Game Notes & Preview: Providence vs. Notre Dame 11/23/14

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT

When: 2:30PM

How: ESPN2 (Doug Sherman & Doris Burke)/WEEI 103.7 FM and Friars.com (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)

Game Notes

• Providence and Notre Dame have met 26 times all time with the Fighting Irish holding a 16-10 advantage. Providence won the last meeting on February 16, 2013, 71-54, when Notre Dame was ranked 21st in the country.
• Notre Dame comes into this final game of the Hall of Fame Tipoff’s Naismith bracket at 4-0 with wins over Binghamton, Navy, Coppin State and UMass. All games were won by double digits with the wins over Binghamton, Navy and Coppin State all by more than 30 points. One time Providence recruit Zachary Auguste is leading the Fighting Irish in scoring at 17.8 ppg. Pat Connaughton leads them in rebounding at 8.8 rpg. The preseason ACC coaches poll picked Florida State to finish 7th out of 15 teams.
• Providence is 130-190 against the ACC all time. 121 of those 129 wins were against former Big East members Boston College, Louisville, Miami (Fl), Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. The Friars are 8-12 against charter members of the ACC.
• The line opened as Providence +4.5

Game Preview

Coming off an absolute rout of ACC member Florida State Saturday the Providence Friars will look to keep the momentum rolling as they take on another ACC team in Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish beat UMass Saturday after trailing in the first half due to a sluggish start.

The key to this game will be finding shooters and stopping Jerian Grant. Cooley called
Grant one of the best players in the country during his post game remarks following the Florida State game so it’s clear Grant won’t sneak up on Providence. It will also go a long way towards a win if Providence continues their hot shooting.

I expect this game to be nip and tuck the entire way with the two teams trading body blows down the stretch. Notre Dame owns the recent series but Providence won last and will look to make it two straight wins against Notre Dame and the ACC.

Prediction: Providence 68 Notre Dame 67

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Mike Hopkins

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