Tag: niagara

Highlights from Michigan State basketball’s win over Niagara

Highlights from Michigan State basketball’s win over Niagara

Michigan State basketball was able to weather was first half hot shooting from Niagara to handle business on Thursday night and pick up their second win of the season. Ultimately, the Spartans blew Niagara out 96 – 60 in the Breslin Center behind a career-best performance from Jaxon Kohler.

After the game, MSU put out the highlight reel from the game on their X.com account. As we’ve grown accustomed to seeing, this game featured another huge pair of dunks from Coen Carr and Jaden Akins which alone make this highlight video an especially great watch.

You can watch the video here:

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Eric Rataczak commits to Tennessee baseball

Niagara baseball transfer Eric Rataczak announces his commitment to Tennessee.

Niagara redshirt junior transfer Eric Rataczak announced his commitment to Tennessee baseball on Monday.

“I am excited to announce my commitment to the University of Tennessee,” Rataczak announced. “Can’t wait to get to work with all the Vol baseball staff, thank you to them for the wonderful opportunity. Thanks to my parents for their endless support in the pursuit of my dreams. I love you guys, GBO!”

Rataczak played outfield and first base in his only season at Niagara. He appeared in 55 games, including 53 starts, and recorded a .396 batting average, 17 home runs, 71 RBIs, 59 runs, 31 walks and two stolen bases.

Rataczak transferred to Niagara from the University of San Diego and Arizona Western College. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Vol is from Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, Minnesota.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning 2024 national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Michigan State basketball announces 2024-25 season opener date, opponent

Michigan State basketball announces 2024-25 season opener date, opponent

Michigan State basketball started their 2023-24 season with an unceremonious loss to James Madison, a team that became one of the darlings of the college basketball season. This year, Tom Izzo has lined up an opponent that will, presumably, be a less formidable match-up.

The Spartans will start their 2024-25 season with a game against Niagara of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on Nov. 7.

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Notre Dame’s Julian Roper II cleared for all basketball activities

That’s definitely a relief.

Notre Dame’s 2023-24 roster was brought together practically on the fly. As soon as he was hired, [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] had to string together a group of transfers and his 2023 Penn State recruiting class.

One transfer, [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag] from Northwestern, was coming off an ankle injury. Fortunately, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting that that’s no longer a concern:

Roper’s injury kept him from participating in the final month and a half of the Wildcats’ surprising run to the NCAA Tournament, only the second berth in that program’s history. He undoubtedly is looking for a new start after last season ended in disappointment. Most importantly, he’ll be available to start the new season.

The Irish will get their first look at opposing competition when they participate in a secret scrimmage Sunday at Xavier. They’ll play an exhibition Nov. 1 against Hanover, and the season starts when they welcome Niagara to Purcell Pavilion on Nov. 6.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Micah Shrewsberry speaks after winning first game as Notre Dame coach

Hear from the new coach.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Micah Shrewsberry has changed jobs quite a bit in his career. It’s gotten to a point where his family now has a tradition of taking a picture on the court after his first game coaching for a new team. That’s exactly what happened after Notre Dame beat Niagara, 70-63, in his program debut.

Before he could celebrate with his loved ones though, Shrewsberry had the duty of addressing the media. He came into the media room after [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] and [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag] had their own interview session. As one might imagine, he was in a good mood, so it’s unlikely he was too bothered about having to handle one of the duties that comes with his job.

A lot of questions were asked, and Fighting Irish Wire was able to get a couple of them in. Here is Shrewsberry’s opening statement and the answers to the two questions we asked:

Markus Burton, Julian Roper II speak after Notre Dame beats Niagara

These two were good in the opener.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] and [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag] were only two of many players to debut for Notre Dame against Niagara. Both of them factored into the Irish’s season-opening 70-63 win.

Burton, a freshman from next-door Mishawaka, set the Irish record for most points in a debut with 29 while also leading his team with four assists. Roper, a transfer from Northwestern, had nine points, four of them coming during a crucial second-half run that helped decide the game.

Both players had the honor of addressing the media after the victory. [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] did not enter the room with that and, in fact, was completely absent as they spoke. That meant two of the Irish’s newest players had to face reporters and camera operators all by themselves, but it’s unlikely they minded much given that they had just won.

Here are their answers to a few of the questions sent their way, including those asked by Fighting Irish Wire:

Notre Dame opens Shrewsberry era with tough win over Niagara

That’s the right way to start the year.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Nobody is expecting anything to come easy in [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag]’s first season heading Notre Dame. With a roster having come together on the fly, there will be a lot of tough days and growing pains. For now though, the Irish will be happy to start their new coach’s tenure with a hard-fought 70-63 win over Niagara.

The Irish, playing without [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag], never led in the first half and didn’t hold a lead until more than six minutes had gone by in the second. They were up front by as much as six midway through the frame before the Purple Eagles tied it at 51 a few minutes later. One only could guess how this one would end.

Even when the Irish regained a four-point lead late, the Eagles refused to go away, cutting that deficit in half with 4:05 remaining. Fortunately, the Irish made all the right plays in the final few minutes and, despite some tense moments towards the end, the Purcell Pavilion crowd home happy.

Mishawaka native [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] received the biggest cheers in the pregame introductions and made the most of his first collegiate game with a program-debut record 29 points and a team-high four assists. While it’s too early to tell if Shrewsberry’s offense will run through him all the time, he proved he will at least play a major role in it.

[autotag]Carey Booth[/autotag] had a similarly solid college debut with 10 points and eight rebounds. Among that line was a 3-pointer and a couple of two-handed dunks.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame forward Kebba Njie will miss opener with right hand injury

This isn’t ideal.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag] followed [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] to Notre Dame, but he won’t officially start the new journey alongside him. The Penn State transfer forward injured his right hand in practice this past weekend and will not be available for the Irish’s season opener against Niagara.

Njie was expected to start against the Purple Eagles, but [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag], one of the few incumbents on the Irish’s roster, will do so instead. Tom Noie of the South Bend Tribune was the first to report the news:

This is a tough break for the Irish as Njie is one of their more highly touted transfers. Ironically, Njie and Zona both accompanied Shrewsberry at the ACC Tipoff media session. Now, one of those players will have to step up for the other.

Zona’s only career start coming into Monday’s game was a January 2021 road win over Miami during his freshman year. He had two rebounds in the first four minutes. Interestingly, [autotag]Tony Sanders Jr.[/autotag], another Irish returnee, also started that game.

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Notre Dame releases nonconference schedule for 2023-24

Make your plans accordingly.

Notre Dame is in a transitional period for sure. There’s a new coach in [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag]. Almost the entire roster is different, and the few returning players barely have seen the floor in their careers.

Needless to say, this does not stand to be a winning season in South Bend. However, games still need to be played because how else are you going to gain experience?

To that end, the Irish have released their nonconference schedule for the 2023-24 season. They should earn a few wins simply because some of their opponents don’t come from power conferences. Such is typical in the early days of the college basketball season. The only way the Irish could lose out is if they have absolutely no talent, and these players are with an ACC program for a reason.

Here are the nonconference games for the season, not including the Legends Classic on Nov. 16 and 17 in Brooklyn that will feature the Irish, Auburn, Oklahoma State and St. Bonaventure. The first-round matchups for that will be determined at a later date. For everything else though, mark your calendar:

Notre Dame to open season Nov. 6 against Niagara

Plan accordingly for the start of a new era.

We finally have an official start date for the [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] era at Notre Dame. Even with Shrewsberry’s first season as Irish coach still five months away, it’s never too late to get excited about the start of the season. And now, you can mark your calendar thanks to this tweet from CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein:

This is par for the course for a program in a power conference. They always set up their nonconference schedules in such a way that they will be in good shape once conference play begins. Given how challenging this season is sure to be for the rebuilding Irish, Niagara is a good opening opponent for them.

The Irish and Purple Eagles have met three times, and the Irish always have won. The first meeting was a 30-20 decision at Niagara back in 1909. The next two were an 80-59 victory in 2005 and an 89-67 final in 2012. Here’s a look back at the two most recent meetings: