Five things to know ahead of Notre Dame vs. Nazareth College
Another season of Notre Dame basketball is underway. After a one-year absence, the action tips off once again with an exhibition game. This time, they’ll be welcoming Division III program Nazareth College of Rochester, New York, to South Bend. Here are five things to think about as the Irish see their first game action of the season:
Full attendance back at Purcell Pavilion
Jan 26, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Fans in the Notre Dame student section cheer in the second half of the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Virginia Cavaliers at the Purcell Pavilion. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
This is the biggest thing to know: You can watch the Irish in person again. After allowing limited student attendance for the final few home games last season, Purcell Pavilion will be reopened for games at full capacity. The catch is you still have to wear masks as COVID-19 hasn’t disappeared to enough of a degree yet. Still, covering your face is a small price to pay to resume the activities you love.
Seven players will graduate in spring
Jun 11, 2021; Eugene, Oregon, USA; An NCAA logo flag at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
From an athletic standpoint, players graduating is tough because you have to replenish your roster with possibly lesser talent than you had before. Still, graduation will be a sense of pride for Notre Dame men’s basketball this spring. Seven players on this year’s roster will receive degrees this spring. No Division I men’s basketball program will have more.
Brey perfect in exhibition games
Mar 10, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey directs his team against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half in the second round of the 2021 ACC tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. The North Carolina Tar Heels won 101-59. Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
It’s difficult to put much stock into how a coach gets his team to perform during these exhibition games. After all, they typically are played against lower-level programs. Still, it’s worth noting that Mike Brey has coached the Irish to a 40-0 record in these games. At least it shows the Irish have players who belong in Division I.
Hubb is ACC assists king
Feb 9, 2020; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) calls a play during the second half of the game against the Clemson Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum. Fighting Irish won 61-57. Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Irish point guard Prentiss Hubb arguably is the team’s best returning player and for good reason. He has accumulated 445 career assists to this point. That’s the most of any returning player in the ACC and the fifth-most of any active three-year player in the country. He can score a bit, too, leading the Irish with 14.6 points a game last season.
Lots of experience returning for the Irish
Mar 9, 2021; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish players celebrate as the defeat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 80-77 on a buzzer-beater in the first round of the 2021 ACC men’s basketball tournament at Greensboro Coliseum. Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports
From a statistical standpoint, the Irish never have entered a season more experienced under Brey. If the number 5,294 doesn’t mean anything to you, it’s not surprising. However, that’s the number of combined games started, minutes played, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, free throws made, assists and points among returning players. If you need some time to recover from your head spinning after reading that, you can’t be blamed.
