For those of us unfortunately not making the trip we can see the game on ESPN.
The Naval Academy released their kickoff schedule for the 2020 season Tuesday and in it was the Week Zero affair against Notre Dame in Dublin, Ireland.
When the two teams met there to start the 2012 season it was before the Week Zero idea had taken shape and the game simply kicked off a couple of hours before the regular noon ET games for Week One.
That won’t be the case this time around. Instead it’s under the lights for Notre Dame vs. Navy.
Kickoff between Notre Dame and Navy is set for 2 p.m. ET which means it’s a 7 p.m. start in Dublin. I would imagine the atmosphere will be quite festive.
For those of us unfortunately not making the trip we can see the game on ESPN. ESPN’s “College Gameday” will also make the trip.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with Navy 77-13-1.
McGraw hasn’t won often in 2019-20, but on social media Monday night she was lights out.
When you think Muffet McGraw you think building a program from a near-nothing to a national powerhouse. You also probably think of a couple of national championship banners that hang in Purcell Pavilion and a bunch more Final Four appearances.
When you think Roy Williams you probably think somewhat the same in terms of men’s basketball as he holds a few national championships himself, is a legend in the game and has guided both Kansas and North Carolina to elite levels on an annual basis.
Except this year.
McGraw’s Notre Dame squad sits just 10-16 on the season and 5-9 in ACC play. Meanwhile Roy’s Tar Heels are an unheard of 3-11 in conference play entering Monday night.
McGraw didn’t shy away from the fact the two former champions are suffering through a couple of trying seasons.
SUPPORT GROUP MEETING of former champions on handling the adversity of this season🏀🤔🤷🏻♀️ Yo @SteveKerr … we are holding a spot for you 😉 pic.twitter.com/NjTbwBtKQp
A quick viewing of his highlight tape shows a youngster with tremendous speed for any age, let alone his and very good athleticism.
Notre Dame got an early start on 2023 recruiting over the weekend as they became the second team to offer a scholarship to wide receiver/defensive back Raymond Valencia.
Valencia hails from J. Serra Catholic in California and is listed at 6-0, 170 pounds. A quick viewing of his highlight tape shows a youngster with tremendous speed for any age, let alone his and very good athleticism.
If Valencia’s first two scholarship offers are any indication it would mean most powerhouse programs won’t be far behind because Notre Dame joined Oregon as the only two schools to offer so far.
The second half of my freshman year of high school I think I spent the majority of time thinking about how I was going to ask a girl out (and I’d never step up) or how I’d be getting home from school or practice. I can’t imagine not yet being able to drive but getting offered scholarships to the likes of Notre Dame and Oregon.
Previewing Monday’s North Carolina Tar Heels at Notre Dame Fighting Irish sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball picks.
The North Carolina Tar Heels (10-15, 3-11 ACC) travel north to meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (15-10, 6-8 ACC) in a Monday night ACC clash at Purcell Pavillion at the Joyce Center for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the North Carolina-Notre Dame odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.
North Carolina at Notre Dame: Three things you need to know
1. The Fighting Irish are coming off back to back losses to Duke (94-60) and Virginia (50-49 in overtime) and look to right the ship on their home hardwood where they average 79.9 points per game. The Tar Heels head into this game on a five-game losing skid. UNC has trailed throughout four of those five losses.
2. Seniors G Brandon Robinson being out with an ankle injury hurts North Carolina. Robinson has been UNC’s primary threat from 3-point range where he’s a 35% shooter. The fourth-year letterman has averaged a career-high 13.1 PPG in 16 starts this season. The Tar Heels have shot just 26.2% from 3-point-land over their last 11 games.
3. UND is coming off its worst two back-to-back shooting games this season. The Irish shot a combined 34.7% from the field over losses to Duke and Virginia. Over three home games from Jan. 29-Feb. 5, Notre Dame shot 45.6% from the floor and a robust 37.7% from distance.
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North Carolina at Notre Dame: Odds, betting lines and picks
Notre Dame (-175) is expected to win this Monday home game over North Carolina (+145). We’ll PASS on the moneyline with better value available on the spread.
The Fighting Irish are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall, and they are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine home games. The home teams is 7-2 ATS over the last nine games of the UNC-UND series.
Look for the Fighting Irish to take good care of the basketball. A low-turnover game will mitigate a UNC edge on the boards, making UND a solid play to win by a couple scores. BACK NOTRE DAME (-2.5, -129) to win by at least 3 points.
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Vernon Carey, Jr. led the way for Duke with 21 points while Tre Jones put up 19.
“Show me the way to go home…”
Notre Dame wrapped up its three game road trip that made it the only ACC team to have to play three road conference games in a six day span this season on Saturday.
And at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday it was No. 7 Duke making the Fighting Irish wish for their home beds as the Blue Devils put their talent on full display en-route to a 94-60 destruction of the Domers.
Vernon Carey, Jr. led the way for Duke with 21 points while Tre Jones put up 19.
Despite the Irish keeping things within single-digits early in the second half, a Duke onslaught coupled with Notre Dame making just four second half field goals led to the route as Duke outscored the Irish 52-28 in the second half.
John Mooney was held short of his regular double-double as he scored 19 and pulled down nine rebounds.
Notre Dame’s best player Saturday was probably Juwan Durham who finished with a team-high 21 points in 23 minutes.
As a team Notre Dame shot just 36.5% from the field and went just 5-21 (23.8%) from beyond the arc.
Notre Dame falls to 15-10 overall and to 6-8 in ACC play. If there is good news it’s that the schedule finally gets them back home and a North Carolina team who has struggled awaits them Monday.
Duke moves to 22-3 overall on the year and 12-2 in ACC play. The Blue Devils will continue their march to try and claim a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when they return to action Wednesday at North Carolina State.
Notre Dame does not have a commitment to its 2021 class by a cornerback. It does however have what is regarded as a top-three class nationwide early-on.
Mike Mickens getting the cornerbacks coach job at Notre Dame could mean many good things for the Fighting Irish secondary. One of those things however won’t be landing a commitment from one of the nation’s top cornerbacks in 2021.
Jakailin (JK) Johnson of DeSmet Jesuit in St. Louis announced his six remaining schools Friday and Notre Dame did not make the cut.
If DeSmet sounds familiar it’s because Notre Dame has been linked there quite a bit recently. 2020 wide receiver commitment Jordan Johnson played his high school football there while their head coach Robert Steeples had been reported to be a candidate to become Notre Dame’s cornerbacks coach, a job of course went to Mickens earlier this week.
Listen, there is no promise whatsoever if Steeples got the job that Johnson would have wound up at Notre Dame. More importantly, hire the guy who is best for the program, not for just one individual.
I’m really hoping this doesn’t turn into anything bigger for fans because as of this point it absolutely shouldn’t.
To date, Notre Dame does not have a commitment to its 2021 class by a cornerback. It does however have what is regarded as a top-three class nationwide early-on.
What better way to get pumped up for spring football then to look at what’s coming in the pipeline for the Irish. I’ve put together an eligibility chart (based not on year in school, but total eligibility remaining including committed high …
What better way to get pumped up for spring football then to look at what’s coming in the pipeline for the Irish.
I’ve put together an eligibility chart (based not on year in school, but total eligibility remaining including committed high schoolers) and a PROJECTED depth chart for 2020-2022.
I need to reiterated: this is projected based on what I think it may look like.
Used the tabs at the bottom to scroll from sheet to sheet.
Bookmark this page and keep track of what the roster could look like for the Irish in 2020 and moving forward.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Notre Dame safety Jalen Elliott
Every NFL team wants a leader on the back end of their defense who commands respect, and a versatile presence who can make plays at every level of the field.
Notre Dame’s Jalen Elliott checks both of those boxes.
A complete player who knows how to rally a unit to victory, Elliott recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about the benefits of playing for a top college program, why his versatility will set him apart at the next level, and more.
JM: How would you describe your skill set?
JE: I think I’m pretty versatile when it comes to playing on the defensive side of the ball. I have the ability to shut down the middle of the field. If you watched me this past year, that’s where I played the majority of my snaps. I’m also able to come downhill and cover tight ends or even the slot receiver. I enjoyed showing my versatility throughout the season. I have the range to take things away on the back-end and I can step up to the line of scrimmage and cover man-to-man as well.
JM: You’re extremely versatile, playing multiple positions and roles for that Notre Dame defense. Is there one position that fits you best at the next level?
JE: I wouldn’t say that there’s one that fits me best. I’m probably most comfortable playing in the post because that’s where I played the majority of my snaps. I love to take that deep route away. That’s where I was most of the time. I’m comfortable playing multiple positions however. I enjoy showcasing my versatility.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What’s your favorite part about playing in the defensive backfield?
JE: You can play the game with a lot of emotion. I think that’s huge for me. I’m a guy that’s very vocal on the field. Being somebody that plays the game that way, I’ve always enjoyed watching the vocal players. Growing up, my favorite players were the loud ones (laughs). I love showing that raw emotion. I’m a passionate guy and that’s how I play the game. I love that you can do that at defensive back and not get scrutinized for it. I don’t think you can play that way at any other position really.
JM: Playing at Notre Dame afforded you the opportunity to play against some of the best competition college football has to offer. Who are some of the best players you’ve had to go up against?
JE: You said it, man. I’ve played against a lot of great talent. Somebody that stuck out to me my freshmen year was a guy named Adoree’ Jackson. That was early on in my career. He played at USC, and he plays for the Tennessee Titans now. He scored on us three times in three different ways (laughs). That was pretty amazing to watch. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever played against. More recently, I played against Georgia running back D’Andre Swift this year. He’s a great, versatile running back. He makes big plays for his team. Playing at Notre Dame, you’re gonna play against great competition on a weekly basis. Those are just a couple of guys I squared off with that were very talented.
JM: You’ve had so many great teammates throughout your time at Notre Dame, but I’m gonna put you on the spot a little bit. If you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would you bring and why?
JE: I’m gonna go with my safety brother, Alohi Gilman. We were the vocal leaders of our defense. We were sorta tasked with passing down the messages from our defensive coordinator to the rest of the defense. That’s how much trust they put in us. I know that he’s gonna go to battle with me. We’d go to war together in a heartbeat. That’s just a guy that I love to play the game with.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
JM: If there was one NFL quarterback you could intercept, who would it be and why?
JE: That’s a great question. Wow, that’s tough. I would have to say Tom Brady. He’s arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. That would be a memory that I could forever cherish. You tell your grand-kids about the time you picked off Tom Brady (laughs). He’s the GOAT. He said he’s coming back to play a few more years. Hopefully I’ll get that opportunity.
JM: Going back to your versatility, I’m curious as to what you enjoy more, coming downhill and playing the run game or dropping back into coverage?
JE: It’s kinda funny because I can’t limit myself to just one of those. I get great pleasure from doing both. Coming downhill and making a sure tackle is just as fun as playing great coverage on the back-end to me. Whether that’s a slot receiver or a tight end, I love it all. I get pleasure from doing both although it’s a different feeling.
JM: What kind of impact is Jalen Elliott gonna make at the next level?
JE: Jalen Elliott is gonna be a guy that’s gonna come in ready to learn. I’m gonna continue to be versatile and put the work in. Whatever weakness people say I have, that’s exactly what I’m gonna work on until it becomes a strength.
Mickens never played in an NFL game while spending time on the Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccanneers and Cincinnati Bengals practice squads.
Mike Mickens of Cincinnati is the new defensive backs coach at Notre Dame according to a report from Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports. After a long hiring process that took longer than some Notre Dame fans would have liked, the up-and-comer is the latest addition to Brian Kelly’s coaching staff.
