrewsberry.

The sophomore guard 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 .379 clip from beyond the arc. Shrewsberry’s sweet spot has been the corner three where he’s 14-31 (.452), which is 9.8 percent above the D1 average. Shrewsberry boasts higher three ball numbers in ACC play where he ranks third in 3pt FG% (.440) and second in in threes/game (3.1).

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 midrange twos and he’s 13-16 around the rim. Thus, he’s 54.1 percent overall from two-point range.

VET LEADER

When Coach Shrews added grad transfer Matt Allocco to the roster he got two things – a talented guard with NCAA Tournament experience and a leader by every definition of the word. Coach Shrews hoped that his young core of players would pick up those characteristics and then be leaders to the next group coming in.

This season, Allocco is averaging 10.2 ppg on 46.9 percent shooting. He’s draining a career best 47.1 percent from three.

As previously mentioned, Allocco is also on pace for the highest A/TO ratio in program history. His 3.86 A/TO ratio ranks sixth nationally and leads all ACC players.

Allocco also leads the team in defensive rebounds per game at 4.2 and leads in +/- at +82 on the year. Lastly, the Ohio native is averaging 1.4 steals in ACC play which ranks 10th.

NOTRE NOTABLES

• With 13 points in the win over BC on Jan. 13, Matt Allocco officially crossed over the 1,000 career point milestone. He currently sits at 1,019.
• Allocco boasts a true shooting percentage of 71.2 over the last five games, which according to CBB Analytics ranks in the 99th percentile.
• 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 four games. He entered the season with four career games in double figures.
• Njie is averaging 3.0 offensive rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks 2nd in the league.
• Burton is shooting 52.6 percent from the midrange, which is 17.0 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 39.1 percent from three in ACC play – which ranks third.
• Notre Dame continues to raise its KenPom Offense Adj. Efficiency. Over the last several games, it has risen from 56th to 44th.

— ND —