27. Seeing Orange

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Notre Dame men’s basketball wants to carry its wave of momentum into a hostile JMA Wireless Dome environment where they haven’t won since 2020. The Fighting Irish (10-16, 5-10) are hitting their stride after winning three straight for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Syracuse enters with an 8-8 league record (17-10 overall) which has had its ups and downs. Most recently, the Orange knocked off North Carolina at home, lost to Georgia Tech on the road, then defeated NC State in Raleigh. The Irish will tip off against the Orange at Noon ET on Saturday, Feb. 24, airing live on ESPN.

Notre Dame fans will certainly recognize one of Syracuse’s top stars in JJ Starling. The sophomore transfer is averaging 15.1 ppg in league play, which ranks 2nd on the team.

Saturday’s game will also feature two of the top young guards in the ACC. Markus Burton is 1-of-2 ACC players averaging over 16 points and 4.0 assists – the other is Syracuse’s Judah Mintz. In ACC play, Mintz is averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 assists.

WIN STREAK

A streak isn’t a streak until three and this past Wednesday night Notre Dame officially made it so with a road win at Louisville. It marked the first time the Irish earned three in a row in ACC play since the 2021-22 season.

The commonality in all three victories – single-digit turnovers + double-digit assists. It marks the best stretch of their entire season, coughing it up just 21 times over the last three games. If they record double-digit assists on Saturday, the four straight games would mark the best stretch of the season in that category. Lastly, they’ve collected 40+ rebounds in two straight games with double-digit offensive boards. Now let’s look at each game.

The Irish held the Cardinals to a season-low 50 points – it marked the third ACC opponent this season in which they’ve held to a season low. The Irish showed growth in the second half when Louisville cut the lead to eight points but they responded with a game-ending 16-2 run.

Then there was the ‘gritty not pretty’ 58-55 victory over Georgia Tech. The Irish shot just 31.6 percent from the field but got it done where it counted: tied season high in offensive rebounds (16), season high in second chance points (20), season high in free-throw attempts (22) and a season low in turnovers (6).

Against the Hokies, the Irish rallied down four at the half to outscore VT 39-27 in the second half. Notre Dame shot 54.2 percent in the second half and finished with their second highest assist total on the year with 14.

1ST YEAR STAMP ON THE PROGRAM – DEFENSE

The year one Coach Shrewsberry stamp on the program has been the defensive intensity. 15 games and 11 different ACC opponents – all held under their season averages in every single contest, with Miami, Duke and Louisville each held to season low point totals.

Of the 15 ACC matchups that have already happened, only three opponents have reached the 70-point park against the Irish defense.

Notre Dame’s scoring defense of 64.7 has risen to 22nd in the country, plus 2nd in the ACC.. According to KenPom, Notre Dame’s defensive efficiency ranks 29th nationally.

In ACC play only, Notre Dame ranks 2nd in scoring defense (63.1) and 1st in field goal percentage defense (.405).

BURTON LEAVING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR LEGACY

• Virginia Tech – 16 points, 8 assists, 6 steals
• Georgia Tech – 18 points, 5 assists, 5 steals

Since 1996, only one other Irish player had produced two games in the same regular season with at least 15 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. His name was Chris Thomas back in the 2001-02 season. Burton has not only achieved this feat but did so in back-to-back games! Thomas ultimately produced three of such games over his entire Irish career.

ACC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR?

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 Duke’s Jared McCain at 13.5.
• Ranks 4th nationally amongst DI freshmen.
• 1-of-2 ACC players averaging over 16 points and 4.0 assists – other is Syracuse’s Judah Mintz.
• ACC freshman rankings: 1st in scoring, 3rd in assists/game, 1st in steals/game.
• Double-digit points in all but 2 games. He’s currently riding a 19-game streak.
• He’s scored at least 16 points in 6 straight games.
• Ranks 10th in the ACC in scoring, 7th in Assists (4.2) and 4th in steals (2.0).
• In ACC play only: 15.7 points (ranks 11th), 4.8 assists (4th) and leads the league in steals (2.3).
• Produced two games with 15+ point, 5+ assists, 5+ steals
• Averaging 8.5 points in the 2nd half.
• Averaging 17.1 points at home.
• Two-time ACC Rookie of the Week

BURTON WINS 2ND ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Markus Burton won his second ACC Rookie of the Week award on Feb. 12. Burton joined Blake Wesley as the only other multi-time ACC Rookie of the Week winner. Burton earned the honor after pouring in a team best 19 points then posting an incredible stat line in the win over Virginia Tech.

Burton balled out with 16 points, a season high tying eight assists and a season best six steals – as the latter tied for the third most steals in a single game in program history.

Burton joined very rare company with that performance. Since 1996, only two other Irish have finished with at least 16 points, eight assists and six steals in a game – Chris Thomas in 2001 and Jerian Grant in 2013.

FRESHMAN RECORD WATCH

We are officially on Burton freshman scoring record watch as we head into the final stretch of the season. The freshman guard enters Saturday’s matchup with 422 points on the season – which already puts him in the No. 6 spot. Next up is No. 5 David Rivers and his 474 points. To get to No. 1 Troy Murphy’s 519, Burton would have to average 16.2 points over the next six games.

From a scoring average perspective, Burton’s 16.2 ppg ranks 3rd all-time behind Troy Murphy (19.2) and Adrian Dantley (18.3).

ANOTHER FRESHMAN IN THE RECORD BOOKS

Markus Burton won’t be the only freshman leaving his name in the ND record book this season after Braeden Shrewsberry’s prolific performance at Louisville on Feb. 21. Shrewsberry tied the program single-game record for made three-pointers by a freshman after draining seven on the Cardinals. He tied the likes of Pat Connaughton, Chris Thomas and Ryan Hoover. Shrews’ 23 points marked his second highest points total on the season.

SHREWSBERRY’S HOT HAND

Braeden Shrewsberry has secured 9 double-digit scoring performances over the last 12 games. He’s produced at least four made three-pointers in 4 of the last 7 games.

His 2.4 made threes per game is tied for 2nd nationally amongst DI freshmen. Furthermore, his 3.2 made threes/game since Jan. 1 tops all freshmen nationally.

He’s now averaging 11.3 points in ACC play (2nd most on team), while shooting 42.2 percent from the field & 43.1 percent from beyond the arc – ranks 4th in ACC. Lastly, he averages 2.9 made threes/game in league play, which ranks 5th.

YOUNG BUT NOT AFRAID

Two young freshman guards in Burton and Shrewsberry who aren’t afraid of a hostile environment. In true road games, Burton and Shrewsberry are averaging 14.9 points and 12.9 points, respectively.

Most recently for Burton – 16 points at Louisville, 17 points at Pitt and his first visit to Cameron Indoor vs. Duke: 19 points.

For Shrewsberry, we’ve already mentioned his 23-point showing at Louisville, which was only outdone by his season high 25-point effort in the OT win at Georgia Tech. He’s averaging 3.1 made threes/game in road games.

#TRENDING

Here are some other under-the-radar stats to keep an eye out for this week.

Braeden Shrewsberry has made 4 straight starts – averaging 12.8 points – 3.8 made threes per game.

Tae Davis has made 19 of his last 20 from the free-throw line, raising his percentage from .618 to its current .707.

Coming off the bench on Feb. 10, Logan Imes scored all 8 of his season high points in the 2nd half in the win vs. Virginia Tech. He went 3-for-4 from the line (final 1:14 of the game) and hit a pivotal three-pointer with 7:23 left.

Carey Booth has made 10 of his last 14 from two-point range.

IN YOUR BAG

Speaking of trending, Markus Burton has ratcheted up his defensive intensity down the final stretch. The starting point guard has collected 24 steals over the last 6 games. He now averages a team best 2.0 steals per game, which ranks 4th in the ACC.

Furthermore, his 2.3 steals/game in league play leads all ACC players.

BOARDS BATTLE

One of Notre Dame’s greatest strengths this season has been its rebounding. In ACC play, the Irish rank 2nd in rebounding (37.5) and 4th in rebound margin (+3.5). In addition, they rank 4th in both offensive (10.4) rebounds per game and 3rd in defensive (27.1). The Irish are 9-6 this season when outrebounding their opponent.

Kebba Njie leads the team in rebounding (5.8) and in offensive boards (2.2) as the latter ranks 13th in the ACC. Njie has produced 4 straight games with at least 6 rebounds, totaling 25 boards in that span.

Logan Imes has also upped his rebounding efforts. After amassing 23 rebounds over a 12-game span from Dec. 2 to Jan. 27 – Imes has accumulated 26 rebounds over the last 6 games.

— ND —