Game Thread | Wake Forest at Notre Dame

Wake Forest (9-10, 2-7) at Notre Dame (11-8, 2-6)

Date: January 29th

Time: 7:00p.m. ET

Where: Purcell Pavilion | Notre Dame, Ind.

TV:  ACC Network | Chris Cotter and Chris Spatola 

ACC Standings

Quick Facts 

- Notre Dame and Wake Forest will meet for just the 10^th time on Wednesday

- The Irish lead the all-time series 5-4 and the ACC series 5-2.

- John Mooney leads the nation in rebounds per game at 13.4.

- Mooney pulled down 200 rebounds (currently he has 241) in hist first 15 games played this season, matching Blake Griffin (2008-09) as the fastest major conference player to reach that mark since Tim Duncan did it in 14 games during the 1996-97 season.

- Sophomore Prentiss Hubb has posted six games this season with 20 or more points, the most for a single Notre Dame player since Bonzie Colson had eight such games during the 2017-18 season.

- Five of Hubb’s six 20-point games have come on the road this season, the most for an Irish player on an opponent’s home floor since Luke Harangody posted eight such games in the 2008-09 season.

- Sophomore Dane Goodwin, who has scored in double figures in each of Notre Dame’s last four games, is the only player in the ACC averaging double figures this season with less than three games started.

THE STARTERS

Notre Dame

Wake Forest 

Preview

Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 75.9
Wake Forest: 72.0

Opponent Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 68.1
Wake Forest: 72.6

FG%
Notre Dame: 42.7%
Wake Forest: 42.3%

Rebounds Per Game
Notre Dame: 39.1
Wake Forest: 38.4

Assists Per Game
Notre Dame: 17.6
Wake Forest: 12.2

Blocks Per Game
Notre Dame: 4.3
Wake Forest: 2.8

Steals Per Game
Notre Dame: 6.1
Wake Forest: 4.9

Wednesday’s game will come down to who Wake Forest is able to put on the floor. If the Demon Deacons field the team that faced Virginia on Saturday, the Irish will likely get an ACC win at home. If Brandon Childress and Chaundee Brown are able to go, then life will be much tougher for Mike Brey’s team. 

Childress leads Wake Forest in scoring at 15.2 points per game but also averages 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists a night. He was unable to play on Saturday due to a left leg injury.

Brown missed his sixth straight game due to a lower leg injury. He’s Wake Forest’s second most important player as he averages 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. 

Wake Forest has struggled to find consistent offense when healthy, so like any team, losing its top two scorers can be crippling. Heck, imagine life with John Mooney and Prentiss Hubb. Yikes.

But for Notre Dame, it doesn’t matter who is on the court for Wake Forest as the Irish just need to get an ACC win at home. 

“We need to get one,” stated Brey. “We haven't won a home game yet. We've played our backsides off and been in position. Our crowd has been fabulous here. 

"We play Wake, who is playing well and beat us here last year. We'd like to get one league win here at home and then let's see how everybody feels about it. We have our work cut out for us to do it." 

Despite sitting at 2-6 in league play, Notre Dame will have a chance to make a run over the next week with three home games against Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Pitt. 

Brey knows the significance of this stretch for his program and knows he has to reel his emotions in a little bit more despite the frustrations of the season mounting up. 

"We have a chance to make a little more here with three at home,” said Brey. “We're fighting. I love how we're scratching and putting ourselves in position. 

"I don't think that will ever change. There is no question, it starts with me and my demeanor, so it doesn't carry over on to the court. I'll have to be more disciplined with it." 

Notre Dame wins if they hit 9 three-pointers and hit 40 rebounds as there could be several misses in this game. 

Prediction: Notre Dame 74 Wake Forest 65