HOOPS: Colorado vs Notre Dame Preview

Colorado (3-0) vs Notre Dame (3-0)

Date: November 21
Where: Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barclays Center
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN 2

Quick Facts

- Colorado enters the game averaging 82.0 points per game and shoot 43 percent from the floor.
- The Buffalos are holding teams to just 59.3 points per game and 34 percent from the field.
- Best start for Colorado since 2012-13 when they started 6-0.
- Notre Dame is averaging 88.0 points per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor.
- The Irish are also committing less than seven turnovers a game, while averaging 11 steals per night.

The Starters (Per Game Averages)

Notre Dame
Matt Farrell: 8.3 ppg, 1.7 rebs and 4.3 assists
Steve Vasturia: 12.7 ppg, 2.0 rebs and 3.3 assists
VJ Beachem: 19.7 ppgs, 4.3 rebs and 1.3 assists
Bonzie Colson: 19.3 ppg, 8.0 rebs and 1.3 assists
Martina Geben: 3.3 ppg, 7.0 rebs and 0.7 assists

Colorado
Gordon Wesley: 6.7 ppg, 11.7 rebs and 1.3 assists
Xavier Johnson: 11.0 ppg, 5.3 rebs and 1 assist
Derrick White: 12.0 ppg, 3.7 rebs and 3.3 assists
George King: 9.7ppg, 5.3 rebs and 0 assists
Josh Fortune: 12.3 ppg, 5.7 rebs and 2.0 assists

It’s hard to say what Notre Dame needs to do to slow down Colorado, as this will be the first test of the season. Slowing down White will be a priority number one and I think we will get to see how good the Irish defense really is against a high-scoring Colorado team.

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey loves throwing in zone defense as change up and it will be interesting to see if he uses that tonight. The Buffalos are shooting 38 percent from behind the arc, which is pretty good, as the Irish are hitting at a 37 percent clip on three-pointers.

Colorado will also be the bigger team across the board, so it will be interesting to see how Notre Dame matches up with an athletic team with length on the perimeter.

While I don’t think Colorado is the best team Notre Dame will face in the non-conference schedule, I do think it will give Brey a good measuring stick as to where his squad is at this point in the year. Notre Dame hasn’t been tested in a close game, so if it’s close, can Beachem rise to the occasion and carry the load or will it be someone else.