No. 3 Virginia at No. 13 Notre Dame, 6 p.m. ESPN2
The Cavaliers were again challenged Wednesday at home but pulled out a 61-51 win over N.C. State. The defense was back in fine form after allowing big games against Davidson and Miami. The Wolfpack made nine 3s but managed to shoot just 37.7 percent overall. They didn't help themselves at all by making just two of nine free throws. Offensively, UVa shot just 41 percent itself. Justin Anderson had 16 points and made four of nine 3s, Malcolm Brogdon has 14 points, 12 in the first half, Anthony Gill had 12, and Mike Tobey chipped in 11 off the bench.
On Saturday, UVa travels to take on Notre Dame, which has been surprisingly great so far this season. The Fighting Irish have a superb offense but a defense that has struggled a bit.
Record: 15-1, 3-0 ACC
Scorers in double figures: Senior guard Jerian Grant (17.3), junior forward Zach Auguste (14.9), sophomore guard Demetrious Jackson (14.3), senior guard/forward Pat Connaughton (13.9)
Leading rebounders: Connaughton (8.3), Auguste (6.4)
Assist leaders: Grant (6.3), Jackson (3.3)
Notable: Steve Vasturia (9.0) and V.J. Beachem (7.6) are key role players for Notre Dame. Beachem has attempted only 38 3s, but has made 20 of them. Connaughton and Jackson are both making better than 43 percent of their 3s.
Best win: at North Carolina by one point on Tuesday
Other wins: Binghamton, Navy, Coppin State, UMass, Providence, Grambling State, Chicago State, Michigan State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's, Florida State, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Hartford, Georgia Tech
Best loss: The Fighting Irish's only loss was by one point on a neutral floor against Providence.
What Notre Dame does well: Score. Shoot the ball. The Irish lead the nation in field-goal
percentage at 54.8. They shoot 40.6 from beyond the arc and 72.6 from the charity stripe. They put up 85 points per game, third in the nation. They rank 35th in assists per game.
What Notre Dame doesn't do well: Rebounding and defense aren't the strongest aspects of Notre Dame, but aren't awful either.
Why Virginia shouldn't be worried: Notre Dame looks similar to last year when Virginia beat it at home and on the road, both times by double digits. The Fighting Irish have a good offense and a so-so defense, a style of play that UVa has shut down plenty of times. The Irish like to get out and run and UVa has been awesome at stopping transition points for the most part under Tony Bennett. After two sub-par rebounding games, Virginia will be strong on the glass. Notre Dame did not have the hardest out-of-conference schedule, racking up nine victories against sub-150 RPI teams. The Irish seem ripe for a loss after barely escaping in double overtime against Georgia Tech and just scraping by the Tar Heels.
Why Virginia should be worried: Notre Dame is a better version of Davidson and is playing at home in front of a crowd that will be hungry for a big-time win after a disappointing 2013-14 season. While the lineup does look a lot like last year, Notre Dame was missing Grant, a key player, who was on academic suspension. And as ripe as the Irish might be for a loss, Virginia is as well, having been behind in the second half or overtime of three consecutive games.
Gut feeling: Notre Dame wins by fewer than five.
I've said that a loss would not be the worst thing that could happen to Virginia and I am still saying that. It could refocus the Wahoos and let some pressure off. This won't be an easy game for Notre Dame, though, by any means. Bennett has owned Irish coach Mike Brey dating back to when Bennett was at Washington State and the Cougars shut down the Irish in a NCAA tournament game. UVa plays a brand of basketball that frustrates a team like Notre Dame. I think the 'Hoos have met their match in this one, though, as a high-powered Notre Dame offensive attack is surprising plenty of people this year. I don't know where the Irish will end up in the ACC standings, but they could certainly drop some road games and end up behind UVa but my gut tells me Notre Dame picks up a big win against a great team Saturday.
The Cavaliers were again challenged Wednesday at home but pulled out a 61-51 win over N.C. State. The defense was back in fine form after allowing big games against Davidson and Miami. The Wolfpack made nine 3s but managed to shoot just 37.7 percent overall. They didn't help themselves at all by making just two of nine free throws. Offensively, UVa shot just 41 percent itself. Justin Anderson had 16 points and made four of nine 3s, Malcolm Brogdon has 14 points, 12 in the first half, Anthony Gill had 12, and Mike Tobey chipped in 11 off the bench.
On Saturday, UVa travels to take on Notre Dame, which has been surprisingly great so far this season. The Fighting Irish have a superb offense but a defense that has struggled a bit.
Record: 15-1, 3-0 ACC
Scorers in double figures: Senior guard Jerian Grant (17.3), junior forward Zach Auguste (14.9), sophomore guard Demetrious Jackson (14.3), senior guard/forward Pat Connaughton (13.9)
Leading rebounders: Connaughton (8.3), Auguste (6.4)
Assist leaders: Grant (6.3), Jackson (3.3)
Notable: Steve Vasturia (9.0) and V.J. Beachem (7.6) are key role players for Notre Dame. Beachem has attempted only 38 3s, but has made 20 of them. Connaughton and Jackson are both making better than 43 percent of their 3s.
Best win: at North Carolina by one point on Tuesday
Other wins: Binghamton, Navy, Coppin State, UMass, Providence, Grambling State, Chicago State, Michigan State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's, Florida State, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Hartford, Georgia Tech
Best loss: The Fighting Irish's only loss was by one point on a neutral floor against Providence.
What Notre Dame does well: Score. Shoot the ball. The Irish lead the nation in field-goal
What Notre Dame doesn't do well: Rebounding and defense aren't the strongest aspects of Notre Dame, but aren't awful either.
Why Virginia shouldn't be worried: Notre Dame looks similar to last year when Virginia beat it at home and on the road, both times by double digits. The Fighting Irish have a good offense and a so-so defense, a style of play that UVa has shut down plenty of times. The Irish like to get out and run and UVa has been awesome at stopping transition points for the most part under Tony Bennett. After two sub-par rebounding games, Virginia will be strong on the glass. Notre Dame did not have the hardest out-of-conference schedule, racking up nine victories against sub-150 RPI teams. The Irish seem ripe for a loss after barely escaping in double overtime against Georgia Tech and just scraping by the Tar Heels.
Why Virginia should be worried: Notre Dame is a better version of Davidson and is playing at home in front of a crowd that will be hungry for a big-time win after a disappointing 2013-14 season. While the lineup does look a lot like last year, Notre Dame was missing Grant, a key player, who was on academic suspension. And as ripe as the Irish might be for a loss, Virginia is as well, having been behind in the second half or overtime of three consecutive games.
Gut feeling: Notre Dame wins by fewer than five.
I've said that a loss would not be the worst thing that could happen to Virginia and I am still saying that. It could refocus the Wahoos and let some pressure off. This won't be an easy game for Notre Dame, though, by any means. Bennett has owned Irish coach Mike Brey dating back to when Bennett was at Washington State and the Cougars shut down the Irish in a NCAA tournament game. UVa plays a brand of basketball that frustrates a team like Notre Dame. I think the 'Hoos have met their match in this one, though, as a high-powered Notre Dame offensive attack is surprising plenty of people this year. I don't know where the Irish will end up in the ACC standings, but they could certainly drop some road games and end up behind UVa but my gut tells me Notre Dame picks up a big win against a great team Saturday.
Comments
Post a Comment