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Notre Dame Basketball: Irish Meet Orange Again

Notre Dame (11-6, 2-4) will return after a week-long absence from the hardwood on Wednesday when it welcomes Syracuse (11-7, 4-3) to South Bend. The Irish, already having beaten the Orange at the Carrier Dome on Jan. 4, will try to sweep the season series. They’ll need to in order to have some momentum ahead Saturday’s road game against No. 5 Florida State.

As tough as it’s been for the Irish during ACC play, the schedule hasn’t done them any favors. Only they and Georgia Tech have had to play five of their first eight conference games on the road. Then again, they’ve lost both ACC contests they’ve played at Purcell Pavilion this season, so this is a game they desperately need.

John Mooney has had a historic season, reaching one milestone and record after another. A double-double against Syracuse would be his 12th straight, and it would give him the Notre Dame record for the longest such streak, breaking a tie with Luke Harangody, who has stood at the top since the 2008-09 season.

Notre Dame Basketball: Renewing Detroit Mercy Rivalry

If Notre Dame (6-3) ever needed a time for Detroit Mercy (1-7) to appear on its schedule, this is it. A blowout loss at Maryland in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge followed by a tough home defeat to Boston College reminded the Irish that their recent six-game winning streak merely was a blip in a long season. They hope Tuesday’s game with the Titans at Purcell Pavilion will give them to relief they need.

Facing the Titans for the first time since November 2011, the Irish once again will look to John Mooney, the nation’s leading rebounder at 13.5 boards a game. Mooney logged his third consecutive double-double and sixth in his first eight games with 16 points and 18 rebounds against Boston College on Saturday. He is 12 rebounds away from tying Rob Kurz (650) for most career rebounds in the Mike Brey era.

Notre Dame is averaging 10.1 turnovers a game after losing the ball a season-high 15 times in Saturday’s loss. It has not finished a season averaging double figures in turnovers since the 2013-14 season (10.3). Though the Irish rank sixth nationally in that category this season and second in the ACC, they’ll have to limit those turnovers to snap their two-game skid.

Notre Dame Basketball Moves to 3-1 After Holding Off Marshall (Highlights)

On a strange night for the Irish, they’re due credit for closing the stressful half with a great finish, taking a 40-29 lead to the break.

A 17 point lead early on wasn’t enough to keep things from getting a bit interesting Friday night at Purcell Pavilion as Notre Dame outlasted Marshall in a 74-64 win that felt a bit closer than that.

The Irish shot out of a cannon to a 25-8 lead early on Friday night before stumbling into the later part of the half, watching their lead disintegrate to just three when Marshall got things to 31-27 with three minutes before halftime.

On a strange night for the Irish, they’re due credit for closing the stressful half with a great finish, taking a 40-29 lead to the break.

After another quick start to the second half, Marshall came thundering back (sorry, had to) with a 10-0 run that made things just 49-46 in favor of the Irish before a John Mooney took over like John Mooney tends to do as old-reliable was again the star as putting up 28 points and pulling down 16 boards. Another day, another double-double for the Pre-Season All-ACC team member.

Dane Goodwin had a fantastic night as well as his nine second half points (11 total) and seven rebounds on the night secured the win.

Dry spells from the field were much to blame for why things got interesting multiple times Friday night as Notre Dame shot just 24/76 on their home court. They also knocked down just seven of 28 three-point attempts.

Notre Dame plays their fourth straight game at home Friday as Presbyterian will be in South Bend. The 3-1 Fighting Irish are yet to trail at home this season.

You can watch highlights of Friday night’s victory right here.