Irish And Red Raiders Meet For A Spot In Sweet 16

ND_MBB_Game Notes vs. Texas Tech

Texas Tech MBB Game Notes vs._Notre_Dame

The No. 11 seed University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team will battle No. 3 seed Texas Tech for a trip to the Sweet 16 on Sunday, March 20, at 7:10 p.m. ET on TBS. The Irish and Red Raiders will be meeting for just the second time in men’s basketball and the first since 1975. 

Notre Dame is looking to advance to its fourth Sweet 16 berth under Mike Brey and the third since the 2014-15 season. 

NOTRE DAME – NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

Overall Appearances: 37, 10th all-time in the NCAA

Overall Record: 41-40

Appearances in Mike Brey era: 13

Record in Mike Brey era: 15-12

NOTRE DAME – TEXAS TECH SERIES HISTORY 

Overall: ND leads 1-0

Mike Brey Era (2000-01-current): First meeting

Streak: Notre Dame 1-0, an 88-63 win December 6, 1975 at home

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

• The only true freshmen in the country with 450 points, 100 rebounds, 75 assists, 50 3FGM and 40 steals.

• 2022 All-ACC Second Team & All-Rookie Team selection

• Has posted double-digit scoring streaks of 17 (Notre Dame best for a freshman) and nine games this season. 

• National Freshman of the Week on January 10 (CBSSports/BWAA) and three-time ACC Freshman of the Week. 

• In his first career start in Purcell Pavilion, hit the game-winning jump shot with :12 left to defeat No. 10/12 Kentucky.

• First South Bend, IN, public school MBB prospect to attend Notre Dame since 1985. 

• Led all scorers with 26 points on 13-of-15 shooting in the First Four win over Rutgers, including the game-winning put back with 1.4 remaining in double overtime. 

• 2022 All-ACC Honorable Mention

• The only player on the Irish roster with NCAA Tournament experience (2019 at Yale, vs. LSU, L, 74-79, 19 min, 9 pts, 1 reb, 2 blk) 

• Second among all active NCAA players in career field goal percentage, shooting .637 in his career. See page 7 for more details. 

• 2019-20 Ivy League Player of the Year at Yale, did not participate in 2020-21 as the Ivy League canceled all intercollegiate athletics.

• Handed out seven assists and played 44 minutes without a turnover in the First Four victory over Rutgers. 

• Led all active ACC players with 386 assists in conference play. See page 6 for more details.   

• Has continued his penchant for game-winning plays this season, with game winning or game sealing plays at Howard, at Pittsburgh, vs. Virginia and vs. Boston College. See page 6 for more details.

• Has 65 points in last three games (20 vs. VT in ACC tourney, 16 vs. Rutgers in First Four, 29 vs. Alabama in First Round).

• Had the best game of his career Friday against Alabama, scoring a Brey-era NCAA single game record 29 points and setting the Notre Dame NCAA record with a career-best seven three pointers. 

• The team’s best on-ball defender who routinely assumes the assignment of the opponents best perimeter scoring threat.

• 2022 All-ACC Third Team

• ACC Co-Player of the Week (12/27/21) who has become an All-ACC level guard this season.

OFF THE BENCH 

• Scored 18 points off the bench in the First Four victory over Rutgers. 

• Earned fifth double-double of the season against Virginia Tech in ACC Quarterfinals.

• 14th in the country in three-point field goal percentage (.460), one of 31 players in the country this year with 50 3FGM and 200 reb.   

• Became the 67th player in Notre Dame men’s basketball history to surpass 1,000 career points against Duke. 

• Keyed ND’s second half surge at NC State with ball handling against pressure and 12 points off the bench. 

• Went three-for-three from three point range at Louisville, surpassing 1,000 career points (747 scored at Santa Clara). 

• Planned to sit out 2020-21 after transferring from Santa Clara until all underclassmen transfers were given immediate eligibility in 12/20

• Hit the game-winning three pointer at the buzzer in the first round ACC tournament victory over Wake Forest last season. 

IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS