Game Thread | Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Notre Dame

Texas A&M Corpus Christi (10-2) at Notre Dame (5-5)

Date: Dec. 22nd

Time: 1:00 PM ET 

Where: Purcell Pavilion | Notre Dame, Ind. 

TV: ACC Network | Drew Carter and Malcolm Huckaby 

Line: Notre Dame -17.5

O/U: 140.5

Quick Facts 

- Notre Dame and Texas A&M Corpus Christi will meet for the first time on Wednesday.

- Mike Brey and Steve Lutz will also meet for the first time in their careers. 

- Brey holds a record of 3-0 against opponents from the Southland Conference. 

- The Irish have won five straight games at Purcell Pavilion. 

- Nate Laszewski’s 7.6 rebounds per game is seventh in the ACC. 

- Freshman Blake Wesley has reached double-digit scoring in eight of his first 10 games. He joins only Chris Thomas and Luke Harangody as the only Brey era freshman to accomplish the feat. 

PROJECTED STARTERS

Notre Dame

Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Preview

Mike Brey saw exactly what he wanted from his team on Monday night as the Irish got back on track on the offensive end. Eight players scored, including four in double figures. 

Notre Dame shot 51.8 percent from the floor, 45.2 percent from three and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. Brey's club also finished with 19 assists and just five turnovers. 

It was a performance you'd expect from Notre Dame and an old team. Take care of business and go home. 

Wednesday afternoon should be much of the same, but Notre Dame shouldn't look past the Islanders. Texas A&M Corpus Christi traveled to Minnesota last week and lost 79-71. 

For Notre Dame, it's crucial to stack together another quality offensive performance as this is the final tuneup before ACC play starts next Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. 

Despite the early season struggles from Prentiss Hubb, Brey inserted his senior back into the starting lineup on Monday. It was a good move as it takes the pressure off freshman Blake Wesley as Hubb can run the point. 

Wesley is more than capable of bringing the ball up the floor, but he's a little loose with the ball at times and Hubb eliminates some of the pressure of breaking a press. 

"My feeling was to get him in there," Brey said of Hubb. "I think we have two good guards on the floor right out of the gate with him and Wesley. They have a little pop together and they both can handle it. Who knows who the point guard is. We can just kind of play." 

While Hubb can score, Cormac Ryan off the bench makes sense, given his struggles on the offensive end. Ryan responded well with 13 points on Monday. 

"I like what Cormac gave us off the bench," Brey stated. "We're starting this way. We're searching. He's still going to play and get his minutes. Maybe we found something." 

Hubb responded with nine points, three rebounds, four assists and just one turnover. Can he build off of it? We'll see, but Brey has made it clear to Hubb it's his show. 

"We need him out there," said Brey. "The thing I noticed out there today, the refs talk to him because they know him. We've always had seniors who the refs know. Our seniors know how to communicate, which is all part of the game. 

"He's got a great presence. He's never afraid. My feeling was on the bus ride back, we're starting him and we're getting him back in there. 

"I said to him, 'Run the gym. It's your gym.' It helps Blake Wesley. Those two guys are joined at the hip. He has been Blake Wesley's mentor the whole time. He's never been jealous. He's like the man is good and we need him." 

Confidence has always been an issue with this group and back-to-back quality offensive performances could go a long way as the Irish have a challenging start to ACC play.