24. Back Home Against Virginia Tech

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The lengthy three-game road swing is over. Notre Dame men’s hoops returns to Purcell Pavilion on Saturday and look to bust a few streaks in the process. The Fighting Irish (7-16, 2-10) will host the Virginia Tech Hokies (13-9, 5-6) at 6 p.m. ET on Feb. 10, airing live on The CW. Tickets are still available for purchase online via the link in the table above.

TO END MULTIPLE STREAKS

Notre Dame is looking to end its current seven-game skid. To do so, the Irish will have to take down Virginia Tech, who enters 13-9 on the season and 5-6 in ACC play. Tech enters Saturday’s tilt with Notre Dame on a six-game winning streak in the series. It’s the longest active winning streak for the Hokies against an ACC foe. The all-time series sits at 10-9 in favor of VT.

Virginia Tech enters with the league’s best field goal percentage in ACC play, converting 48.3 percent from the field. That will be tested against Notre Dame’s stout defense, which still ranks 2nd in the league. The Hokies best statistical category – their free-throw percentage – which ranks 6th in the country at 79.1 percent.

The Hokies are led by Sean Pedulla, who is averaging the fifth most points in ACC play with 17.6 ppg. In addition, Hunter Cattoor ranks 13th in the nation in three-point percentage, draining 43.3 percent from deep.

An interesting side plot to follow for Saturday’s matchup – two former Northwestern teammates will face off in Notre Dame’s Julian Roper II and Virginia Tech’s Robbie Beran.

1ST YEAR STAMP ON THE PROGRAM – DEFENSE

The year one Coach Shrewsberry stamp on the program has been the defensive intensity from this young Irish squad. Twelve games and eight different ACC opponents – all held under their season averages in every single contest, with Miami and Duke being held to season lows at that point in time.

With that said, Notre Dame’s scoring defense of 65.7 ranks 2nd in the ACC and 38th in the country. According to KenPom, Notre Dame’s defensive efficiency ranks 47th nationally.

In ACC play only, Notre Dame ranks 2nd in scoring defense (64.6) and 2nd in field goal percentage defense (.404).

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 16.2 ppg leads all ACC freshmen, with the next highest being Pitt’s Carlton Carrington at 13.6.
• 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 2 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 16.2 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).

EYING THE FRESHMAN RECORD

Burton still has a ways to go but it’s never too early to speculate on whether he could claim the Notre Dame freshman scoring record. The freshman guard enters Saturday’s matchup with 372 points on the season – which would already put him in the No. 8 spot. Below is a look at the top-10 freshman scoring seasons before this year.

SHREWSBERRY’S HOT HAND

Braeden Shrewsberry is hitting his stride over the past month. The freshman has secured seven double-digit scoring performances over the last nine games, averaging 13.1 points – 2nd highest to Burton in that span. He’s 28-of-62 from three in that span as his 45.2 percent ranks 5th 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 3rd in the ACC in that timeframe. He’s hit multiple treys in nine straight games.

He’s now averaging 11.0 points in ACC play (2nd most on team), while shooting 42.3 percent from the field & 41.6 percent from beyond the arc – ranks 5th in ACC. Lastly, he averages 2.7 made threes/game in league play, which ranks 5th.

TRENDING

• Markus Burton has recorded three straight games with 17 or more points.
• Tae Davis has made 14 consecutive free throws, rising his free throw percentage from .618 to .696.
• Logan Imes has made three consecutive starts for the Irish. Shrewsberry started the last game at Duke on Feb. 7 – thus the starting five was three freshmen and two sophomores.

KEBBA’S DEFENSE ON FILIPOWSKI

In both Duke matchups, Kebba Njie had the assignment to lock down Blue Devil standout Kyle Filipowski and he did just that. Njie limited him to seven points in South Bend and eight points in Durham. Filipowski shot a combined 4-for-21.

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 11 steals over the last four games. He now averages a team-best 1.7 steals per game, which ranks 6th in the ACC. His 1.8 steals/game in league play ranks 5th.

BOARDS BATTLE

One of Notre Dame’s greatest strengths this season has been its rebounding. In ACC play, the Irish rank 2nd in rebounding (37.2) and 4th in rebound margin (+2.7). In addition they rank 4th in both offensive (10.2) rebounds per game and defensive (27.0).

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. Nine times this season, Burton has scored double-digit points in the second half alone: Niagara, Oklahoma State, Western Michigan, Marquette, Marist, Florida State, Virginia, Pitt, Duke. Thus, he’s done the feat in three consecutive games.

Burton is averaging a team-best 8.4 points in the second half.   

THIS CLOSE

Because of the defensive effort of this young team, Notre Dame has been in just about every single league contest and their 2-10 ACC record unfortunately doesn’t reflect it. Before the Duke loss on Feb. 7 – Notre Dame had been in eight straight tight battles (Pitt, Virginia, BC x2, Miami, FSU, Duke and NC State) with the average margin of defeat in those losses being 7.5.

In both Boston College games, the Irish had a three-point attempt to either tie or win the game in the closing seconds.

Overall on the season, Notre Dame has played in 12 games in which the margin of victory was 10 points or less and have gone 4-8. Diving deeper, the Irish are 2-4 in games decided by five points or less.

Lastly, in three of those losses (Boston College, Duke and Virginia), the Irish finished the game with both a higher shooting percentage and rebounding total. Turnovers have simply been costly in January.

HOME vs AWAY

Call it a home bonus, but Markus Burton has thrived inside Purcell Pavilion. The Mishawaka native is averaging 17.1 points on 44.2 percent shooting.

Now when it comes to delivering in tough road environments, two of ND’s freshmen aren’t backing down. Both Burton (14.8 ppg) and Shrewsberry (11.6 ppg) average double figures.

— ND —