Game Thread | Notre Dame at Clemson
Notre Dame (14-8, 5-6) at Clemson (11-11, 4-7)
Date: February 9th
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum | Clemson S.C.
TV: ACC Network | Wes Durham and Malcolm Huckaby
Quick Facts
- Notre Dame and Clemson will meet for the eighth time on Sunday afternoon.
- The Irish lead the all-time series 5-2, but Clemson has won the last two contests.
- John Mooney is second in the nation in rebounds-per-game with a 13.0 average.
- Mooney has recorded double-doubles in 18 of 21 games played this season.
- Sophomore Dane Goodwin is the only player in the ACC averaging double figures this season with less than three games started.
- Notre Dame is currently sixth in the country and first in the ACC in assists per game with a 17.4 average.
- T.J. Gibbs is shooting 50 percent from three-point range in ACC play this season (30-60).
THE STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Prentiss Hubb | 12.2 | 2.5 | 4.8 |
| TJ Gibbs | 14.3 | 2.5 | 3.4 |
| Rex Pflueger | 5.2 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| John Mooney | 16.5 | 13.0 | 2.0 |
| Juwan Durham | 7.8 | 5.5 | 0.9 |
Clemson
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| John Newman III | 9.5 | 3.6 | 2.3 |
| Clyde Trapp | 6.3 | 4.1 | 2.6 |
| Tevin Mack | 12.0 | 5.5 | 1.0 |
| Al-Amir Dawes | 7.8 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Aamir Simms | 13.4 | 7.4 | 2.5 |
Preview
Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 76.9
Clemson: 66.2
Opponent Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 69.0
Clemson: 64.2
FG%
Notre Dame: 43.1%
Clemson: 42.0%
Rebounds Per Game
Notre Dame: 38.5
Clemson: 34.4
Assists Per Game
Notre Dame: 17.4
Clemson: 13.0
Blocks Per Game
Notre Dame: 4.0
Clemson: 2.4
Steals Per Game
Notre Dame: 5.9
Clemson: 7.0
Notre Dame seems to have turned a corner offensively in the last month, but Sunday’s game has a chance at being an ugly one. Clemson has problems scoring the basketball as they’ve scored just 88p points combined in the last two games.
The Tigers are athletic and long, which has given Notre Dame problems for the last few years.
If you’re Notre Dame, the good news is the offense is rolling right now and they’ve been able to score despite going with smaller lineups as the Irish bring a three-game winning streak to Clemson.
"The interesting thing is they haven't scored on the road, but they've scored at home,” Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey said. “(Aamir) Sims has become a great college player. They use him like Mooney and he's all over the court.
"They've had explosive nights in that building, especially in the Duke game. I know they've had two tough road games, but what's kept them in it is Brad (Brownell) is a defensive guy. They're athletic and they can make the court seem smaller in the halfcourt."
Brey is referring to Clemons’s 79-72 win over Duke on January 14th, so the Tigers can play at a high level despite seeing a 56-44 loss at Wake Forest last week.
There will be two Notre Dame players to keep an eye on during Sunday’s contest. Point guard Prentiss Hubb has scored at least 22 points in all five road ACC games, which has also included him going 28-for-47 from three-point range.
Fellow sophomore Dane Goodwin is averaging 11.8 points off the bench and the Irish will need bench production at Clemson, but also timely deep balls. Goodwin has proven he can hit the three at the right time and will likely be counted on to do just that this evening.
"I think he's being aggressive,” Brey said of Goodwin. “He's hunting his stuff and driving it. We run some stuff for him and out of bounds looks and different looks in the halfcourt. I love how aggressive he is going to the basket. I still think he can hunt his jump shot more. I think he turns down some three-point shots early in the possession, but he's come a long way from last year and the beginning of this year."
For Notre Dame to win, the Irish will need 11 three-pointers and less than 11 turnovers.
Prediction: Notre Dame 75 Clemson 71