24. Irish Wear Green Saturday vs. FSU

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame men’s basketball will turn to the luck of the green jerseys, along with a boost from its home crowd, this weekend for its annual Irish Wear Green game. The Fighting Irish (11-12, 2-8) will host the Florida State Seminoles (10-12, 3-6) on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m. ET on the CW.

Like Notre Dame, Florida State has three players averaging double figures in ACC play: Robert McCray V (15.6 ppg), Chauncey Wiggins (13.1) and Lajae Jones (10.8).

Haslam Analytics breakdown: The primary strength for Florida State this year is offense. The team is ranked 91st in efficiency on that end of the floor, and they’ll rack up more than 114 points for every 100 possessions. Florida State lives and dies by the three-ball, ranking 25th in ratio of three-point attempts to total field goal attempts. On the flip side of that, FSU converts only about 32.1% of their attempts from behind the arc. The Seminoles rank 98th nationally in defensive efficiency and does a pretty solid job avoiding careless fouls and minimizing opponents’ opportunities from the free throw line. With a defensive free throw attempt rate of 23.80 vs. AO, they are currently rated 33rd in the country in that category.

If successful, Notre Dame would achieve a Quad 3 win with Florida State’s NET at 98. Last year, the Irish suffered a 60-67 loss in Tallahassee. For the current Irish team to get back in the win column, they’ll have to break a five-game losing streak in the series against the Seminoles. The last win was an 83-73 victory in South Bend on March 6, 2021. A win would also improve ND to 9-5 at home.

LAST FEW TIMES OUT RECAP

VIRGINIA

Let’s start with the 97-100 heartbreaking double overtime loss to #17 Virginia. It was a game in which the Irish tasted victory on multiple occasions: ND built a 19-point first-half lead, fell into a four-point deficit in the second half, rallied back to go up six points with two minutes remaining, had a shot at the end of regulation to walk it off, and then was one defensive stand away at the end of the first overtime.

“Not into moral victories, but we are about the process. We are about using every opportunity to learn and get better,” Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “These dudes keep coming, keep fighting, keep competing and try to play their best basketball as the season goes on. I wanted this so bad for them with how hard they’re working. They put it out there, all on the line, against a really good team.”

Cole Certa went off with a career high 34 points on 10-19 shooting from the floor, 5-13 from three and 9-11 from the free-throw line. Certa’s 34 points are the most by a Notre Dame player against an AP-ranked team since Nov. 26, 2008, when Kyle McAlarney scored 39 in a loss to No. 1 UNC. His 34 points were also the third most by a Notre Dame player in an ACC game, trailing just Markus Burton (43 vs Cal) and Matt Farrell (37 vs Boston College).

The game also witnessed a tremendous showing from freshman Brady Koehler. The 6-10 forward out of Fishers, Indiana, dropped his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Koehler also recorded a season-high three steals and a season-high tying four blocks.

SYRACUSE

At Syracuse on Jan. 31, the Irish just couldn’t get over the hump in the 2nd half, whether it was piecing it together defensively or a critical error that served as an offensive rally killer.

Case in point, a Certa three-pointer would cut the deficit to eight points, but an Irish technical led to a 5-point Syracuse swing that would balloon into a 14-point Orange lead. Later, another Certa triple brought the Irish within six for the first time since the 11:13 mark of the first half, making it a 60-66 ballgame. Yet the wave of momentum was quickly seized when a Syracuse three at the shot clock buzzer sparked a 9-0 run, resulting in a 15-point deficit.

Jalen Haralson recorded a superb 2nd half, missing only one shot and scoring 19 points. He finished with a career high of 26. He finished with a career high of 26.

LOUISVILLE

Notre Dame showed some grit on the road against a top-25 team, but a late scoring surge from the #24/23 Louisville Cardinals was the difference maker in a 65-76 defeat. The Fighting Irish started hot with an early nine-point lead and trailed by six at the half. Notre Dame fought to pull within four at 9:29, but that’s when the Cardinals produced a 16-1 scoring run.

Cole Certa led the Irish with 18 points, draining five triples on the night. Brady Koehler also secured double-digit points with 11 on 4-10 shooting. The freshman also netted four steals and two blocks.

Coach Shrewsberry:

“I thought we didn’t finish the ball well. We had some turnovers at the wrong opportunities. It doesn’t have to be perfect. We have to take advantage of situations that are advantageous for us.

“The competitive juices were there for us. The competition level was there. We’re doing that, I don’t care about anything else.”

Jalen Haralson:

“We fought as hard as we could, but you have to get back to work. You have another opportunity. It’s tough, but this will help us.”

Carson Towt:
“We’re staying together as a group and finding ways to move through it. Our best attribute is our togetherness and character. We’re playing hard, and the results are going to come over time.”

LAST 4 GAME STATS TELL A STORY OF OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT

Offensively, the Irish have shown improvement as of late. What if I told you, without Markus Burton’s 19 ppg, this Irish squad was averaging 75.5 ppg over the last 4 games. In that timespan, Notre Dame’s three-headed monster of Jalen Haralson, Cole Certa and Braeden Shrewsberry, are all averaging at least 16 ppg.

Jalen Haralson is currently on the best stretch of his season. The super freshman has totaled 71 points over the last 4 games (17.8 ppg), shooting a hot 57.8% (26-45 FG). He’s also produced a team-best 18 assists in that span (4.5 apg)

Jalen highlights include:

• 1st 20-point ACC game with 20 vs. #17 Virginia.
• Followed that with a career high 26 points at Syracuse, with 19 coming in the 2nd half on 6-7 shooting. Not to mention, a dunk worthy of the SportsCenter Top-10

Cole Certa has impressed as of late, totaling 68 points over the last 2 weeks (17.0 ppg). Between Cole and Braeden, the two have drained a total of 25 three-pointers in that span.

Cole highlights include:

• Career high 34 points vs #17 Virginia
• 5 made triples at #24 Louisville to total 18 points.

Speaking of Braeden, the junior has amassed 65 points (16.3 ppg) over the last 4 games on 41.8% shooting (23-55 FG).

Braeden highlights include

• At Syracuse: 17 points behind 3 triples & 3-4 from two.
• #17 Virginia — Scored 15 of his 18 points in the 1st half where he was 4-4 from three, 5-8 overall.

FRESHMAN STANDOUT JALEN HARALSON

With such a talented ACC freshman class, Notre Dame freshman guard Jalen Haralson has flown a little under the national radar and we are here to sing his praises as to why he could be considered for ACC All-Rookie Team and All-ACC consideration. Haralson is currently averaging 15.2 ppg which ranks fifth amongst ACC freshmen. He’s registered double digit points in all but 3 games and has earned five games of 20+ — two in ACC play recently against Virginia & Syracuse.

He averages a team best 15.8 ppg in ACC play, shooting an efficient 49.8% from the floor – the latter ranks 9th in the league.

Jalen is strong and shifty when attacking the rim, converting 69.0% from within 4.5 feet. The Fishers, Indiana, native shoots 52.7% overall from two-point range, in addition to leading the team in free throw attempts (6.0 per game).

SHREWSBERRY LEADING FROM THREE

Braeden Shrewsberry continues to prove he’s one of the best from deep, ranking 3rd in the ACC in three-point shooting percentage at 42.0%. That number also ranks 32nd in the country. He’s converting 2.7 made threes per game which ranks 4th in the league.

Shrewsberry’s sweet spot? The corner three – where he’s draining 57.9%, which is 22.2% above the Division I average. 

Against Miami on Jan. 13, Braeden reached the 200 career made threes milestone, becoming the 14th Irish player all-time to do so. He now sits at 213 in his career.

TEAM POSITIVES

“I love our growth and connectivity as a group. I love this team’s togetherness,” Coach Shrewsberry stated. “I think there are small things that we can still get better at to make a difference moving forward with these remaining games.”

– Against Boston College, Notre Dame erased a 13-point deficit, marking not only their largest comeback of the season, but its third double-digit come from behind victory of the year. Notre Dame outscored Boston College, 44-29, in the 2nd half where they shot 50% from the field. The 44 points were the most ND had scored in any half of an ACC game this season.

Braeden Shrewsberry finished with a game-high 22 points, marking his second-highest scoring output of the season. The junior found success driving into the paint & midrange, making 6-8 from two. Though, Shrewsberry’s biggest shot of the night was a three with 1:26 remaining to push the Irish up five.

– From halftime of Boston College to now, the Irish have shot 45.6% from the field. Since halftime of BC, they have scored 40+ points in a half 3 times out of a possible 7.

– Free throw shooting has seen a slight improvement as well; in fact, it was a strong asset against Virginia, where they went 28-34 aka 82.4%. The 28 made free throws were a season high.

SEEKING RECORD BOOK #1

Notre Dame fans know Cole Certa can get hot from three and light up the scoreboard in multiple fashions, but I bet they don’t know that the sophomore guard is one of the best free throw shooters in the nation. Certa currently ranks 16th in the country & 1st in the ACC from the stripe.

Certa started the year 27-27 from the free-throw line and is now an impressive 61-67 (91.0%).

If he can keep up this pace from the line, he would rank first all-time for a season at Notre Dame. The current placeholder is Steve Vasturia at 91.0%.

KOEHLER SHOWING HIS POTENTIAL

Freshman Brady Koehler produced a career high 17 points at Virginia Tech, pouring in 15 in the 2nd half. Overall, he was 5-7 from the field, plus 2-3 from three & 5-6 from the stripe. Since that performance, Koehler has started in 5 straight.

Fast forward to Virginia on Jan. 27 and the freshman impressed yet again. Koehler was all over the stat sheet, recording his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds (career high). He got it done from the free-throw line where he was a personal best 9-10. He also tied his career high of 4 blocks and set a new high for steals with 3.

Koehler is fresh off an 11-point showing at #24 Louisville, where he went 2-5 from three, recorded 4 blocks & set a new high in steals with 4.

Koehler is shooting 48.9% from two-point range, but he’ been at his best in the midrange where he’s 50.0%.

But don’t let the 6-10 frame fool you, for Koehler can knock it down from three. He may own fewer three point attempts than most of his Notre Dame teammates, but with that said, he boasts the 2nd best three point shooting percentage at 38.9%.

Lastly, Koehler is averaging 7.6 points in ACC play on 45.3% shooting, plus 9-22 (40.9%) from three.

Towt’s current rebounding rankings:

• 9.6 rpg ranks 24th nationally, 4th in the ACC
• 3.7 offensive rpg – 1st in ACC/15th in country
• 5.9 defensive rpg – 5th in ACC
• 1,298 career rebounds – leads all active players
• His 1,298 career rebounds have pushed him into the top-100 all-time list at #88.

NOTRE NOTABLES

• The Irish are 11 wins away from 2,000 all-time. They would become the eighth program to achieve this feat.
• Certa is averaging a team best 17.3 ppg against ranked opposition.
• 3 Irish average double figures in ACC play: Haralson (15.8), Certa (12.8) & Shrewsberry (10.8).
• NET is at 86 — 1-9 in Quad 1 // 2-2 in Quad 2// 2-0 in Quad 3 / 6-1 in Quad 4.
• KenPom is at 81 — ORtg ranked 96 at 113.8 — DRtg ranked 75 at 104.0.
• Haslam Metrics on Notre Dame’s defense: Notre Dame does a fantastic job to prevent opposing teams from capitalizing on chances from offensive rebounds. The squad allows AO to convert only 3.6% of all second-chance opportunities (ranked 11th in the NCAA), and with a rating of 10.77, they’re 16th in potential points allowed off of the offensive glass as well. Notre Dame has also done a very good job to prevent opponents from draining threes this year. They rank 42nd in the NCAA in defensive three-point percentage, allowing AO to make just 31.3% of their attempts from afar. And to expose that weakness, this team will force AO to shoot the three more than they usually would. Of AO’s total field goals, a large chunk of them (45.2%) will come from long-distance.

CERTA-FIED SHOOTER

Cole Certa has flashed NBA Jam on fire like moments at different points of this season. The sophomore sharpshooter flashed it in the season opener when he dropped 22 points on a 6-9 night from three-point range. He showed it vs. Mizzou when he converted three triples in the final 4:35 of the game, including the game-winning three with 17 seconds left. He showed out at TCU where he drained four triples in a row, ultimately converting five in the half and six in the game to finish with 20 points.

But nothing will top his 34-point game vs. #17 Virginia on Jan. 27 because he did a little bit of everything. Sure, he was great from distance, draining five triples; but he also drove to the basket and converted 5-6 from two. He also got it done from the free-throw line where he was 9-11.

YES SIR

Coach Shrewsberry is looking for Sir Mohammed to be a spark off the bench. From Jan. 13-21 spanning 3 games, Mohammed posted 3 straight games in double figures – a career best. He averaged 13.7 ppg on 54.8% (17-31) against Miami, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

Sir has thrived both in the paint (47.5%) and the midrange (43.8%) this season. In these two areas, he’s a combined 26-56.

FEELIN’ FROSTY

The temperatures in the South Bend area are frigid to say the least as a frosty air blankets the town. We are hoping for some more Frost inside Purcell Pavilion as well. The freshman has found some recent success, case in point, 10 points at North Carolina – his 3rd game in double figures. When he gets the green light to shoot as of late, he hasn’t missed, draining 7 of his last 14 from three (50.0%).

— ND —