27. Notre Dame Looks to Build Momentum at Pitt

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish (12-14, 3-10) are coming off a must-win game against Georgia Tech, a game in which they got 89-74. Up next, perhaps an even more pivotal matchup with ACC Tournament implications – at Pittsburgh (9-17, 2-11) this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ACC Network. A win would position the Irish well with tiebreakers against Georgia Tech & Pitt, with also Boston College and Stanford looming ahead.

Notre Dame leads the overall series against Pitt, 41-32, with a 9-5 mark in ACC play. ND and Pitt played twice late last season, with the Irish winning both by a combined margin of five points. The Blue & Gold won 76-72 at home on Feb. 22, then earned a 55-54 victory in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.

Both Notre Dame and Pitt received mid-week byes and arrive at Saturday’s matchup well rested. The Panthers have lost five straight in a top half of the league gauntlet: Clemson, Virginia, SMU, Duke and North Carolina. Four Pitt players average double figures in ACC play in the 11-12.2 ppg range: Brandin Cummings (12.2), Roman Siulepa (12.1), Cameron Corhen (11.5) and Barry Dunning Jr. (11.0). As a team, they are averaging 65.8 ppg on 41.2% shooting.

THE COLE CERTA GAME

Listed as probable before the game due to the flu, it certainly didn’t show for Cole Certa. The sophomore went off for a career-high 37 points in the 89-74 win over Georgia Tech.

The 37 points tied Matt Farrell for the second most in an ACC game (most in regulation), trailing only Markus Burton’s 43 points in 2OT game against Cal a season ago.

Certa drained a career-best seven threes, finishing 7-11. He was 12-20 from the field overall. Certa dropped 21 points in the first half, marking the first time an Irish player has done so since Markus Burton’s 22 at Syracuse on Jan. 18, 2025.

Furthermore, Braeden Shrewsberry and Logan Imes each stepped up to complement Cole. Braeden netted his fourth 20-point game of the season with 20 exactly, converting 4-8 from three to go with his team-high 4 assists. Meanwhile, Logan produced the best game of his career, starting in place of the injured Jalen Haralson. Logan earned a career high in points (14) and rebounds (9).

THE CATHOLIC CANNONS

There’s been no better three-point shooting duo at a power conference school in the month of February than Cole Certa and Braeden Shrewsberry. It’s just factual. Over four games in February, Certa is averaging 5.0 made threes per game, while Shrewsberry is averaging 3.8. Their combined 8.8 made threes per game is the highest mark between teammates this month amongst any duo at a power conference school.

To put into perspective how good this stat is — 8.8 made threes per game is more than what Pitt is averaging for the season heading into Saturday’s matchup (8.2). In addition, Cole’s 5.0 made threes per game in February leads all power conference players.

And despite playing in fewer games, Cole and Braeden are right there for combined total threes as well in the month of February at 35.

1. Atwell/Anderson, Texas Tech – 37 in 5 games

2. Philon Jr/Wrightsell Jr, Alabama – 37 in 6 games

3. Certa/Shrewsberry, ND – 35 in 4 games

OFFENSE REVVING UP DOWN THE STRETCH

The Irish have scored at least 79 points in 3 straight games and over 80 in the last two. The last time Notre Dame scored over 80 points in back-to-back games was the first three of the 2024-25 season.

The Blue & Gold have also shot over 50 percent in four of the last six halves.

Further perspective … over the first six ACC games, Notre Dame averaged 69.0 ppg on 41.4% shooting. Over the last five games, a different story – 77.2 ppg on 46.3% shooting. Certa, Haralson & Shrewsberry are all averaging above 15 ppg in the last five.

Individually speaking, let’s start with the sophomore sharpshooter Cole Certa, who is on a career best four game double-digit scoring streak. He’s totaled 85 points (21.3 ppg) behind 29-66 shooting (43.9%), 20-45 from three (45.5%).

He is fresh off his career-high 37-point performance, which marked his second 30-point game in the last six games. The other was a 34-point performance vs. #17 Virginia on Jan. 27. His two 30-burgers are the second most in ACC play only behind Ebuka Okorie’s 3.

Braeden Shrewsberry has produced 3 straight games in double figures, totaling 54 points, aka 18.0 ppg. Braeden is 13-29 from three (44.8%) & 15-36 overall (41.7%). He dropped 20 points in the Georgia Tech win, 16 points at SMU and 18 points vs. Florida St.

Completing the three-headed monster is Jalen Haralson. The freshman is playing his best basketball of the season. He’s produced three games of 20 or more points over the last five he’s played (missed last game due to injury). He’s averaging 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds & 3.5 assists in that timeframe, shooting a hot 59.3% from the field. There are only 3 players averaging 18 points, 4 rebounds & 3.5 assists since Jan. 27 (last 5 games):

– Jalen Haralson

– Cameron Boozer

– Mikel Brown Jr.

Jalen’s top game – 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.

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 should be considered for ACC All-Rookie Team and All-ACC consideration. Haralson is averaging a team best 16.3 ppg in ACC play. That number ranks 4th amongst ACC freshman, just ahead of De Ridder. He shoots an efficient 52.9% from the floor in league play which ranks 7th overall.

He’s registered double digit points in all but 3 games and has earned six games of 20+ — three in ACC play over the last five games he’s played: 20 vs Virginia, career high 26 at Syracuse and 23 at SMU.

Jalen is strong and shifty when attacking the rim, converting 69.3% from within 4.5 feet. The Fishers, Indiana, native shoots 53.9% 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 42.5%. That number also ranks 25th in the country. He’s converting 2.9 made threes per game, which ranks 3rd in the league.

Shrewsberry’s sweet spot? The corner three – where he’s draining 52.4%, which is 16.6% above the Division I average.

His best performance from beyond the arc came against Evansville when Shrewsberry scored a career-high 26 points behind a career-high 8 three pointers, shooting 80% from three (8-10). His 8 made triples tied for the 7th most in a game all-time in program history.

Braeden has drained 76 threes on the year. For comparison, he recorded 78 as a freshman and 72 in a shortened sophomore campaign.

BRAEDEN CAREER ACCOLADES

Speaking of Shrewsberry making it rain, the junior reached the 1,000-point career milestone at SMU on Feb. 10, doing so in 84 games. He became the 69th Notre Dame player all-time to reach the milestone. That number ties Louisville for 3rd most all-time behind Duke (70) & UNC (81).

Braeden also enters Saturday’s matchup with 226 career made threes. He is now 11 away (237) from moving into the program’s top-10.

TEXAS SHOOTOUT

Notre Dame looked offensively sound but dropped an 81-89 shootout to SMU in Dallas. The Fighting Irish erased a 10-point first-half deficit and claimed a three-point lead in the second half. That’s when the Mustangs fired off a 19-2 run, but even then, the Irish battled back within six multiple times, but just couldn’t get over the hump by the final buzzer.

Notre Dame shot over 50 percent in each half, finishing the game 31-58 from the field. SMU countered with a strong shooting performance as well, finishing 32-61. The Mustangs used their size as a major strength, outrebounding ND, 38-26, to boast a 17-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Four Irish finished in double figures, led by Jalen Haralson’s 23 points on 9-13 shooting. Braeden Shrewsberry and Cole Certa each supplied 16 points, combining for a 9-18 night from three-point range. Lastly, Brady Koehler posted 11 points on 4-5 shooting, plus six rebounds.

REBOUNDING TRANSLATES

Towt’s current rebounding rankings:

• 9.3 rpg ranks 30th nationally, 4th in the ACC
• 3.5 offensive rpg – 1st in ACC/17th in country
• 5.7 defensive rpg – 5th in ACC
• 1,319 career rebounds – leads all active players
• His 1,319 career rebounds have pushed him into the top-100 all-time list at #71. He just passed Patrick Ewing.

NOTRE NOTABLES

• The Irish are 10 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.
• Towt is 15-19 from the field over the last 5 games, totaling 30 points in that span.
• Braeden and Brady Koehler are finding success in the midrange, where they are shooting 44.4% & 58.8%, respectively.
• Certa is 67-74 from the free-throw line. His 90.5% would rank 2nd for a season at ND. Steve Vasturia holds the top spot at 91.0%.
• Logan Imes is coming off a career best performance of 14 points & 9 rebounds.
• NET is at 86 — 2-10 in Quad 1 // 1-2 in Quad 2// 2-1 in Quad 3 / 7-1 in Quad 4.
• KenPom is at 82 — ORtg ranked 86 at 114.7 — DRtg ranked 96 at 104.7.

KOEHLER EARNS STARTING ROLE

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 8 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 recently had 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.

Overall, Koehler has recorded 3 double-digit scoring performances over the last 6 games — 16 points vs. Virginia; 11 points at #24 Louisville; 11 points at SMU.

Koehler is shooting 50.9% from two-point range and 39.0% from three.

Lastly, Koehler is averaging 7.2 points & 4.0 rebounds in ACC play on 46.9% shooting, plus 11-27 (40.7%) from three.

— ND —