Irish Head West to Kick Off ACC Play
The Notre Dame men’s basketball team gears up to begin its Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play with an exciting California road trip. This marks the first visit to California since both Cal and Stanford joined the ACC last season. The Irish will seek to gain momentum during the holiday break, starting with a match against Stanford on December 30 at Maples Pavilion, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET and broadcast on ESPN2.
Upcoming Games
Following their game against Stanford, Notre Dame will face Cal in Berkeley on January 2. Last season, the Irish concluded their regular season with thrilling victories over both teams. They secured a narrow 56-54 win against Stanford, highlighted by a game-winning shot from Cole Certa. In a dramatic showdown against Cal, the Irish triumphed 112-110 in quadruple overtime, with Markus Burton scoring an impressive 41 points.
Team and Individual Highlights
- Notre Dame holds a 9-4 record entering ACC play.
- Head Coach Shrewsberry has a mixed record of 1-1 in ACC openers and an all-time mark of 5-7 in the conference.
- The Irish have faced challenges this season, with three of their losses to ranked teams: Kansas and Houston, plus a close one-point defeat to Ohio State.
- The Irish have recently won four consecutive games, including a key victory in the SEC Challenge against Missouri and a Quad 1 win over TCU.
Key Player Performance
Freshman Jalen Haralson has emerged as a key player, particularly as Markus Burton recovers from injury. Haralson has registered 20 or more points in three of his last four games, averaging 17.8 points per game during this stretch. His pivotal performance against TCU included a clutch buzzer-beater that tied the game, while he also dished out a career-high nine assists.
Season Stats Overview
| Player | Points Per Game | Assists | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Haralson | 17.8 | 9 | 5 |
| Braeden Shrewsberry | 15.8 | – | – |
| Carson Towt | 10.0 | 11 | 10.0 |
Historic Context
This trip will also mark Notre Dame’s second visit to Stanford, with their last appearance on January 12, 1993. Monty Williams starred in that game, scoring 23 points to help secure a 67-61 victory. Currently, the Irish are closing in on a significant milestone, with just 13 wins needed to reach 2,000 all-time victories, making them the eighth program in NCAA history to achieve this status.
Recent Challenges and Achievements
Despite a recent loss to Purdue Fort Wayne, which resulted in a drop in the NET rankings, Notre Dame has showcased strong team play. Their success is reflected in their assist numbers, with 27 assists on 33 field goals against TCU. This level of teamwork has proven essential, especially in their recent comeback victories from double-digit deficits against both Missouri and TCU.
As the Irish embark on their ACC journey, fans are eager to see if they can maintain their winning momentum and build on their recent achievements.
