Iowa Basketball: Get to Know the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
A look at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who Iowa will play as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Iowa basketball will play their first true road game of the season on Tuesday against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hawkeyes enter the game 3-3 after going 0-2 in the Emerald Coast Classic.
They will not have an easy task on Tuesday, though. Notre Dame is 6-0 and coming off a Legends Classic Championship. The Fighting Irish defeated Northwestern 70-66 in the final to take home the championship. Notre Dame also took down Power Five opponent in Colorado in the same tournament, winning 89-83.
The rest of their non-conference schedule has been against mid-majors, however. Notre Dame has fared very well and ranks in the top-35 in the nation in both points per game and points allowed per game this season.
The Irish likely won’t keep those marks once they hit conference play, however they look like a potential dark horse in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.
Notre Dame has a couple of potential All-ACC First Team members on their team, although they can credit their success to their depth. The Irish have three players averaging at least 15 points per game, thee averaging at least four rebounds per game, and Matt Farrell is leading the team with 5.3 assists per game.
Iowa and Notre Dame will tip-off at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2. Other than Iowa’s game against Virginia, this is arguably the Hawkeyes toughest opponent of the young season. It’s a great measuring stick game for their young team and will better prepare them for Big Ten play.
Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Brey
Now in his 17th season, Mike Brey has another team who can make noise in the ACC. In his 17 season, Brey has led Notre Dame to being ranked in the AP Poll in all but two years, to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and a 20-win season 12 times, as well.
At Notre Dame, Brey has gone an incredible 362-177 (.672 winning percentage) and has cemented himself as one of the best coaches in the nation. In his career, Brey has gone 461-229 (.668 winning percentage) over 22 seasons between the Irish and Delaware.
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Brey coached Delaware for five seasons at the start of his career and led them to three straight 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournaments. Notre Dame has only won one regular season conference championship — Brey’s first season — and one ACC Tournament championship under Brey, but they still have one of the most consistently good programs in the nation.
That being said, Notre Dame is trying to find a way over the hump. Led by Jerian Grant two years ago, the Irish made it to the Elite Eight before losing to Kentucky 68-66. Then, led by Demetrius Jackson a season ago, the Irish lost to another top seed in North Carolina, 88-74 in the same round.
It’s the farthest Notre Dame has gone in the NCAA Tournament since 1978-79 when Digger Phelps roamed the sideline. Still, for as good as the Irish are every year, especially in the Tournament, they’re unable to get past one seeds under Brey.
Nonetheless, Brey ended a 10-year Tournament drought in his first season and will stay at Notre Dame as long as he wants. He’s restored the program back to national relevance, and consistently puts players to the NBA.
Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Players to Watch
Bonzie Colson: 17.2 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 50.7 FG%
Standing at just 6-5, Bonzie Colson plays like he’s near seven feet tall. The junior forward leads the team in points per game, rebounds per game and blocks per game. His versatility can cause teams a lot of problems, which means Nicholas Baer will likely guard him.
Considering Iowa’s struggles in the paint, Colson could be in for a huge game. He is 5-of-10 from behind the arc, but he does most of his scoring inside. In fact, he’s attempted multiple three-pointers in just three games this season. Therefore, Iowa has to be strong in the paint and can’t get beat off the dribble.
Although, Colson’s biggest impact on the game might come on the glass. Leading the team with 9.7 rebounds per game, the Hawkeyes can’t let him get second chance opportunities. His 50.7 field goal percentage is evidence to his effectiveness scoring in the paint.
Plus, Colson has at least seven rebounds in all six games and is coming into the game with three straight double-doubles. Iowa allowed 13 offensive rebounds to Memphis last game and it cost them down the stretch. The same can’t happen against Notre Dame.
V.J. Beachem: 17.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 45.3 FG%, 39.4 3P%
V.J. Beachem ranks second in scoring but has six more shot attempts than Colson this year. Beachem will test Tyler Cook on Tuesday. The 6-8 senior forward has gotten better on offense every season.
Notre Dame wants to run their offense through Beachem inside and out. 44 percent of his shot attempts are threes, and he’s made a respectable 39.4 percent of them. He stretches the floor and will take rebounders out of the paint due to his three-point shot. Although, he can score inside, as well.
Beachem has double-digit shot attempts in all six games this season, however he’s shot significant worse against Colorado and Northwestern — Notre Dame’s two Power Five opponents. He combined to shoot 30.8 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three against them, compared to shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three against mid-major opponents.
Iowa won’t win if they let both Colson and Beachem have great offensive games. The Hawkeyes have to contain Beachem and force him into tough shots, because he’s struggled when teams put pressure on him.
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