Game Thread | Notre Dame at Florida State

Notre Dame (21-8m 14-4) at Florida State (15-13, 8-10) 

Date: March 2

Time: 7:00 PM ET 

Where: Donald L. Tucker Center | Tallahassee, Fla.

TV: ESPN2 | Anish Shroff and Jordan Cornette 

Line: Notre Dame -2.0

O/U: 139.0

ACC Standings

Quick Facts 

- Florida State leads the all-time series 7-5 and Notre Dame has never won in Tallahassee. 

- Mike Brey is 5-7 against Leonard Hamilton. 

- An Irish win would set a new program record for conference wins (15). 

- Notre Dame is 16-1 when shooting better than its opponent this season. 

- The Irish are 13-1 when hitting 10 (or more) three-pointers.

- Notre Dame 15-1 this season when out-rebounding its opponent. 

- Freshman Blake Wesley is the first rookie in the country this season to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, 70 assists, 50 3FGM, 70 and 30 steals.

- The 34-point win against Georgia Tech on Saturday was the most lopsided for Notre Dame since joining the league in 2013-14.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Notre Dame

Florida State     

Preview

Florida State’s starting lineup is a guess for anyone as the Seminoles have been decimated by injuries this year. Leonard Hamilton could get a boost as guard Anthony Polite (9.7ppg, 5.5rpg and 2.5 apg) could return from a wrist injury that’s sidelined him since the loss at Clemson on February 2nd. 

Regardless of who starts (or plays) Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey knows his Irish will have to deal with a ton of athleticism, length and pure size, which has given his team fits over the last few years. 

Projected starters John Butler (7’0) and Tanor Ngom (7'2) are a concern for Brey heading into Wednesday's clash. 

“When we’ve taken care of the ball against them, we’ve been able to move it and get good looks,” said Brey. “We’ve made shots at times, but it’s going to be a 7-foot guy switching on Blake Wesley and Prentiss Hubb. How do we read it? Do we drive it or feed the post?”

Notre Dame has figured out numerous ways to score, but the three-point shot will be crucial as ever tonight as points in the paint could come at a premium for the undersized Irish. Rebounding will also be a focus for Notre Dame as Brey feels the Seminoles are a similar matchup to Wake Forest. 

"Switching, length, you can't really run offense,” Brey said of Florida State. “You have to be a basketball player because they switch everything. I'm going to tell our guys this, the last time we played, we didn't do a very good job of keeping Wake Forest out of the lane and off the backboard. When we've done that, especially on the road, we've gotten off to good starts. They're very similar to Wake Forest." 

The good news is Notre Dame is 13-1 when it makes 10 or more threes and 15-1 when out-rebounding its opponent. Tall task for tonight, but Brey has made sure to motivate his team as he reminded them Notre Dame has never won in Tallahassee. 

"I did tell our guys we haven't won there, ever," stated Brey. “I don't care about bracketology or double byes - we've never won in Tallahassee. We've played out butts off a couple times. How about we try and get one in Tallahassee? That's kind of been our message this week." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP3jQivStF