Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Basketball
Date: December 6th
Where: Purcell Pavilion
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
- Notre Dame has made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 and comes in at No. 23.
- The Irish now lead the nation in free throw percentage at 85.8 percent.
- Notre Dame’s 8-0 start matches the best start under Mike Brey.
- Fort Wayne knocked off Indiana earlier this season in a slug fest 71-68.
Matt Farrell: 12.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 5.4 apg
Steve Vasturia: 15.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 3.3 apg
VJ Beachem: 17.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.1 apg
Bonzie Colson: 17.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 1.6 apg
Martinas Geben: 3.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 0.6 apg
Fort Wayne
Mo Evans: 18.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 6.3 apg
Bryson Scott: 16.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.8 apg
Kason Harrell: 11.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.4 apg
Brent Calhoun: 6.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 1.2 apg
John Konchar: 13.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.4 apg
Scoring Offense: Fort Wayne: 88.7 ppg (11) – Notre Dame: 89.1 (10)
Scoring Defense: Fort Wayne: 73.2 ppg (210) – Notre Dame: 62.6 (39)
Rebound Margin: Fort Wayne: 5.7 (63) – Notre Dame: 6.4 (50)
Field-Goal Percentage: Fort Wayne: 50.9% (9) – Notre Dame: 48.4% (44)
Three-Point Percentage: Fort Wayne: 40.7% (22) – Notre Dame: 42.9% (9)
Three-Pointers Made: Fort Wayne: 9.4 (37) – Notre Dame: 11.0 (6)
Free-Throw Percentage Fort Wayne: 70.8% (127) – Notre Dame: 85.8% (1)
Just looking at the stats above, it’s safe to expect a barn burner inside Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday night between Fort Wayne and Notre Dame. Both offenses have shown they can execute and the Mastodons are entering the game with little fear of the Irish, as they knocked off Indiana earlier this season.
Notre Dame has been more than efficient on the offensive end, as they lead the country in free throw percentage, but they are also tops in the nation in assist to turnover ratio at 2.25. They are also second in winning margin at 26.5.
Mike Brey knows this is a big game, as Fort Wayne is likely going to finish the year strong and the win will provide a huge boost heading into games against powerhouses Villanova and Purdue.
Notre Dame will need its bench to come up big again tonight with energy and a few buckets would be icing on the cake. Fort Wayne will likely play an eight-man rotation and Notre Dame will have a chance to tire out Scott, but it’ll be interesting to see how Brey matches up with the Mastodons, as they play four guards.
Matt Ryan is on a hot streak and with both teams in the Top 50 in three-pointers made, the sophomore’s ability to hit from behind the arc could help down the stretch.
Look for Notre Dame to win comfortably, but it won’t be a total walk in the park. Indiana was sloppy with the ball, as Fort Wayne forced 15 turnovers in the 71-68 win on November 22nd.
HOOPS PREVIEW: Fort Wayne (7-2) at # 23 Notre Dame (8-0)
December 6, 2016
2,602
Fort Wayne (7-2) vs Notre Dame (8-0)
Date: December 6th
Where: Purcell Pavilion
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Quick Facts
- This will be the seventh meeting between the programs. Notre Dame is a perfect 6-0 in the series.- Notre Dame has made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 and comes in at No. 23.
- The Irish now lead the nation in free throw percentage at 85.8 percent.
- Notre Dame’s 8-0 start matches the best start under Mike Brey.
- Fort Wayne knocked off Indiana earlier this season in a slug fest 71-68.
The Starters
Notre DameMatt Farrell: 12.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg and 5.4 apg
Steve Vasturia: 15.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 3.3 apg
VJ Beachem: 17.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.1 apg
Bonzie Colson: 17.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 1.6 apg
Martinas Geben: 3.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 0.6 apg
Fort Wayne
Mo Evans: 18.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg and 6.3 apg
Bryson Scott: 16.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 1.8 apg
Kason Harrell: 11.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 1.4 apg
Brent Calhoun: 6.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 1.2 apg
John Konchar: 13.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.4 apg
How They Matchup
(National Rank)Scoring Offense: Fort Wayne: 88.7 ppg (11) – Notre Dame: 89.1 (10)
Scoring Defense: Fort Wayne: 73.2 ppg (210) – Notre Dame: 62.6 (39)
Rebound Margin: Fort Wayne: 5.7 (63) – Notre Dame: 6.4 (50)
Field-Goal Percentage: Fort Wayne: 50.9% (9) – Notre Dame: 48.4% (44)
Three-Point Percentage: Fort Wayne: 40.7% (22) – Notre Dame: 42.9% (9)
Three-Pointers Made: Fort Wayne: 9.4 (37) – Notre Dame: 11.0 (6)
Free-Throw Percentage Fort Wayne: 70.8% (127) – Notre Dame: 85.8% (1)
Just looking at the stats above, it’s safe to expect a barn burner inside Purcell Pavilion on Tuesday night between Fort Wayne and Notre Dame. Both offenses have shown they can execute and the Mastodons are entering the game with little fear of the Irish, as they knocked off Indiana earlier this season.
Notre Dame has been more than efficient on the offensive end, as they lead the country in free throw percentage, but they are also tops in the nation in assist to turnover ratio at 2.25. They are also second in winning margin at 26.5.
Mike Brey knows this is a big game, as Fort Wayne is likely going to finish the year strong and the win will provide a huge boost heading into games against powerhouses Villanova and Purdue.
Notre Dame will need its bench to come up big again tonight with energy and a few buckets would be icing on the cake. Fort Wayne will likely play an eight-man rotation and Notre Dame will have a chance to tire out Scott, but it’ll be interesting to see how Brey matches up with the Mastodons, as they play four guards.
Matt Ryan is on a hot streak and with both teams in the Top 50 in three-pointers made, the sophomore’s ability to hit from behind the arc could help down the stretch.
Look for Notre Dame to win comfortably, but it won’t be a total walk in the park. Indiana was sloppy with the ball, as Fort Wayne forced 15 turnovers in the 71-68 win on November 22nd.
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