Game Thread | Notre Dame at Louisville
Notre Dame (11-6, 4-2) at Louisville (11-7, 5-3)
Date: Jan 22nd
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Where: KFC Yum! Center | Louisville, Ky.
TV: ESPN | Doug Sherman and Chris Spatola
Line: Louisville -2.5
O/U: 138.0
Quick Facts
- Louisville leads the all-time series 27-15.
- The Cardinals have won six games in a row over the Irish.
- Dane Goodwin is the only major conference player in America shooting .500 (.508) from FG, .400 (.474) from 3FG, .900 (.919) from FT and averaging over 15 (15.4) points per game.
- Goodwin has scored in double figures in 17 straight games.
- Blake Wesley's 14.6 ppg is second-best in the ACC for a freshman.
- Trey Wertz is seven points away from scoring 1,000 points in his collegiate career.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Prentiss Hubb | 7.9 | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| Blake Wesley | 14.6 | 3.2 | 2.2 |
| Dane Goodwin | 15.4 | 5.0 | 1.1 |
| Nate Laszewski | 8.5 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Paul Atkinson Jr. | 11.5 | 6.4 | 1.5 |
Louisville
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Mason Faulkner | 5.3 | 1.6 | 2.9 |
| Noah Locke | 10.8 | 2.7 | 0.9 |
| El Ellis | 7.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Sydney Curry | 4.9 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Malik Williams | 9.9 | 8.8 | 1.2 |
Preview
| Category | Notre Dame | Louisville |
| Points | 71.0 | 69.3 |
| Opponent Points | 66.4 | 67.1 |
| FG% | 45.2% | 42.2% |
| Rebounds | 33.5 | 39.1 |
| Assists | 13.4 | 13.0 |
| Blocks | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Steals | 5.5 | 6.3 |
Notre Dame will head to Louisville on Saturday and it's a place the Irish haven't won since 2015.
Mike Brey knows his team will face a rowdy atmosphere, but he expects Notre Dame to do what they've done all year and fight.
"It's been a while, right," stated Brey. "'15 was the last one. It's a great atmosphere. It's just a great college basketball atmosphere. I saw we were put on ESPN. We moved to the mothership.
"They play better and it's just amazing the scratching and clawing in this league that you're trying to do day-to-day."
Howard and a few others have given a blueprint on how to play the Irish and it starts by using a full court press.
Notre Dame lacks ball handlers, depth and decision-making when put into pressure situations. Louisville has a deep bench and while the Cardinals don't press too much, Brey wouldn't be surprised to see it on Saturday.
"I think a lot of people will come after us," explained Brey. "We've not been great in that atmosphere, especially on the road when people come after us. Louisville has the ability to do that with playing 10 guys, even though that's not really been their philosophy."
Trey Wertz provided a little stability in Monday's win against Howard's press and could be utilized if Prentiss Hubb and Blake Wesley struggle with ball pressure.
"Making us handle the ball is something we gotta be ready for," Brey said. "I thought getting Trey in there helped us the other day - handling the ball and being calm with it."
Perhaps the biggest thing to happen to Brey's club this week was rest. The Irish were off for two days following the road trip. It was needed and will be crucial as the Irish will play four games in seven days starting on Wednesday.
"It helped us," said Brey. "We needed two days. We actually had to take two off per NCAA rules because we can't take one off when we have a four-game week. You have to pay the piper to get through the week with the four-game week that's coming up. It was actually a good thing. Guys were in there on their own a little bit.
"Bodies got a little rested. That was a long trip for us. We were dragging a little bit on Monday. I think our energy is pretty good heading down there."
Louisville Last Five
Boston College - 67-54 W
@Pitt - 65-53 L
NC State - 79-63 L
Florida State - 79-70 L
Pitt - 75-72 W
Notre Dame Last Five
@ Howard - 71-68 W
@ Virginia Tech - 79-73 L
Clemson - 72-56 W
@ Georgia Tech - 72-68 W
North Carolina - 78-73 W