Ethan Roberts' Record-Tying Night Highlights Notre Dame's Offensive Evolution
Wednesday night was the Ethan Roberts show inside Purcell Pavilion as Notre Dame (4-0) rolled past South Carolina State (3-1), 99-59.
Roberts scored a career-high 36 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 10-of-13 from three-point range.
The graduate transfer from Penn started 10-of-11 from beyond the arc, tying the school record for most three-pointers in a game.
“It's just the way we play,” stated Roberts. “It's our brand, playing good basketball. Like coach said, shoutout everybody on the team for finding me, Logan Duncomb just sealing stuff that doesn't show up in the stat sheet. But it's the kind of team we are.”
It's a refreshing statement to hear from Roberts, as the Notre Dame program needed a makeover after three years of iso ball.
The ball moves around the floor. Extra passes are made. Players aren't standing and watching someone else execute one-on-one moves.
It's good basketball.
What wasn't good basketball was South Carolina State's defense, as Notre Dame exposed several holes against an aggressive full-court press that repeatedly led to wide-open three-point opportunities.
“If I'm open, I'm going to shoot,” said Roberts. “Again, it's the right basketball play, so whether I made it or missed it, it was a good play.”
otre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry might have been the happiest coach in America on Wednesday night as he continues to watch his team transform on a nightly basis.
The Irish not only connected on 19-of-33 attempts from three-point range, but also dished out 26 assists on 33 made field goals. For good measure, Shrewsberry's team dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 49-31.
“Braeden Smith handles the pressure,” explained Shrewsberry. “Braeden Shrewsberry inbounds and handles the pressure. Braeden Smith now finds BK (Brady Koehler) or Braeden Shrewsberry has got to get it in the middle or get it wide, and now we attack. They love to rotate on the back line, if Logan Duncomb doesn't put pressure at the rim, then the back line guy doesn't pay attention to him. But now he's running and rotating. Logan's just burying this dude. Now there's nobody to rotate to him in the corner.
“It's kind of the epitome of what we've done. They all work together. They all help each other. I don't think anybody cares about the glory.”
It's clear the Irish aren't concerned with individual glory, as three other players joined Roberts in double figures. Koehler finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Logan Imes and Jonathan Sanderson each added 10 points off the bench.
Shrewsberry also emphasized the importance of playing two games in three days. It was by design, as he hopes his team can apply what it learned from the quick turnaround when March arrives.
“I mentioned to you the other day of trying (use) short preparation of being able to turn it around really quickly,” Shrewsberry said. “He's (Roberts) been there. Braeden Smith has been there. Logan Duncomb’s been there. It’s the feel of what the NCAA tournament turnaround would feel like. That's kind of what this was.
“I thought they handled it great in how they played, how we handled pressure, how we guarded with intensity for 40 minutes. It says a lot about these guys and who they are.”
Notre Dame will now have a chance to rest until next Tuesday, when the Irish travel to Las Vegas for the Players Era 8 tournament.
Waiting for Notre Dame will be the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators, providing an early measuring stick for where this group stands.
“The biggest thing I want to see is our compete level,” Shrewsberry stated. “If you don't compete, they're going to beat you up on the glass. They can beat you up on the glass if you do compete, but I want to see it. I want to see where we are. We've had a chance to do it the last couple years against Houston in Vegas.
“It's the same exact thing. If there's no compete level on the glass, you're going to get destroyed. I want to see where our compete level is.”
As for Roberts, there will never be a question about his compete level at Notre Dame.
“I'm grateful,” said Roberts. “I can't believe that my name is in the records here. I was just scratching and clawing just to be on the team or just have Notre Dame on my jersey. It's crazy how things change, but I do put in the work, and sometimes it makes it look like it's overnight, but it's far from that. Very grateful.”
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