Tag: J.R. Konieczny

Notre Dame men’s basketball defeats Syracuse, ending its losing streak

The losing slide has been stopped for the Irish

It was a much needed win for Notre Dame men’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon, as they defeated Syracuse 69-64 in Purcell Pavilion.

The Irish saw three players score in double-digits, [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag], [autotag]Braeden Schrewsberry[/autotag] and [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag], with Davis pacing the group with 15-points.

Defensively, Notre Dame didn’t allow a three pointer made by the Orange, although they only attempted just 7 shots from that range. The Irish won the rebounding battle as well, 25-22. They are still having issues with their turnover-to-assist ratio, which saw they give the ball up 12 times to just 5 assists on the game.

Notre Dame ended a five-game losing streak, as they have shown to be extremely streaky this season. They won their first four games, followed by the losing streak, so the hope is that they’ll start another winning streak after this one.

The Irish’s season record now sits at 5-5 with a date with Dartmouth next on Dec. 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET at home.

Notre Dame guard J.R. Konieczny dunks the ball during a NCAA men’s basketball game against Syracuse at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame men’s basketball cruises over North Dakota to move to 4-0

Let’s keep this perfection train going.

The Notre Dame men’s basketball is as off to as good a start as it could have asked for. North Dakota put up a little more of a fight than Georgetown did in the Irish’s previous game, but it was not nearly enough. The Irish remain unblemished in this young season after a 75-58 victory.

While the Irish (4-0) led almost the entire game, the Hawks (2-2) hung around during the first half and were within five points early in the second. But that’s when the Irish took complete control via a 14-3 run and didn’t lead by less than 13 the rest of the way. Big baskets and timely defense were the main determining factors during that second half.

[autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] came within a basket of his career scoring high with 29 points, but he made a career-high 13 field goals. He also was one rebound short of a double-double and had a team-high three assists.

At 12 points, [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] was the only other Irish player to score in double figures. [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag] set a career high with five steals.

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J.R. Konieczny to return from foot injury for Notre Dame’s home finale

J.R. Konieczny had soreness in his right foot and missed Notre Dame’s victory over Wake Forest.

[autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] had soreness in his right foot and missed Notre Dame’s victory over Wake Forest. It was the first time this season he hadn’t appeared in a game. However, that appeared to only be a brief absence as Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has tweeted the following ahead of the Irish’s home finale Saturday:

Obviously, it is unknown how much action Konieczny will see against Clemson. He hasn’t played more than 18 minutes over his past five games, none of which he started. He started his previous five games before that and shot 14 of 52 from the field during that stretch (26.9%). Since then, he’s shot a more respectable 11 of 23 (47.8%).

Fighting Irish Wire will be on hand to cover the men’s basketball team’s final home game this season as well as the women’s team’s sold-out home finale Sunday against Louisville. Both teams have being playing well lately, so now is a good time to catch them.

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Notre Dame sweeps season series with Georgia Tech

Good matchups have been hard to come by for Notre Dame this season. Even when the Irish get them, wins aren’t guaranteed.

Good matchups have been hard to come by for Notre Dame this season. Even when the Irish get them, wins aren’t guaranteed. Georgia Tech is the exception to that rule this season as the Irish beat the Yellow Jackets, 58-55, to complete a season sweep in the series.

Neither team led by more than six the entire game, during which there were nine lead changes. The Irish (9-16, 4-10) didn’t go into the lead for good until [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] hit a jump shot inside the baseline with 3:12 left to put his team up one. It still was a one-point game when [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] had a chance to milk the clock with 38 seconds left.

Burton indeed took his time and waited until only a few seconds remained on the shot clock to fire a shot. He missed, and the ball was loose momentarily, but it ended up in the hands of [autotag]Logan Imes[/autotag]. He got the ball back to Burton, who was fouled with 1.2 seconds left and sank two free throws.It was reflective of the Irish having significant advantages in offensive rebounds (16-5) and second-chance points (20-9).

A last-second half-court heave for the Yellow Jackets (10-15, 3-11) didn’t get off in time, and the Irish had the win. It marked their first season sweep of an ACC opponent in two years.

Burton again contributed in a matter similar to [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] with game highs of 18 points, five assists and five steals. [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] scored 17 on 6-of-12 shooting from the field.

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Notre Dame drops another close contest to Boston College

The Irish still can’t win a close game with the Eagles.

When Notre Dame lost a close road contest to Boston College over a week-and-a-half ago, much of it had to do with Quinten Post getting hot. When the teams met again Saturday in South Bend, Post scored 10 points before fouling out with 4:03 left.

Despite losing Post for the stretch run, the Eagles had their biggest lead at seven, and it proved to be just enough to deal the Irish a 61-58 loss. Devin McGlockton led the Eagles with 15 points.

Neither team shot the ball well in the first half, but when points started coming more frequently in the second half, the Irish (7-13, 2-7) simply didn’t score enough. Although they only trailed, 57-55, in the final minute, Jaeden Zackery made a close shot with 30 seconds left to put the Eagles (12-8, 3-6) up four. [autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] missed a 3, and Zackery got the rebound before being fouled by [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] and making two free throws.

Surprisingly, that didn’t end the game. A Shrewsberry 3 cut the Eagles’ six-point lead in half with barely any time remaining. The Eagles then couldn’t inbound the ball cleanly, and a replay review gave the Irish a chance to send the game to overtime with 0.8 seconds left. [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag] got an open look from 3-point range at the very top of the key, but he missed at the buzzer.

Konieczny flirted with a double-double by virtue of 15 points (13 in the first half) and eight rebounds. Shrewsberry scored all of his 14 points in the second half with 12 of them coming on four 3-pointers. [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] had 10 points (eight in the second half) and a game-high seven assists, but he also committed a game-high five turnovers.

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Notre Dame slips up late against Miami

Experience beats inexperience in a battle of struggling teams.

The one thing Notre Dame and Miami have in common is that both have struggled lately. Both teams came into Purcell Pavillion on Wednesday having lost four of their past five. For a game like this, one typically might expect experience to win out. That’s exactly what happened in a 73-61 Irish loss.

This contest featured five ties and 10 lead changes, but that all happened while over 80% of game time elapsed. With the Irish (7-12, 2-6) in front by three during the latter portion of the second half, the Hurricanes (13-6, 4-4) went on a 19-2 run to go up by double digits. The Irish never seriously threatened after that as they were outplayed and outclassed by a better and more experienced team.

It was the Norchad Omier show from beginning to end, and that shouldn’t be a surprise given the type of player he is. Back from an ankle injury, he scored 33 points on 12-of-14 shooting, only two points off his collegiate high and his most since joining the Hurricanes from Arkansas State. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to complete a double-double, another hallmark of his game, and recorded three steals.

Of course, Omier got a little help. Kyshawn George scored 11 points while also getting three steals. Nijel Pack had 10 points despite shooting 3 of 10 from the field, and he also dished out a game-high five assists. Off the bench, Bensley Joseph contributed 10 points.

[autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] led the Irish with 15 points but also committed a game-high eight turnovers. [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] had 13 points and six rebounds, and [autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] scored 10 off the bench.

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Notre Dame drops tough one at Boston College before weeklong break

They’ll win games like this down the road, but not this year.

Before taking a week off from games, Notre Dame had to play twice in three days. [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] lamented this schedule quirk after the loss to Florida State, but the Irish had no choice but to travel to Boston College. It almost was worth the trip as the Irish stayed in it throughout a 63-59 loss.

The Irish (7-11, 2-5) led the majority of the game and were up by as much as 12 in the first half. They were up by six with over five minute left when Quinten Post scored eight unanswered points to put the Eagles (11-6, 2-4) up two. After [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] hit free throws to tie it at 57 with 3:10 left, neither team scored for the next 2:20.

Post hit a 3 with 50 seconds remaining to put the Eagles back up. Konieczny was whistled for an offensive foul, which was followed by Claudell Harris Jr. splitting free throws. [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] was fouled on a layup that made it 61-59, and he missed the ensuring free throw, but the Irish got the rebound and called a timeout with 11.7 seconds left to draw a play that could tie or win the game.

[autotag]Carey Booth[/autotag] quickly found an open corner 3 that missed, and Chas Kelley III got the rebound, which led to him icing the game with two free throws. So close, and yet, so far.

Jaeden Zackery led all scorers with 20 points, but it was Post who stole the show for the Eagles with 15 of his 17 points in the second half, including three 3-pointers.

Burton led the Irish with 19 points but committed seven second-half turnovers. In all, the Eagles scored 22 points off 19 Irish turnovers. That negated Burton’s scoring performance along with that of reigning ACC Rookie of the Week [autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] (12 points).

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Micah Shrewsberry speaks after Notre Dame loses to Florida State

Here a few thoughts from the head man.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – If there’s one thing Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry doesn’t do, it’s deflect blame. He understands that whenever his team loses, it falls back to him. He isn’t going to change that mindset anytime soon.

The Irish lost to Florida State, 67-58, and Shrewsberry wasn’t about to throw his players under the bus in his postgame news conference. If anything, he partially blamed not having [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] available because of a sprained ankle he suffered in practice the day before. He said it took all of the energy and emotion out of his team. It always is hard to soldier on when one of your players suddenly isn’t available, but Davis’ absence really seemed to bother Shrewsberry.

It’s unknown if Davis will be available Monday at Boston College in a quick turnaround for the Irish. What is known though is that Shrewsberry wasn’t short on words after this home defeat to the Seminoles. Here’s his opening statement and his answers to the questions asked by Fighting Irish Wire:

Burton, Konieczny bemoan Notre Dame’s lack of focus in loss

The players knew what to say after this loss.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It takes focus by everybody in order to win a basketball games. It’s one of the first things every player should learn when starting to play competitively. If that focus isn’t there, you’re most likely going to lose.

After Notre Dame lost to Florida State, 67-58, Markus Burton (20 points) and J.R. Konieczny (11 points) took the postgame podium to address what went wrong from their perspective. To them, a lack of focus was the primary issue, and that couldn’t have been more clear based on everything they said to the assembled media.

Whether not being focused was the issue only to them or if they were speaking on behalf of their teammates in general is unknown beyond the Irish’s locker room. All that can be known for sure is that we at least their personal reasons for the loss.

Here are the questions posed to them by Fighting Irish Wire and what their responses to those questions were:

Notre Dame unable to keep up with Florida State in loss

Not quite enough to win on a cold and snowy day.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The souls that braved the snowy and icy conditions in South Bend saw a good contest between Notre Dame and Florida State. It was a game that ultimately wasn’t decided until late in regulation. However, the Irish still are a young team learning how to win, and it didn’t happen in a 67-58 Seminoles victory.

The Irish (7-10, 2-4) trailed by four at halftime but have held the lead but for an 0-for-6 showing at the free-throw line from [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag] and [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag]. The second half saw the Seminoles (10-6, 4-1) increase their lead to as much as 14.

While the Irish slowly chipped away and were able to cut that deficit to three with 1:25 to play, the Seminoles proved capable of weathering the storm and held on to win a game in which they had more success on offense as well as smothering defense.

Primo Spears led the Seminoles with 13 points off the bench. Jamir Watkins scored 12, and 10 points apiece came from Darin Green Jr. and Jalen Warley.

Despite the loss, [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] led all scorers with 20 points. [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] contributed 11 points but also committed five turnovers.

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