Getting to Know The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame
No. 3 seed Texas Tech Red Raider Basketball started hot Friday afternoon in San Diego and never let up in a 97-62 stomping of the No. 14 seed Montana State Bobcats in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The victory was the largest margin of victory in school history for the NCAA Tournament (35), most points scored in the tournament (97), and first time two players scored 20 points each in the same game.
The Red Raiders will take on the No. 11 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Atlantic Coast Conference after their 78-64 win over the Jekyll and Hyde Alabama Crimson Tide. More impressive with the win was Notre Dame had to fly across country late Wednesday night after defeating Rutgers 89-87 in double overtime in the Dayton Play-In Game.
Notre Dame Overview By The Numbers
Overall Record: 24-10
ACC Record: 15-5 (2nd Place)
Ken Pom Rankings
Overall: 39th
Offensive Rating: 112.6 (27th)
Defensive Rating: 97.9 (77th)
Strength of Schedule: 61st
What the Fighting Irish Do Well
Notre Dame coming into the matchup with Alabama ranked 32nd in turnovers on offense. They take care of the ball pretty well and that will be the biggest test for the Red Raider Defense and the coaching staff. However, the Fighting Irish had 18 turnovers in their win against Alabama.
The Irish are a lot like Montana State in that they can hurt their opponents from the three point line averaging 9 made 3s per game. They’re 38% on their three-point attempts on the season, but like Tech they were over 60% in their First Round game going 10-16. Look for the Irish to have a game plan similar to what TCU and Oklahoma did this season against the Red Raiders.
Nobody in the ACC placed in the Ken Pom Top 40 for adjusted defensive rating (Duke is 41) and overall the Irish are 1-4 against Top 40 defenses. I would expect this game to be decided on how the Irish can keep turnovers low and hit their threes.
What the Fighting Irish Don’t Do Well
Notre Dame doesn’t play defense to the level of what Texas Tech faced in the Big 12 Conference season. Frankly, they haven’t faced the quality of teams night in and night out like Texas Tech faced over the course of the Big 12 schedule. The Irish are pedestrian on defense at 77th overall and 11th in their own conference. Look for Texas Tech to scheme around to limit Irish guards around the arc to limit clean and open looks.
Prediction:
The Fighting Irish will be spry for their third game in five days early on, but Texas Tech should wear down the Notre Dame attack and overwhelm them in the second half.
Texas Tech 70 Notre Dame 60
Allen Corbin
