Game Thread | Notre Dame at Miami
Notre Dame (14-7, 7-3) at Miami (16-5, 8-2)
Date: Feb. 2
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Where: Watsco Center | Coral Gables, Fla.
TV: Bally Sports (Regional Sports Networks) | Tom Werme and Mike Gminski
Line: Miami -5.0
O/U: 143.5
Quick Facts
- Notre Dame leads the all-time series 14-12.
- Mike Brey is 7-5 against Jim Larrañaga.
- Notre Dame holds a three-game winning streak over the Hurricanes.
- Notre Dame is the first team in the country this season to have five players with 1,000 career points on the roster: Paul Atkinson Jr., Dane Goodwin, Prentiss Hubb, Trey Wertz and Nate Laszewski.
- Prentiss Hubb’s assist to turnover ratio in ACC play is 5.7. It’s the best for any player in conference play with more than five games played.
- Notre Dame is 10-0 this season when hitting 10+ three-pointers in a game.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Prentiss Hubb | 8.1 | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| Blake Wesley | 14.5 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Dane Goodwin | 14.6 | 4.8 | 1.1 |
| Nate Laszewski | 9.0 | 7.4 | 0.9 |
| Paul Atkinson Jr. | 11.7 | 6.4 | 1.5 |
Miami
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Charlie Moore | 12.5 | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| Kameron McGusty | 18.0 | 6.1 | 2.4 |
| Isaiah Wong | 16.0 | 3.9 | 2.2 |
| Jordan Miller | 9.1 | 5.9 | 1.0 |
| Sam Waardenburg | 8.2 | 3.6 | 1.8 |
Preview
| Category | Notre Dame | Miami |
| Points | 70.2 | 75.9 |
| Opponent Points | 66.0 | 71.4 |
| FG% | 44.8% | 46.8% |
| Rebounds | 33.1 | 31.0 |
| Assists | 13.4 | 13.1 |
| Blocks | 2.4 | 3.1 |
| Steals | 5.5 | 8.5 |
There is good news and bad news for Notre Dame on Wednesday night.
The good news is the opponent isn't Duke. The bad news is Miami is in first place in the ACC.
Mike Brey's team will face a team that's longer and more athletic, but the Hurricanes aren't close to the force of Duke in either category.
Notre Dame's biggest concern will be tired legs as this will be the fourth ACC game in seven days - a scheduling feat decision-makers on Tobacco Road have rarely pulled off.
"I think those seven guys have to get rested and be ready to play," Brey stated. "A gifted offensive team in Miami, but it's coming at us fast."
On Monday, the Irish defense rose to the challenge as they held Duke to just 39 percent shooting, including 3-for-19 from three. Miami presents a challenge with guards Kameron McGusty (18.0 ppg) and Isaiah Wong (16.0 ppg).
On offense, Notre Dame will need to get Dane Goodwin and Blake Wesley back on track. Duke took away the arc and Miami will try to do the same.
"I thought they really took away the arc," Brey said of Duke's defense on Monday. "We got a couple rolls to the bucket because they were hugging our shooters - just making us play around the basket. That's the first team that's really taken away the arc for 40 minutes.
"People have done that, but we've eventually done that and we've been able to get loose in the second half."
Rebounding will be a key on Wednesday as Miami isn't overly great on the boards and the Irish were dominated on the glass against Duke 51-36. Second-chance points will be essential as Notre Dame will battle some fatigue and stealing a few points could be the difference.
Miami Last Five
@ Georgia Tech - 73-62 W
@ Virginia Tech - 78-75 W
Florida State - 61-60 L
North Carolina - 85-57 W
@ Florida State - 65-64 L
Notre Dame Last Five
Duke - 57-43 L
Virginia - 69-65 W
NC State - 73-65 W
Louisville - 82-70 W
Howard - 71-68 W