Game Thread | Wake Forest at Notre Dame

Wake Forest (18-9, 10-6) at Notre Dame (10-17, 5-11) 

Date: February 27th

Time: 9:00 PM ET 

Where: Purcell Pavilion | South Bend, Ind.

TV: ACC Network | Jay Atler and Eric Devendorf 

Line: Wake Forest -6.5

O/U: 134.5

ACC Standings

QUICK FACTS 

- Notre Dame leads the all-time series 8-7

- Wake Forest won the last meeting 81-64 in South Bend last February 

- Freshman Markus Burton has scored in double figures in 20 straight games 

- Burton has scored 450 points this season, which is No. 6 all-time for a Notre Dame freshman

- Notre Dame is No. 2 in the ACC in scoring defense at 65.6 ppg

- Freshman Braeden Shrewsberry is shooting 45.0 percent from three in ACC play

- ESPN’s Matchup Predictor: 82.6% in favor of Wake Forest

PROJECTED STARTERS

NOTRE DAME

WAKE FOREST 

TEAM STATS

THOUGHTS

Tuesday will be an interesting watch as it relates to Notre Dame as Micah Shrewsberry is coming off an emotional and exhausting game at Syracuse. The Irish found themselves down by as many as 29, but had the chance to tie the game at 88 multiple times in the final minute. It was a 40-minute look at Notre Dame’s season where they self-destructed by committing 17 turnovers, but also demonstrated the will to keep playing. 

Wake Forest is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life, so the Demon Deacons can’t afford a loss to Notre Dame as ESPN projects them in the first four out column despite Saturday’s win over Duke. 

For Notre Dame, this game comes down to being able to slow down Gonzaga transfer Hunter Sallis, who enters the game averaging 18.7 ppg and has scored 20+ points 13 times this season while shooting a blistering 43.5 percent from deep. The concern for Notre Dame is that Sallis plays a similar game to Syracuse guards Judah Mintz and JJ Starling, who scored a combined 35 points against the Irish on Saturday. 

A year ago in South Bend, Damari Monsanto dropped 28 points, including 8-of-13 from three, and he is back this season. The good news for Notre Dame is he’s averaging just 13 minutes a game and played just six minutes against Duke. 

The Irish will need to eliminate turnovers as Notre Dame not only cost themselves the game, but put them in a hole they hadn’t been in all year. It comes down to being mentally prepared so they don’t beat themselves, which has been a theme this season. Syracuse scored 31 points off turnovers. That simply can’t happen, especially in ACC play.

Notre Dame should have confidence on the offensive end from Saturday’s performance. It showed they could be a dynamic team on the offensive end and it’s definitely worth noting it came on the road - and in a dome. The Irish shot 61.5 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three. Now, it’d be hard-pressed to find that magic, but Notre Dame should believe it can get the same looks. 

Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry have found a groove. It’s not always pretty, but both have found consistency and confidence to take and make big shots. The growth is what Notre Dame wanted to see at this point in the year and a solid finish to the 2023-24 campaign would give the Irish a great building block moving forward. 

Tuesday will also feature Wake Forest freshman guard Parker Friedrichsen returning to South Bend for the first time. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder signed with Notre Dame, but then backed out of his NLI following Mike Brey’s departure from the program. Friedrichsen is averaging 5.7 ppg and shooting 32.4 percent from three.  

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