Tag: Princeton

Notre Dame earns opening-night victory over sister school Stonehill

Great way to start the year.

(This story was updated to add new information).

The Notre Dame men’s basketball team opened its season against sister school Stonehill. Both Notre Dame and Stonehill were founded by the Congregation of the Holy Cross over a century apart, so it was natural they would face each other at some point.

While the Irish are a mainstay in college athletics though, the Skyhawks only are in their third season at the Division I level. Talent likely would have decided this game anyway though as the Irish won, 89-60.

The Irish (1-0) trailed the Skyhawks (1-1) for only the first 100 seconds of the game, then dominated in all aspects soon afterwards, at least once their lead reached double figures in the first half. Though they fell three points short of matching their first-half scoring output (46) in the second half, there were times when the latter frame felt more dominant.

Either way, this looked like a team that knew how to play together throughout. [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] was able to empty his bench at the end, which was a sure sign of a good night.

[autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] and [autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] tied for the game high with 18 points each with Burton also tallying five assists. Princeton transfer [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag] scored 10 in his first Irish game. [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag] scored all nine of his points in the second half and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

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On3 names Notre Dame’s Matt Allocco among top 20 ACC impact transfers

How do you expect him to contribute this season?

Unlike most other ACC teams, Notre Dame didn’t dip its toes very deep into the transfer portal this past offseason. In fact, the Irish joined North Carolina, Florida State and Pittsburgh as the only schools in the conference to add three or fewer players via the transfer portal. That fell below the conference average of 4.6 transfers a team.

But one of them figures to contribute mightily to the Irish this this upcoming season. On3’s Jamie Shaw has named [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag] one of 20 impact transfers in the ACC for the 2024-25 season.

Allocco came over to the Irish from Princeton and is coming off career-high averages in both scoring (12.7) and assists (3.3). That netted him his second straight Second Team All-Ivy League honor, and he now will see how well his game translates in a power conference.

Shaw described Allocco this way:

“Matt Allocco is another connector for [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag]’s team. The 6-foot-4 senior is comfortable moving the ball or knocking down shots. He brings a winning pedigree (70-21 in college) and will provide a veteran presence beside [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag], someone who compliments his game and is able to take some pressure off his duties.”

Irish fans will be watch Allocco every step of the way. He’ll be crucial to any success this still-young team has.

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Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Notre Dame hockey names four captains for 2024-25 season

Did your favorite player make the list?

With the Notre Dame hockey team’s season about to get underway, the time had come for [autotag]Jeff Jackson[/autotag] to name his captains. Jackson, who will retire after this season, has unveiled the names of four players who have received captaincy honors. All four captains are forwards.

[autotag]Ian Murphy[/autotag], who was Princeton’s captain last season, his fourth and final year with the program, is a captain once again. It speaks volumes that he already has made that big of an impact on the program.

[autotag]Grant Silianoff[/autotag] is in his fifth season with the Irish. An injury cut last year short for him, so he obviously is hoping this year will have a happier ending.

[autotag]Tyler Carpenter[/autotag] is coming off a 33-game campaign. Although he scored only five goals, his .143 shooting percentage was third on the team.

[autotag]Justin Jacnicke[/autotag] played in all 36 games last season. Twelve of his 16 points came from assists.

https://twitter.com/NDHockey/status/1844384155855208841

The Irish open their season Friday at St. Lawrence. That will be followed by a Saturday contest at Clarkson. Their first two home contests will come Oct. 18 and 19 against Alaska.

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Jon Rothstein projects Notre Dame to finish 12th in ACC in 2024-25

Is this a fair ranking?

College basketball is a few months away, but that doesn’t mean predictions can’t be made now. Jon Rothstein has taken this to heart and written an early preview for how he things the new-look ACC will shape up during the 2024-25 season. With 18 teams to rank, Rothstein has the Irish finishing 12th, or the tail end of the conference’s middle tier.

Rothstein also highlights a couple of Irish players to watch. He lists [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag], who came over from Princeton, as one of 15 under-the-radar transfers. He also has picked [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] as one of 10 breakout players with the stipulation that players who previously have averaged double figures in scoring are not eligible to be considered breakout players.

Both Allocco and Davis are projected to be starters on the Irish alongside returnees [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag], [autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] and [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag]. You won’t get much of an argument with that starting lineup right now. We’ll see how much, if at all, that changes once we’re through training camp.

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Countdown to Kickoff: Jesper Horsted is the Saints Player of Day 79

There isn’t a No. 79 on the Saints right now, but Jesper Horsted just signed and chose his jersey number. He’s our Saints Player of the Day as we count down to kickoff:

We’re counting down the days until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 regular season with the Carolina Panthers, and while normally we’d be highlighting the player of the day in the corresponding jersey number (or a fan-favorite from the past who used it, when one isn’t available), we’re doing things a little different today.

Tight end Jesper Horsted has chosen to wear the No. 88 jersey with the Saints, and because he signed so recently he’s our pick; no one had taken it when we reached Day 88 in our countdown, and he had yet to sign with the team. Coincidentally, there also isn’t currently a No. 79 on the roster. We’ll take this opportunity to highlight Horsted, so let’s get to know him a little better.

  • Name (Age): Jesper Horsted (27)
  • Position: Tight end
  • Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 237 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 4.70
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $985,000
  • College: Princeton
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2019 (Chicago Bears)
  • NFL experience: 5 years

Horsted’s connection to the Saints runs through tight ends coach Clancy Barrone — who held the same position in Chicago when the Bears signed him as a rookie free agent. He’s primarily played special teams in the NFL (527 career snaps, including a career-high 216 last year with the Las Vegas Raiders) and that might be his path to making the team.

But the Saints signed Horsted after a foot injury sidelined Juwan Johnson for much of the summer. Like Johnson, he’s known as more of a pass-catching tight end than a blocker, so expect him to pick up the slack in receiving drills once training camp begins in late July. Guys like Michael Jacobson and Dallin Holker are ahead of him on the depth chart, but this is also an opportunity for Foster Moreau and Tommy Hudson to show the coaching staff they have hands, too.

Ultimately it’s on Horsted to prove he can handle a range of assignments and win the job as their third tight end behind Johnson and Moreau when roster cuts are decided at the end of August. He may have joined the team as a temporary fill-in because of an injury to another player, but that doesn’t  have to define his time on the team. Let’s see how he chooses to write his story.

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Notre Dame gets Lehigh transfer forward Burke Chebuhar

The 2024-25 Irish officially are assembled.

When most college basketball fans hear Leigh, they might think of the program’s 2012 NCAA Tournament victory over Duke. Now, for at least one season, Notre Dame fans will think about one of the players. Forward [autotag]Burke Chebuhar[/autotag] made the announcement that he will use his remaining college eligibility by transferring to Notre Dame:

https://www.instagram.com/burke.chebuhar/p/C7Cm1zgOmmI/?hl=en&img_index=1

With this addition, [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag]’s 2024-25 roster is complete. Over the past month, the Irish added two other transfers: Princeton guard [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag] and [autotag]Monmouth center Nikita Konstantynovskyi[/autotag]. The one thing all three transfers have in common is that they’re coming off career-best seasons.

After playing 11 games apiece in his first seasons with the Mountain Hawks with minimal contributions both times, Chebuhar broke out last season. He started 22 of 32 games and set career highs of 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. He got a taste of ACC action with road games against North Carolina and Boston College. Now, we’ll see how his game really translates from the Patriot League.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Rutgers baseball defeated their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers in mid-week action

The Scarlet Knights started off slow, but rallied in the later innings to defeat their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers 8-4.

After a slow start, Rutgers baseball (25-19, 3-12 Big Ten) battled back in the later innings to defeat their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers (16-22, 11-7 Ivy League) by an 8-4 scoreline.

Princeton started strong, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rutgers pitcher Jordan Falco got the nod for the Scarlet Knights on the mound, allowing four earned runs on three hits in one inning pitched.

The Scarlet Knights cut the Tigers’ lead in half in the bottom frame when center fielder Pete Durocher singled to left field and right fielder Trevor Cohen grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring two runs for Rutgers.

After the first inning, the Rutgers pitching staff held the Tigers scoreless, allowing their offense to rally back.

After recording a run in the second and fourth innings, the Scarlet Knights tied the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rutgers grabbed the lead with an RBI sac fly by third baseman Tony Santa Maria, giving Rutgers a 5-4 lead.

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Back in the win column with an in-state W over Princeton!!#TCD pic.twitter.com/nfFVSy4JnI

The Scarlet Knights blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning when Rutgers recorded three runs to extend their lead. Left fielder Johnny Volpe blasted a two-run home run over the right-center wall to secure Rutgers’ 8-4 victory.

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Rutgers returns to action on Friday when they host Maryland in a three-game set.

 

Notre Dame to host Michigan transfer forward Terrance Williams II

Hope he comes to the Irish.

With former Princeton guard [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag] now at Notre Dame, the Irish have two scholarships available for transfers. It’s hard to say at this point who will get those scholarships. One possibility is former Michigan forward Terrance Williams II, who has one year of eligibility remaining.

The Irish are set to host Williams next week. Like Allocco, this would be a nice get for the program. Last season, Williams more than doubled his scoring average from the season before by putting up 12.4 points a game. He also averaged a career high 1.5 assists a game. During the 2022-23 season, his 8.8 rebounds a game ranked among the best in the Big Ten.

It will take a little time before the Irish can develop more of their own scorers from within. Until that time, high-scoring veterans from the transfer portal will do. Hopefully though, more homegrown talent will become the norm before too long.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Photos of Notre Dame transfer guard Matt Allocco from Princeton days

A look back at the new Irish guard’s days with his previous team.

Notre Dame has landed its first transfer of the offseason, and it’s a big one. After three years with Princeton that included a Sweet 16 berth in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, guard [autotag]Matt Allocco[/autotag] is heading to to South Bend. He already blows any transfer [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] got in his first season with the Irish out of the water. Granted, that isn’t a high bar to clear, but still.

Had Allocco played for the 2023-24 Irish, he would have been their top shooter from both the field (.508) and the free-throw line (.909). He also would have been second behind [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] in both scoring (12.7) and assists (3.3). The Irish definitely would have won a few more games with him.

Make no mistake. The Irish still have a long road to travel to where they want to go. But having a veteran like Allocco will help the younger players in ways we all will see soon enough. For now, those players can refer to their new teammate’s days with the Tigers like so:

No. 13 Rutgers wrestling picked up two victories over the weekend

No. 13 Rutgers wrestling finished the weekend strong, defeating Buffalo 40-0, to capture their fifth victory of the season.

No. 13 Rutgers wrestling (5-1, 0-0) finished the weekend with a 40-0 victory over Buffalo (6-7)  to finish the weekend on an impressive note.

On Friday night, the Scarlet Knights started the weekend strong by dominating their in-state rival, the Princeton Tigers (0-2), 24-9 to secure the B1G-IVY Trophy. Rutgers picked up rank wins on Friday from No. 8 John Poznanski (197), No. 12 Brian Soldano (184), No. 16 Mitch Moore (141), No. 26 Dylan Schawver (134), and No. 29 Jackson Turley (174).

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Rutgers No. 7 Dean Peterson (125) opened Friday’s match against the Tigers by defeating No. 9 Drew Heethuis, 7-3, in a decision to give Rutgers a 3-0 lead. Peterson’s victory kept the Scarlet Knight undefeated and gave Rutgers a quick 3-0 lead over Princeton. The Scarlet Knights secured their 47th victory against the Tigers, winning their 25th in the last 26 matches against the Tigers.

 

Rutgers carried their winning effort from Friday into their match against Buffalo on Sunday.

Sunday’s match marked the third shutout for the Scarlet Knights this season (Duke, Edinboro, and Buffalo). No. 12 Soldano (184) and No. 16 Moore (141) completed the weekend strong, picking up falls against the Bulls to capture their second victory of the weekend.

The Scarlet Knights secured five bonus-point victories in a winning effort, with John O’Donnell (HWT) earning his first career-dual victory. Also, Rutgers’ Brandon Chletsos (125) captured a victory in his first home appearance.

Rutgers will send several wrestlers to the 59th edition of the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Hoffmann Estates, Illinois, at the end of the month (December 29-30) as the Scarlet Knights’ next dual is not till January 6 against Penn.

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