Notre Dame Men’s Basketball: The 2019 Season
Contents
- 2019 season overview
- Notre Dame’s key players
- The season’s biggest moments
- Notre Dame’s biggest wins
- Notre Dame’s biggest losses
- What the future holds for Notre Dame basketball
- What fans can expect from the 2019 season
- How Notre Dame can improve next season
- What changes Notre Dame needs to make for next season
- A look back at Notre Dame’s 2018 season
The Notre Dame Men’s basketball team finished the 2019 season with a record of 21-13.
2019 season overview
Notre Dame finished the 2019 season with a record of 21-12, including a 10-8 record in conference play The team began the season strong, winning 14 of their first 16 games. However, they struggled down the stretch, losing 6 of their last 10 games. They ultimately finished 4th in the conference, good for a spot in the NCAA tournament
In the tournament, Notre Dame was seeded 11th in the Midwest region. They defeated Utdah State in the first round before falling to Louisville in the second round.
The 2019 season was a successful one for Notre Dame but there is still Room for Improvement The team will look to build on their success and make a deeper run in the 2020 NCAA Tournament
Notre Dame’s key players
Notre Dame’s 2019 season was one to remember. The team went undefeated in the regular season winning the ACC conference title In the NCAA tournament the Fighting Irish made it all the way to the Elite Eight, where they lost to eventual National Champion Virginia.
Notre Dame’s success was due in large part to the play of its Key Players Senior guard Rex Pflueger was a steadying force on both ends of the court, while junior forward John Mooney averaged a double-double for the season. Sophomore guard Nate Laszewski was also a key contributor, averaging over 12 points per game
With Pflueger, Mooney, and Laszewski leading the way, Notre Dame will be looking to make another deep run in the 2020 NCAA tournament
The season’s biggest moments
Notre Dame Men’s Basketball had a great 2019 season, full of big wins and exciting moments. Here are some of the highlights:
-In January, the team beat then-No. 1 Duke in dramatic fashion, coming back from a double-digit deficit to win 88-69. This was Notre Dame’s first win against a top-ranked team in nearly 10 years.
-In February, the team clinched its first ever ACC regular season title with a victory over Florida State
-In March, the team made it all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual national champion Virginia.
Notre Dame’s biggest wins
Notre Dame had several big wins during the 2019 season. Some of their most impressive victories came against ranked teams like Duke, Louisville, and Michigan State The Irish also had several wins against ACC opponents, including a victory over then-#1 Syracuse. Notre Dame finished the season with a record of 23-12, and they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament
Notre Dame’s biggest losses
Notre Dame’s men’s Basketball team suffered some big losses this season, including to in-state rivals Purdue and Indiana. Here are some of the highlights of the season:
-A 78-64 loss to Purdue in November was Notre Dame’s first loss of the season.
-A 91-87 loss to Indiana in December was a tough one for the Irish, as they blew a 14-point lead in the second half.
-Another close loss came in January, when Notre Dame fell to Duke 80-79 on a last-second shot by Zion Williamson
Despite the losses, Notre Dame still had some bright spots this season. A 93-89 win over then-No. 1 Virginia was a High Point as was a victory over tournament team Oxford in the NIT.
What the future holds for Notre Dame basketball
The 2019 season was a tough one for Notre Dame fans. The team finished with a record of 14-19 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years. campus===’notre dame’construction_projects>0However, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of the program.
coach Mike Brey has proven that he can compete at a high level with the resources he has, and he has recruited well. The team’s freshman class was ranked in the top 20 nationally, and there are talented players waiting in the wings.
It will take some time for Notre Dame to get back to where it wants to be, but with Brey at the helm, they have a chance to build something special.
What fans can expect from the 2019 season
This season, fans can expect the Notre Dame Men’s basketball team to be led by their two standout senior captains, Rex Pflueger and John Mooney.
The two veterans will provide the team with experience and leadership, as they look to build on last year’s success. Mooney, in particular, will be looked to as the go-to scoring option, after averaging over 15 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.
The squad will also feature a strong group of talented freshmen, who will add depth and range to the team. With a mix of experience and fresh blood, the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball team is poised for another successful season
How Notre Dame can improve next season
Notre Dame had a solid season this year, but there are a few areas in which the team can improve next season.
First and foremost, the Irish need to find a way to score more consistently from beyond the arc. Notre Dame ranked just eighth in the ACC in Three-point shooting this season, hitting only 32.8 percent of their attempts from long range. If the Irish can improve their accuracy from deep, it will open up space inside for guys like John Mooney and Juwan Durham to operate.
Secondly, Notre Dame has to take better care of the ball next season. The Irish averaged nearly 14 turnovers per game this year, one of the highest marks in the ACC. Turnovers are always going to be an issue with a young team like Notre Dame but if they can cut down on their mistakes, it will go a long way towards helping them win more games.
Finally, Notre Dame has to get better on the defensive end of the floor if they want to take their game to the next level. The Irish were solid on defense this season, but they will need to be even better next year if they want to compete with the likes of Duke and Virginia at the top of the ACC standings.
What changes Notre Dame needs to make for next season
The Notre Dame men’s basketball team had a disappointing 2019 season, finishing with a record of 14-19. The Irish were plagued by inconsistency throughout the year and struggled to find an identity. There are a number of changes that need to be made if Notre Dame is going to be successful next season.
First and foremost, the Irish need to improve their shooting. Notre Dame finished the season ranked 11th in the ACC in field goal percentage, shooting just 42.5 percent from the field. The Irish also need to do a better job of taking care of the ball; they finished the season ranked 13th in the conference in turnover percentage.
Notre Dame also needs to find a way to score more points next season. The Irish averaged just 66.1 points per game this season, which was good for 11th in the conference. In order for Notre Dame to take the next step and become a serious contender in the ACC, they will need to find a way to put up more points on the scoreboard.
Lastly, Notre Dame needs to improve its play on the defensive end of the court. The Irish allowed opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field this season, which was good for 11th in the conference. If Notre Dame can find a way to get stops on defense, it will go a long way towards having success next season.
A look back at Notre Dame’s 2018 season
It was a season of firsts for the Notre Dame men’s basketball team Head Coach Mike Brey led the team to its first ever NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance, and the Irish made history with their first ever tournament win. The 2018 season was also the first time that Notre Dame had won more than 20 games in a season since 2011.
The Irish started the season strong, winning their first eight games. This included a victory over then-No. 1 ranked University of Connecticut which would go on to win the National Championship that year. Notre Dame’s biggest victory of the season came in early January, when they defeated Duke University at Cameron Indoor Stadium This was the first time that Notre Dame had beaten Duke at Duke’s home court since 1995.
Notre Dame ended the Regular Season with a record of 23-9, and they were seeded No. 5 in the Midwest Region of the NCAA tournament In the tournament, they defeated Iowa State University in the first round and University of Tennessee in the second round before losing to eventual National Champion University of Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen
Despite not making it to the Final Four, it was still a historic season for Notre Dame men’s basketball. Coach Brey was named National Coach of the Year by multiple outlets, and senior guard Matt Farrell was named an honorable mention All-American by USA Today