Notre Dame Game Thread

dtm1997

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http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/010215aaa.html



This ND team is off to a great start. Have an excellent backcourt and their frontcourt has exceeded expectations. Realize we split last year, but this year will be several degrees tougher in both ND games.

Interestingly, we play them twice in our 1st 4 ACC games. Given I expect both to result in losses, better to get them out of the way sooner than later, in the event our performance picks up as the conference slate goes forward.

I remain hopeful, as always, but Jerian Grant & co are lining up to be very tough outs.
 

Peacone36

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They are one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country and our defense is.....porous ..to say the least.

They arent great on the glass but i dont think that advantage is enough to get us the W. A single digit loss would be an accomplishment.
 

dtm1997

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I will be making the 3 hr trip from Flint to watch. We have to find a way to steal a win or two with the stretch of games we have to open ACC play.
I think we've got a chance to make it competitive tomorrow, but I don't see us beating ND at all this year.

On the flip side, I do think we've got a good shot against Syracuse if we can penetrate the zone and a very good chance to beat Wake. Could open 2-2 in ACC play.
 

awbuzz

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I'm just hoping that we keep it close and still have a realistic chance in the last 2 minutes of the game to win.
 

RamblinRed

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It's hard to see GT staying within single digits at ND. ND is one of the best shooting teams at home in the country.
Their pace is slow, but they do not miss much. Bad matchup for GT. But you play the games for a reason. Who knows, maybe we will discover our shooting touch in a much more friendly shooting building.
 

orientalnc

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I agree with Red about ND.

As for Syracuse, they have some of the same problems as GT: Poor shooting, especially from the arc, and too many turnovers. On the plus side for them: They have held six opponents to under 50 points. Given our offensive troubles, that is a daunting stat. Plus, they are a good "road" team. That is, they came within a bucket of Michigan in Ann Arbor and lost to Villanova in OT in Philly. McCamish will not scare them.

The beginning of our ACC schedule is tough. I think we should prepare ourselves for a 1-5 record when we come for the BC game in late January, and should be happy that the train is still on the tracks if we are 2-4. A 3-3 record is sign of good things ahead.

ND, Louisville, UVA, Duke, UNC, NC State, Syracuse, and Miami are all better, on paper and by their records, than GT. I think we are about even with Pitt, and better, as before , than Clemson, FSU, VPI, BC and Wake. That puts us at somewhere around ninth or tenth in the conference. The problem is our schedule. It does not line up well for us. We will be the favorite in four home games and the underdog in five. I think we will be the favorite in only two away games and the dog in seven. I have us the dog vs. Pitt because we play them on the road.

It still looks like the expectation should be 6-7 wins. I think the upside is 8 wins and the downside is 4-5 wins. When you think about it, 17-13 is not too bad given where we are. If we could win a game in the ACCT, that would give us the 18 win season we hoped for. And keep BG on the job.
 

Peacone36

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Maybe I am being mental, which is entirely possible, but I think Wake is a terrible matchup for us. Madison Jones could give Jorgy a lot of problems as he is a really good defender.

CMM and MGH cancel each other out as do Devin Thomas and Chuck. I picked WF as a surprise team in the ACC and I was obviously wrong about that one. But I think that matchup is very tough for us.
 

RamblinRed

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Maybe I am being mental, which is entirely possible, but I think Wake is a terrible matchup for us. Madison Jones could give Jorgy a lot of problems as he is a really good defender.

CMM and MGH cancel each other out as do Devin Thomas and Chuck. I picked WF as a surprise team in the ACC and I was obviously wrong about that one. But I think that matchup is very tough for us.

Wake might beat us but they are not a team that particularly scares me, nor one that I think is that bad of a matchup.

I don't think CMM and MGH cancel each other out.
CMM is a poor shooter both from the field and line and a mediocre defender. One of the more inefficient players in the conference.
Madison Jones is a good defender but a poor shooter and distributor who will likely lose his starting job against to Wilkebein when he returns from suspension.

Thomas can be a beast, but if you get inside his head you can take him out of a game emotionally.
 

RamblinRed

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Love the effort and had been debating about putting Bolden in the starting lineup as he has been playing the best of our wings beside MGH.
Have to find a way to win that game though. I know this wasn't supposed to be close, but when you get a chance like this you can't let it slip through your fingers.

Everyone knew Hunt would get the ball, he needed to be better prepared to pass when he was collapsed on. Another good game.

FT shooting continues to be good. Rebounding was strong and even the 3-pt shooting wasn't awful.
 

dtm1997

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played a top 15 team tough. Cant ask for more.
Would've loved to get the W and we had a chance to, but they showed a lot of heart and played pretty well in many aspects of the game.

Broke down some as we got in to Double OT, but playing ND like that on the road was a good showing.
 
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