| ACC Tournament: | #12 NOTRE DAME (12-19, 7-13) |
|---|---|
| ACC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: | CLICK HERE |
| WHERE: | WASHINGTON D.C. | CAPITAL ONE ARENA |
| TICKETS: | PURCHASE ONLINE |
| LISTEN: | NOTRE DAME RADIO NETWORK | CLICK HERE |
| SOCIAL: | @NDMBB | #GOIRISH |
| 1ST ROUND: | #13 GEORGIA TECH | TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2 PM ET | ACCN |
| 2ND ROUND: | #5 WAKE FOREST | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2:30 PM ET | ESPN |
| QUARTERFINALS: | #4 PITT | THURSDAY, MARCH 14 , 2:30 PM ET | ESPN/2 |
| SEMIFINALS: | #1 NORTH CAROLINA/TBD | FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 7 PM ET | ESPN/2 |
| FINALS: | TBD | SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 8:30 PM ET | ESPN |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (7-4, 0-1) is looking to capture a couple of firsts on Wednesday, Dec. 21, right before the holiday break. If victorious over Florida State (3-10, 1-1), the Irish would become level in ACC play and get its first conference win at 1-1. If victorious on Wednesday, the Irish would also earn its first ever win in Tallahassee. More on the series history below.
Tip is slated for 8:30 pm ET on ACC Network. Fans can also listen to the game on the Notre Dame radio network.
LOOKING FOR FIRST WIN IN TALLAHASSEE
The Notre Dame men’s basketball program may be over 100 years old but the series between the Irish and Seminoles didn’t start until 2011 and then revved up when ND joined the ACC in 2013. FSU currently enjoys the series lead at 8-5.
Interestingly to note, the Irish could achieve their first win in Tallahassee – entering the game 0-6. The two sides met just once last season, with Florida State taking it 74-70 in the Donald L Tucker Center.
NOTRE NOTABLES
The Irish currently rank in the top-6 in three different statistical categories. Their highest ranking – 2nd in fouls per game – only committing 12.2. That has been a Coach Brey staple. In the last 12 years, Notre Dame has only failed to finish among the top 10 in least amount of personal fouls committed just once. They have also led the country in least amount of personal fouls five times.
Next, they rank 5th in the country in turnovers per game, only surrendering 9.5.
Furthermore, if the Irish can get to the free-throw line in late-game situations, look out. They rank 6th in free-throw percentage, converting 80.5 percent from the stripe – leads the ACC as well. Goodwin, Ryan and Laszewski are all shooting above .870 from the stripe.
LET CORMAC COOK
Over the last five games (Michigan St game on), Cormac Ryan is 18-of-28 (.643) from three. His 18 three’s are the 2nd most by a Power-Five conference player since Nov. 30 (top spot is FSU’s Darin Green Jr’s 20).
In addition, his 64.3 percent clip from three ranks 13th in the country overall since Nov. 30.
In fact, since Nov. 30, Ryan is averaging a team best 16.0 ppg, which includes two 20+ point performances.
NATE’S GREAT START
Nate Laszewski is averaging a career best 15.4 ppg and a career high 7.9 rpg.
With four years under his belt, he entered the year with nine career double-doubles to his name and six 20-point performances. Already this season he has three double-doubles and four 20+ point efforts.
In fact, on Wednesday, he’s looking to become the first Irish player since Bonzie Colson in Feb. of 2017 to record three straight 20-point games.
Laszewski is doing it all for the Irish, simply look at his ACC individual rankings – 11th in scoring (15.4), 6th in rebounds (7.9), 7th in FG% (.539), 10th in 3PT FG% (.422), 3rd in FT% (.870) and 3rd in defensive rebounds (7.0). In addition, his 7.0 defensive boards per game rank 19th in the country.
To further illustrate how unique of a player Laszewski is, take this — he’s the only player in the country averaging at least 15 points and 7.5 rebounds, while shooting above .500 overall, .400 from three and .850 from the free-throw line.
THREAT FROM THREE
Notre Dame has recorded double-digit three-pointers in 4 of the last 5 games, and the one game they didn’t – Boston U – they connected on nine. Over that 5-game stretch, they’ve knocked down 52 three-pointers aka 10.4 per game. That 10.4 average ranks 2nd amongst Power-Five schools since Nov. 30 – only behind Penn State’s 11.0.
Overall on the season, they are averaging 8.9 three’s per game, which would crack the program’s all-time top-10. The program record is 9.7 set by the 19-20 squad.
Now, the big reason for that – the squad’s big three who are all shooting above 40 percent. Specifically noting Goodwin and Ryan who respectively rank 3rd and 6th in three-point field goal percentage in the ACC.
Goodwin – .474 – ranks 3rd in the ACC
Ryan – .451 – ranks 6th in the ACC
Laszewski – .422
*Hammond – .429
STAR(LING) FRESHMAN
JJ Starling is off to a solid start – averaging 12.6 ppg. In fact, if the season ended today, JJ’s 12.6 ppg would rank 8th all-time at ND for a freshmen.
Furthermore, he ranks 3rd in scoring amongst ACC freshmen. The top two spots belong to Duke’s Kyle Filipowski and Syracuse’s Judah Mintz. All-in-all, they’re the only 3 ACC freshmen in double figures.
Starling is starting to heat up a little from three – 5-of-11 over the last 3 games. Speaking of the last 3 games, he’s recorded double-digit points in all of them, averaging 13.7 ppg in that span.
2 NAMES, 1 DYNAMIC OPTION
Ven-Allen Lubin is another freshman you need to know. He’s averaging a modest 6.5 points and 5.0 rebounds off the bench, as the latter ranks 2nd on the team.
Before the Georgia game, Lubin was shooting a highly efficient 73.2 percent from two. He’ll enter the FSU game still leading the team from two at 68.9 percent. In addition, he’s knocking down 60.4 percent from the floor overall, which leads the team. That number would rank 2nd all-time for a ND freshman if the season ended today, behind Harold Swanagan’s .645 in 98-99.
He’s also a big presence defensively, leading the team in blocks with 1.0 per game. A shining example of such – Lubin was subbed in for his defense with under a minute left in the Boston U game and it paid off, earning a pivotal block and rebound, then converting a free throw on the other end. He finished with nine points, 5 rebounds and a career best 3 blocks.
— ND —