Dec. 18, 2014
Game 12
Purdue (8-3)
vs.
#21/21 Notre Dame (10-1)
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014
5:15 p.m. (ET)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, Ind.
TV
Big Ten Network
Dave Revsine (play-by-play)
Stephen Bardo (analyst)
RADIO
Broadcast on WatchND (free)
Sirius 84/XM 84
Check affiliates on Pg. 3 of notes packet
Jack Nolan (play-by-play)
Torrian Jones (analyst)
LIVE STATS
IRISH TO CLASH WITH PURDUE AT CROSSROADS CLASSIC
– No. 21/21 Notre Dame will face Big Ten rival Purdue Saturday in the fourth annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tipoff is slated for 5:15 p.m. (ET).
– The game between the Irish and the Boilermakers will be the second game of a doubleheader. Butler and Indiana will square off in the first contest (2:30 p.m.).
– The Notre Dame-Purdue showdown will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network with Dave Revsine (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) on the call. A free audio broadcast will be available on WatchND.tv. Jack Nolan will handle play-by-play duties, while Torrian Jones will serve as the analyst. The contest also is available on Sirius 84 and XM 84.
FIGHTING IRISH AT THE CROSSROADS CLASSIC
– The Fighting Irish are 2-1 in their three previous Crossroads Classic showdowns. Notre Dame topped Indiana, 79-72, last season and the Irish downed Purdue, 81-68, in 2012. Notre Dame fell to Indiana, 69-58, in the inaugural event in 2011.
– Butler is 3-0 in the Crossroads Classic, while Indiana is 1-2 and Purdue is 0-3.
PLAYING PURDUE
– Saturday will be the 42nd meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Purdue. The Irish hold a 21-20 edge in the series, including a two-game win streak over the Boilermakers.
– The last meeting occurred at the 2012 Crossroads Classic and the Irish came away with an 81-68 victory.
– The two programs first met in on Dec. 15, 1916. Prior to the 2004 meeting (a 71-59 Irish victory in the Postseason NIT), the Irish and Boilermakers had not squared off since the 1965-66 season. Notre Dame and Purdue met 28 times from 1942-66 (24 seasons).
– The Fighting Irish and Boilermakers have met 10 previous times in Indianapolis and Notre Dame is 8-2 in those contests. Nine of those showdowns took place inside Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.
– Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey is 2-1 all-time against Purdue (2-0 at Notre Dame). His first NCAA tournament game as a head coach was against the Boilermakers. Brey’s Delaware squad fell to a Gene Keady-led Purdue team, 95-56, in the first round of the 1998 tournament in Chicago.
FIGHTING IRISH IN INDY
– Under Mike Brey, Notre Dame is 6-4 in Indianapolis, including a 4-3 mark in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
– Brey’s third victory at Notre Dame was a 69-51 triumph over No. 14/15 Cincinnati on Nov. 25, 2000, inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
BREY HAS BOILERMAKER CONNECTION IN FAMILY
– Mike Brey’s mother, the former Betty Mullen, graduated from Purdue University and swam for the AAU team in West Lafayette while attending school. For a time, she held the world record in the 50-meter butterfly and competed with the U.S. team at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. She was inducted into the Indiana Swimming Hall of Fame in Indianapolis. Brey’s mother also was a Purdue majorette and was present at Notre Dame Stadium on October 2, 1954, when the 19th-ranked Boilermakers upset the top-ranked Irish 27-14 on the gridiron. She also was head coach of the women’s swim team at George Washington University, Brey’s alma mater.
IRISH VERSUS THE BIG TEN
– Notre Dame is 265-232-1 all-time versus teams that currently comprise the Big Ten.
– Purdue is Notre Dame’s second Big Ten opponent this season. The Irish topped Michigan State, 79-78 in overtime, on Dec. 3.
– Notre Dame is 8-12 when playing a Big Ten foe under Mike Brey. The Irish are 3-2 versus the Big Ten in Indianapolis under Brey.
FIGHTING IRISH AFTER 11
– Notre Dame has posted at least 10 wins through its first 11 games of a season for the fifth time in 15 campaigns under head coach Mike Brey.
HOT SHOTS
– Notre Dame leads the nation in field goal percentage at 55.7 percent.
– The Irish have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 10 of 11 games this season and they topped 60.0 percent in two contests — 65.6 percent (40-61) vs. Coppin State and 62.2 percent (28-45) against Grambling State.
– All five Notre Dame starters are shooting better than 48.0 percent from the field — Zach Auguste (65.3%), Jerian Grant (57.8%), Demetrius Jackson (55.8%), Steve Vasturia (53.2%) and Pat Connaughton (48.5%).
– Notre Dame is third in the ACC in free throw percentage (72.4%).
NOTES FROM FLORIDA STATE
– Notre Dame improved to 2-0 in ACC openers. The Fighting Irish defeated Duke, 79-77, in last season’s conference opener.
– Notre Dame’s 83 points were the most ever for the Irish in an ACC game.
– The 20-point win was Notre Dame’s largest margin of victory ever in an ACC game. Notre Dame’s six ACC victories last year were by a combined 23 points.
– Zach Auguste’s career-high 26 points were the most ever for an Irish player in an ACC game.
– The Fighting Irish shot 51.7% (31-60) from the field. Notre Dame has shot 50.0% or above in 10 of 11 games this season.
– Notre Dame led 38-30 at halftime. The Irish are 10-0 this season when leading at the intermission.
– Florida State shot 39.7% (25-63) from the field. Notre Dame has held eight of 11 opponents under 40.0% shooting from the floor this season.
– Notre Dame committed just five turnovers. It was the seventh time this season the Irish had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game.
AUGUSTE STAYS HOT FROM THE FIELD
– Junior forward Zach Auguste ranks eighth nationally – and second in the ACC – in field goal percentage at 65.3 percent.
– Auguste netted a career-high 26 points in Saturday’s win over Florida State. Those were the most points ever scored by an Irish player in an ACC game. He made a career-best 11 field goals (on 15 attempts).
– That was his third 20-plus point effort of the season (20 vs. Navy, 21 vs. Coppin State).
– Auguste was a perfect nine-for-nine from the field against Coppin State and five-for-five versus Grambling State. His performance against Coppin State tied a Notre Dame record for most field goals without a miss in a single game.
– Auguste is averaging 15.2 points per game after posting a 6.7 ppg. mark last season (+8.5).
GRANT HAS AN ALL-AROUND GAME
– Senior guard Jerian Grant leads the ACC in points per game (18.9) and assists per game (6.0). He is the only player in the country averaging at least 18.9 points and 6.0 assists per game this season.
– Grant has had a hand in 39.5 percent of Notre Dame’s 934 points this season. He’s netted 208 points and his 66 assists have led to 161 Fighting Irish points.
– Grant ranks ninth nationally – and second in the ACC – with a 4.1 assist-to-turnover ratio this season. His 2.51 career assist-to-turnover ratio ranks fourth among active Division I players.
Jerian Grant ON A ROLL
– Jerian Grant is averaging 21.0 points per game in the last five contests.
– Grant is 37-64 (.578) from the field, 14-31 (.453) from three-point range and 17-19 (.895) from the free throw line in those five contests.
– He scored a career-high 27 points versus Michigan State on Dec. 3 after tying a career-best mark with 26 points in the previous outing against Chicago State.
– He has reached double-figures in points in each of his last 13 games and 76 times during his career, which are the most for any current Fighting Irish player. Grant is the only Irish player to score in double-figures in every game this season.
– Grant has committed just eight turnovers in the last six games.
A DYNAMIC DUO
– Jerian Grant leads all current ACC players in career points (1,319), while Pat Connaughton is third (1,130).
– Connaughton leads all ACC players in career rebounds (625) and Grant is first in career assists (503).
– The senior duo has combined for 204 games played (186 of them starts), 2,449 points, 893 rebounds, 722 assists and 206 steals.
– They also have accounted for 6,704 minutes played on the court (33.2 mpg.).
MILESTONES
– With his second assist in the Florida State game, Jerian Grant reached the 500-assist mark for his career. With 1,319 career points and 503 assists, he is the sixth player in program history to score 1,000 points and dish off 500 assists. Four of those players have played during the Mike Brey era (Chris Thomas, Tory Jackson and Eric Atkins are the others).
– With his fifth rebound against Michigan State (Dec. 3), Pat Connaughton reached the 600-rebound mark for his career. He is the first Notre Dame player to notch 1,000 points and 600 rebounds since Luke Harangody (2006-10). Harangody finished his Irish career with 2,476 points and 1,222 rebounds. Connaughton has 1,130 points and 625 boards.
TAKING CARE OF THE BASKETBALL
– Notre Dame ranks third nationally in fewest turnovers per game (9.0) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.72).
– The Irish have committed fewer than 10 turnovers in seven games this season. Notre Dame had a season-low four turnovers against Michigan State (Dec. 3).
FIGHTING IRISH GET OFFENSIVE
– The Irish rank eighth nationally – and second in the ACC – in scoring (84.9 ppg.).
– Notre Dame’s 934 points are the most for the Irish through the first 11 games of a season since they tallied 958 in 2006-07.
– Notre Dame has scored 74 points or better in each of its first 11 games of a season for the first time in program history.
– The Fighting Irish have deposited 90-plus points four times this season (104 vs. Coppin State, 93 vs. Mount St. Mary’s, 92 vs. Navy, 90 vs. Chicago State).
VASTURIA VERY IMPRESSIVE
– Sophomore guard Steve Vasturia scored a career-high 19 points in the win over Mount St. Mary’s (Dec. 9). He was 7-of-7 from the field (3-of-3 from three-point range) and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. He also had four rebounds and three assists.
– It was the first time during his career that he tallied a team-high point total.
STARTING FIVE
– Notre Dame has fielded the same starting lineup of Jerian Grant, Demetrius Jackson, Pat Connaughton, Steve Vasturia and Zach Auguste in each of its first 11 games.
– Last season, the Irish juggled its starting lineup throughout the season and ended up with 12 different rotations throughout the 2013-14 campaign.
– Through 11 games last season, Notre Dame already had three different starting lineups.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
– Four Fighting Irish players are averaging double-figures in points – Jerian Grant (18.9), Zach Auguste (15.2), Demetrius Jackson (13.3) and Pat Connaughton (12.7).
– Notre Dame has had at least four players reach double-figures in 10 of 11 games this season.
– The Irish had five double-figure scorers twice this season (Coppin State and Providence).
DRAINING FROM DEEP
– Notre Dame is 13th nationally in made three-point field goals (94) and 25th in three-point field goal percentage (.409).
– Pat Connaughton’s 26 three-pointers are the second-most among ACC players and he ranks fifth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.441).
– Connaughton made his 200th career three-pointer in Saturday’s win over Florida State. He is the eighth Notre Dame player to drain at least 200 treys during his career.
– Notre Dame made a season-best 14 three-pointers (14-25) against Chicago State on Nov. 29.
IRONMAN
– Pat Connaughton has never missed a game during his Fighting Irish career. He has played in all 112 contests, including 96 starts. Connaughton has started 93 consecutive games.
DOUBLE THE PLEASURE FOR PAT
– Senior guard Pat Connaughton leads Notre Dame in rebounding (7.6 rpg.) and is fourth in scoring (12.7 ppg.).
– Connaughton ranks fourth in the ACC in defensive rebounds per game (6.3) and 11th in rebounds per game (7.6).
– Connaughton has two double-doubles this season. He registered 13 points and 11 boards versus Providence and notched 17 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Binghamton.
– He has nine career double-doubles, which are the most of any current Irish player.
– Connaughton has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game 13 times during his career, including three times this season.
1,000-POINT PERFORMERS
– With his 17-point performance against Binghamton in the season opener, Pat Connaughton eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career to become the 56th member of Notre Dame’s 1,000-point club. He has netted 1,130 points in 112 career games (10.1 ppg.).
– Connaughton became the second current Fighting Irish player with at least 1,000 career points. Senior Jerian Grant has tallied 1,319 points in 92 games in an Irish uniform (14.3 ppg.).
– Grant ranks 27th in Irish history in scoring, while Connaughton is 42nd.
GRANT ON PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR WATCH LISTS
– Jerian Grant has been named to the watch lists for the John R. Wooden Award, the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Naismith Trophy.
BREY NOTCHES 400TH CAREER WIN
– Notre Dame’s season opener against Binghamton signaled the beginning of head coach Mike Brey’s 20th season as a head coach. The 82-39 win over the Bearcats marked his 400th career win as a college head coach. He has registered a 409-212 (.659) record in 19-plus seasons at Delaware and Notre Dame.
– Brey earned his 300th win at Notre Dame last season against Georgia Tech (Feb. 26, 2014). He has compiled a 310-160 (.660) record in his 14-plus seasons in South Bend. He is one of 17 active head coaches to have 300 or more Division I victories at their current institution.
– Only two other Notre Dame head coaches have reached the 300-win milestone. Digger Phelps led the Fighting Irish to a 393-197 record from 1971-91. George Keogan notched a 327-97 mark from 1923-43.
IRISH ECLIPSE CENTURY MARK AGAINST COPPIN STATE
– The 104 points scored by the Irish in the win over Coppin State were the most in a regulation contest since a 106-65 victory over Sacred Heart on Dec. 19, 2011. It marked the first time Notre Dame eclipsed the 100-point mark since a 101-67 win over Cornell on Dec. 1, 2013, and the 17th time that an Irish team under Mike Brey scored 100 or more points.
DEFENSIVE DISPLAYS
– Notre Dame ranks 27th nationally in total steals (89). Sophomore point guard Demetrius Jackson is fifth in the ACC in steals per game (2.0).
– The Irish have held eight of 11 opponents under 40.0% shooting from the floor this season.
– The 39 points scored by Binghamton in the season opener marked the third time that a Notre Dame team under Mike Brey has held an opponent to under 40 points and the first time since 2007.
– The Irish limited Chicago State to just 42 points in the 90-42 win on Nov. 29. The 48-point margin of victory over Chicago State was the largest for Notre Dame since a 50-point win (101-51) over Rider on Dec. 28, 2006.
CAPTAIN CONNAUGHTON
– Senior guard/forward Pat Connaughton has been named captain for the 2014-15 season. Connaughton served as one of four captains for the Irish a year ago and becomes the 22nd different Notre Dame men’s basketball player to serve as a captain in multiple seasons.
– Since the 1985-86 campaign, only four other players have served as lone captains for their Irish teams– Ken Barlow (1985-86), Tim Singleton (1990-91), Ryan Hoover (1995-96) and Rob Kurz (2007-08).
TOM HAWKINS TO BE INDUCTED INTO NOTRE DAME RING OF HONOR
– Nearly 56 years have passed since Tom Hawkins played his final collegiate men’s basketball game for the University of Notre Dame, yet the indelible mark he left on the program remains intact today. While dozens of players have donned an Irish uniform since Hawkins last took the court, none have been able to duplicate his rebounding as he remains the career leader in that category.
– Hawkins, whose 1,318 career rebounds rank currently as the oldest record in the 109-year annals of Fighting Irish men’s basketball, will become the seventh inductee into the Notre Dame Basketball Ring of Honor on Jan. 17, 2015, at halftime of the Notre Dame-Miami men’s basketball game. He will follow six former players–Austin Carr (2011), Adrian Dantley (2012), Skylar Diggins (2013), Luke Harangody (2010) and Ruth Riley (2010)–and former men’s head coach Richard “Digger” Phelps (2014) into the school’s Ring of Honor.
FIGHTING IRISH IN ITALY
– In early August, the Fighting Irish squad traveled to Italy for a 10-day, four-game foreign tour. Notre Dame posted a 4-0 record. The Irish visited Rome, Perugia, Pesaro, Venice and Como during the trip.
– It was the program’s first foreign tour since 2008 when the Irish ventured to Ireland for 13 days.
CONNAUGHTON DRAFTED BY ORIOLES
– The Baltimore Orioles selected Irish swingman Pat Connaughton in the fourth round of June’s Major League Baseball Draft. He was the 121st pick overall.
– Connaughton spent part of June and July pitching for the Aberdeen IronBirds, the Class A Orioles’ affiliate.
– Connaughton finished his Fighting Irish baseball career last spring. He posted a 3.03 ERA and had an 11-11 record on the mound during his three seasons. He fanned 105 batters in 154.2 innings pitched.
NOTRE DAME FIRST AGAIN IN GRADUATION RATE SUCCESS
– The University of Notre Dame once again claims the 2014 national championship for graduating student-athletes in all sports–in the process posting the top NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) figure (99) for its student-athletes for the eighth straight year.
– The GSR number for all Notre Dame student-athletes rates the Irish first among the football-playing institutions in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). The 2014 NCAA figures are based on entering classes from 2004 through 2007.
– Twenty-one of Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s athletic programs posted GSR numbers that rank them best in the nation within their sports (including 20 perfect 100 scores)– and 11 produced federal graduation rates that led all NCAA FBS institutions (including eight perfect 100 scores). Men’s basketball at 100 tied for first with 14 other schools.
– Five Irish women’s programs had perfect 100 federal rates ranking them first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset. Six Irish men’s programs had federal rates ranking them first within their sports (three with perfect 100 scores) among the NCAA FBS subset. Men’s basketball at 85 ranked tied for first with Penn State.
– Five Irish women’s programs had perfect 100 federal rates ranking them first within their sports among the NCAA FBS subset. Six Irish men’s programs had federal rates ranking them first within their sports (three with perfect 100 scores) among the NCAA FBS subset. Men’s basketball at 85 ranked tied for first with Penn State.