Big Green’s Long-Range Threat Meets Fighting Irish’s Need for Consistency
Big Green’s 3-Point Threat vs. Fighting Irish’s Rotation Struggles
On Wednesday night at 7:00 PM ET, the Dartmouth Big Green will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion in a non-conference NCAAB battle. With Notre Dame entering as 17-point favorites and a total game line of 140 points, this matchup promises to be an intriguing clash between a high-scoring Dartmouth team and a Notre Dame squad in need of more consistency.
Let’s break down the key elements of the game, including team form, individual performances, and statistical analysis that will shape this matchup.
Dartmouth: Dangerous Long-Range Threats
The Big Green (4-4 SU, 4-3 ATS, 3-4 O/U) have had a rocky start to the season, but they possess an offense that can strike from beyond the arc. In their most recent outing, Dartmouth fell 69-68 to UIC in overtime, a game where they shot just 35% from the field and struggled with a 26% shooting performance from three-point range. Despite those struggles, Dartmouth’s offense is capable of putting up points, averaging 79.0 per game (111th in the nation), primarily thanks to their three-point shooting ability.
Leading the charge for the Big Green is senior guard Ryan Cornish, who averages 14.3 PPG and 2.3 SPG, and senior forward Cade Haskins, contributing 13.6 PPG with a solid 41.2% from three-point range. Dartmouth’s depth in long-range shooting is evident with players like Brandon Mitchell-Day (45.5% 3PT), Jackson Munro, and Jayden Williams all capable of hitting from beyond the arc. As a team, they shoot 34.3% from three (159th in the nation) and will rely on their perimeter shooting to stay competitive against the Irish.
However, Dartmouth’s offense remains inconsistent. The Big Green rank 322nd in KenPom’s overall rankings, with poor offensive efficiency (348th) and defensive struggles (239th). They also allow 73.0 points per game (234th), giving up a lot of opportunities for opposing offenses to capitalize on.
Notre Dame: Fighting Irish in Search of Consistency
After a rough patch that included a five-game losing streak, Notre Dame (5-5 SU, 4-4-2 ATS, 6-4 O/U) broke the skid with a 69-64 win over Syracuse last Saturday. Despite the victory, the Irish’s performance remains a work in progress. They struggled from beyond the arc (0-for-9) and had issues with turnovers and free throws. Even though they led for most of the game, Notre Dame couldn’t shake the Orange, demonstrating the team’s ongoing struggles with consistency.
A major factor in Notre Dame’s up-and-down season has been the absence of Markus Burton, their leading scorer (18.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.3 APG), who is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Burton’s loss has been felt in the Irish’s offense, as they’ve dropped four straight games without him. However, Braeden Shrewsberry (16.2 PPG) and Tae Davis (14.5 PPG) have stepped up to help fill the scoring void. Despite the efforts of these two, only three other players in Notre Dame’s rotation are averaging more than five points per game, highlighting the team’s lack of scoring depth.
On the defensive side, Notre Dame has been more solid, ranking 108th in defensive efficiency and limiting opponents to 70.5 points per game. They rank 154th in overall shooting defense (42.3%) and 145th in 3-point defense (31.4%), which could pose challenges against Dartmouth’s shooting-heavy offense.
Conclusion
This matchup is a tale of two teams searching for identity. Dartmouth’s high-scoring offense, led by their three-point shooters, could give Notre Dame fits if they are able to find their rhythm early. However, with Markus Burton’s absence, Notre Dame will need to find a way to build more consistent offensive possessions and not rely too heavily on individual performances from Shrewsberry and Davis.
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