Hoops Preview: Georgia Tech (6-6) at Notre Dame (10-3)
Georgia Tech (6-6) at Notre Dame (10-3)
Date: December 30th
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame, Ind.
TV: ESPNU
QUICK FACTS
- Saturday will mark the 17th meeting between the two programs. Georgia Tech leads the all-time series 9-7.
- Notre Dame is 3-1 in ACC openers since joining the conference in 2013-14.
- Under Mike Brey, the Irish are 14-3 in conference home openers.
- Notre Dame is 16-1 in games after Christmas break under Mike Brey.
- Bonzie Colson has scored in double figures in 30 consecutive games.
THE STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Matt Farrell | 16.8 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| TJ Gibbs | 14.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| Rex Pflueger | 8.7 | 4.2 | 2.4 |
| Bonzie Colson | 21.3 | 9.8 | 1.2 |
| Martinas Geben | 8.5 | 6.5 | 1.1 |
Georgia Tech
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Jose Alvarado | 13.2 | 4.6 | 3.4 |
| Josh Okogie | 18.5 | 5.0 | 0.8 |
| Brandon Alston | 6.7 | 2.3 | 1.5 |
| Moses Wright | 4.8 | 3.8 | 0.7 |
| Ben Lammers | 13.0 | 4.6 | 1.3 |
National Rankings
| Category | Notre Dame | Georgia Tech |
| Scoring Offense | 82.3 (48) | 67.2 (309) |
| Scoring Defense | 66.2 (60) | 64.7 (37) |
| Rebound Margin | 0.9 (195) | 2.4 (144) |
| Assist Per Game | 14.4 (152) | 13.0 (238) |
| FG% Offense | 49.9% (29) | 43.5% (245) |
| FG% Defense | 40.2% (56) | 41.1% (79) |
| Three-Pointers Per Game | 8.2 (139) | 4.8 (346) |
| Three-Point Percentage | 40.1% (30) | 32.0% (284) |
| Free-Throw Percentage | 76.4% (26) | 72.4% (129) |
| Assist-Turnover Ratio | 1.57 (10) | 0.98 (220) |
Preview
Notre Dame kicks off ACC play on Saturday as Georgia Tech comes to South Bend. The Yellow Jackets boast two of the top players in the ACC in sophomore guard Josh Okogie and center Ben Lammers.
Okogie missed the first six games of the season as he served a six-game suspension for accepting benefits against NCAA rules and then missed more games with a dislocated index finger. The 6-foot-4, 213-pounder did return with a flurry by averaging 18.5 points per game in the four games he has played.
Lammers will give the Irish a tough test in the post as he is effective on offense, but he also averages 3.0 blocks a night. The 6-foot-10 has started 49 consecutive games.
The Yellow Jackets enter ACC play having lost five of the last seven games.
The good news for Notre Dame is Georgia Tech isn't a three-point shooting team and doesn't take a lot of three-pointers. The three-ball has given Notre Dame some trouble this year, but the attention will be slowing down Okogie. Rex Pflueger will need to bring it as Okogie is an NBA-type of player, but he's not as physically intimidating as Michigan State's Miles Bridges.
Pflueger matches up much better with Okogie and should be able to impact the game with his defensive game.
The Irish will need to attack Lammers with Bonzie Colson and Martinas Geben, while staying out of foul trouble themselves. Lammers will present some challenges for Notre Dame's bench unit as John Mooney and Elijah Burns have yet to face a skilled big man, so it will be crucial for them to give big minutes on the boards on Saturday afternoon.
On offense, Notre Dame will be tested as the Yellow Jackets will get into the Irish on the perimeter and use their length to play the passing lanes. The Irish have been loose with the ball at times and that will need to be cleaned up to get to 1-0 in ACC play.
If Notre Dame can get Bonzie Colson going early, it should open up the offense a bit more. It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Irish guards will be in attacking the rim with Lammers in the middle. If the Irish can get Lammers in foul trouble, it could be the difference in the game.
Prediction: Notre Dame 72 Georgia Tech 65