23. Destination -> Durham

DURHAM, N.C. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team will complete the final leg of its three-game road swing on Wednesday when they travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to challenge top-10-ranked Duke. The Fighting Irish (7-15, 2-9) look to snap its current six-game skid by obtaining their first-ranked victory in the Micah Shrewsberry era. If victorious, it would mark Notre Dame’s first top-10 win since downing No. 10 Kentucky on Dec. 11, 2021.

That matchup with the No. 9/10 Blue Devils (16-5, 7-3) will tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 7 on the ACC Network.

NOTRE DAME AT DUKE

Notre Dame will look to do something on Wednesday that only two prior versions of the program have been able to pull off – snatch a victory from Duke’s grasps inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. The prior two times: a 95-91 victory on 1/16/16 and a 93-89 win on 2/9/21 (no fans due to Covid-19).

In four of the seven previous trips to Durham, those contests were decided by four points or less. Duke ultimately leads the overall series 29-8.

Five different Blue Devils average double figures, led by Kyle Filipowski’s 17.7 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Duke ranks 13th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio and 14th in fewest turnovers per game. They also rank 25th in field goal percentage and 22nd in three-point shooting percentage.

When the two sides squared off back on Jan. 6, the Blue Devils escaped with a 67-59 win. Filipowski was kept in check with seven points but Mark Mitchell went off with a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double. Jeremy Roach followed right behind with 18 points. For Notre Dame, Markus Burton led with 18 points and four assists, followed by 12 points from Braeden Shrewsberry.

The Irish had a lead as large as nine in the first half, but the Blue Devils stormed into halftime on a 14-3 scoring run, which was extended into a 19-3 to start the second half. The Irish would continue to fight hard throughout, rallying down eight points to cut the deficit to just two with 2:44 remaining, yet just couldn’t push through in the end. Notre Dame and Duke took the same amount of shots (59) with the Irish converting two more (23). ND also won the rebounding battle 42-40.

1ST YEAR STAMP ON THE PROGRAM – DEFENSE

The year one Coach Shrewsberry stamp on the program has been the defensive intensity of this young Irish squad. Eleven games and eight different ACC opponents – all held under their season averages, with Miami and Duke being held to season lows. Since Dec. 16, only Miami (Jan. 24) and Pitt (Feb. 3) have reached the 70-point total on the Irish defense.

With that said, Notre Dame’s scoring defense of 65.5 ranks 2nd in the ACC and 37th in the country. According to KenPom, Notre Dame’s defensive efficiency ranks 45th nationally.

In ACC play only, Notre Dame ranks 2nd in scoring defense (64.0) and 2nd in field goal percentage defense (.401).

HITTING THE MARK

Point guard Markus Burton has put his name amongst the top freshmen in the country with his stellar play thus far. For those who aren’t acquainted with the local standout from Mishawaka, here are some quick hitters:

• His 16.0 ppg leads all ACC freshmen, with the next highest being Pitt’s Carlton Carrington at 13.7.
• Ranks 4th nationally amongst DI freshmen.
• 1-of-2 ACC players averaging over 16 points and 4.0 assists.
• Double-digit points in all but tw0 games. He’s currently riding a 15-game streak – averaging 16.6 ppg in that span.
• Ranks 10th in the ACC in scoring, 7th in Assists (4.1) and 5th in steals (1.7).
• Averaging 4.7 assists in ACC play which ranks 5th. Also averaging 15.2 points & 1.8 steals, as the latter ranks 4th.
• If the season ended today, Burton’s 16.0 ppg would rank 3rd all-time in the ND freshman record book. The two in front of him – Adrian Dantley (18.3) and Troy Murphy (19.2).

SHREWSBERRY’S HOT HAND

Braeden Shrewsberry has been hitting his stride over the past month. The freshman has secured six double-digit scoring performances over the last eight games, averaging 13.1 points – second highest to Burton in that span. He’s 25-of-54 from three in that span as his 46.3 percent ranks 3rd in the league in that timeframe (min 30 attempts).

Get this – since Jan. 6, Shrewsberry is averaging 3.1 made threes per game, which ranks second in the ACC in that timeframe. He’s hit multiple treys in eight straight games.

He’s now averaging 10.8 points in ACC play (2nd most on the team), while shooting 42.6 percent from the field & 42.0 percent from beyond the arc – ranks 6th in ACC. Lastly, he averages 2.6 made threes/game in league play, which ranks 5th.

ANOTHER FRESHMAN TRENDING

He might be flying under the radar right now but keep an eye on another freshman in Logan Imes. The Indiana native made his first collegiate start on Jan. 31 at Virginia, recording a stat line of three points, five rebounds, three assists and one turnover. In his second start at Pitt, he notched four points and a season-high six rebounds.

Looking at the last six games in particular, he’s logged 125 minutes on the court and has just four turnovers to show for it.

IN YOUR BAG

Markus Burton has been leading this young Irish squad all season offensively. As of late, he’s now ratcheted up the defensive intensity. The starting point guard has collected 10 steals over the last three games. He now averages a team-best 1.7 steals per game, which ranks 5th in the ACC. His 1.8 steals/game in league play ranks 4th.

BOARDS BATTLE

One of Notre Dame’s greatest strengths this season has been its rebounding. In ACC play, the Irish rank 2nd in rebounding (37.4) and 3rd in rebound margin (+3.6).

J.R. Konieczny (4) and Tae Davis (3) have combined for 7 double-doubles on the year.  Konieczny and Njie co-lead the team in rebounding (5.7).

The Irish are 6-6 this season when outrebounding their opponent.

SECOND HALF SURGE

Burton has had a knack for surging at the right moments in the second half. Eight times this season, Burton has scored double-digit points in the second half alone: Niagara, Oklahoma State, Western Michigan, Marquette, Marist, Florida State, Virginia and Pitt.

Burton is averaging a team-best 8.3 points in the second half.   

— ND —