Next up for Duke is a trip to South Bend, and while Notre Dame has had a disappointing season, particularly since Markus Burton was injured against TCU on December 12th.
Duke is likely to come into this game #1 nationally and Notre Dame is limping in at 12-15 and 3-11 in the ACC. Easy money, right?
Well, maybe. Maybe not, too.
First, while Duke was pretty impressive against Michigan, it’s very hard to maintain that level. Second, this game is on the road. Third, Notre Dame has nothing to lose. And fourth,
it’s not like this team is totally lacking in talent. Burton was their best player, but there are others.
Braeden Shrewsberry, son of coach Micah, is a superior three-point shooter. A 6-4 junior, he’s hitting 40.6% of his attempts.
Jalen Haralson is a 6-7 freshman who has been quite productive. He’s getting 15.5 ppg and 3.7 rebounds.
Cole Certa is a 6-5 sophomore who has come on really fast lately. He hit for 34 against Virginia, 18 against Louisville, 14 against FSU, 16 against SMU, 37 in a monster outing against Georgia Tech, and 16 at Pitt on Saturday. Since the Virginia game, only Syracuse has held him under 14 points (he had 7 in the Dome).
He’s averaging 12 ppg and is obviously capable of a big night.
When Carson Tout transferred from Northern Arizona to Notre Dame, he came with a reputation as a solid rebounder and he’s lived up to that, getting 9.4 per game. He’s not scoring a ton of points, but he’s good at his primary job.
Toss in 6-6 sophomore Sir Mohammed, promising 6-10 freshman Brady Koehler, 6-4 junior Logan Imes, and 6-11 sophomore Garrett Sundra, and this team has a puncher’s chance against anyone. Not convinced?
Well, they took Virginia to double OT, lost to a vastly improved Florida State by 3, to SMU by 8, and to Pitt by 5.
Clearly, it’s been a tough season for the Irish, but to say they’re not dangerous is foolish. And they’re probably catching Duke at an ideal time because the odds of Duke playing with the sort of intensity they showed against Michigan on Saturday are not that great.
Duke will be heavily favored, but we could see Shrewsberry getting hot and Certa going off again and then you’ve got Haralson and the others getting easier opportunities. And how often do you get a chance to play the #1 team in the country, which Duke should be on Monday?
Duke’s biggest asset has been Cameron Boozer and his absolute steadiness and will to win. He’s shown up every game and just balled out. Duke has seen some real winners over the decades, but not many more focused than Boozer.
Isaiah Evans has improved to the point where his shot, while an asset, no longer completely defines him.
Pat Ngongba is rapidly emerging as a big guy who can shoot, rebound, pass, and defend, and Dame Sarr has become a surreal defender at times. Just ask Elliot Cadeau. Or Naithan George. Or Dillon Hunter. He’s become a lockdown artist who Duke’s Jon Scheyer has been gleefully siccing on opposing point guards. At 6-7 he has a built-in advantage, but aside from his height, Sarr has shown immense energy.
It won’t be easy, but does Notre Dame have a shot?
They do. Duke will have to try hard not to be flat, because how often have we seen a team come off a euphoric high and let down?
It happened to UNC at Miami right after the big win over Duke, and it could happen here too. It’d be a big upset, obviously, but you’d be foolish to discount it completely.
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