MBB vs Notre Dame

Early post today because the grand kids are here and there won't be any time later. I may get to watch the game if nap time works out. The men play Notre Dame today at 2 PM at South Bend. Notre Dame is favored by 7 points. Game is on the ACC Network. Notre Dame is 18-12, 14-4 at home and 4-7 away overall and 9-10, 5-4 home and 4-6 on the road in the ACC.

Notre Dame is going to be a match up problem for the Hokies 6'9" Senior John Mooney is their best player, shooting 47% overall and can shoot the three with 29% average. He averages 16.8 pts and 12.8 rebounds per game. One of the things that makes guarding Mooney a challenge is he is not their tallest player. 6'11" senior Juwan Durham also starts. The Hokies will have their hands full underneath. To win today, we have to find a way to defend their big men or stop everyone else from scoring. They have four players averaging more than 10 pts/game.

Could not find conference stats; so you get full season. Somewhat surprising to me is that they have been out rebounded slightly this year. They lead the nation in assist to TO ratio and in fewest fouls per game; but they have had four players foul out of a game this season. They are second in the nation in fewest turnovers per game. The Hokies cannot afford to be careless in this game. They lost their last two games to Wake Forest and Florida State. Here are the stats:

Notre Dame is probably on the bubble for the NCAA; so this game is important to them. And it is very important to the Hokies also. I think a win today guarantees a bye for the first round of the ACC Tournament. A win would either give us the 9 seed if BC loses to FSU(FSU is 16.5 pt favorite) or a tie with BC if they win and the 10 seed. If we lose, we could end up in a 2,3 or 4 way tie for the 9th or 10th seed with BC, Miami and UNC. But I think all those possibilities result in the 10 seed if Miami loses(Syracuse is favored by 1) and the 11 seed if Miami wins because we lose all the tiebreakers with Miami and BC and UNC(Duke is favored by 11) loses all the tiebreakers with everyone. Seems like I say this every game lately; but it sure would be great if Nolley can find his shot this game.

Go Hokies!