Fresh off Saturday’s much-needed 69-64 victory over Syracuse, Notre Dame men’s basketball will host Dartmouth on Wednesday night in its final game before a 10-day layoff for finals.
Sitting at 5-5, the Irish have played a gauntlet of a schedule to begin head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s second season in South Bend. Six of the team’s 10 matchups have come against high-major opponents, with only one of those games being played inside the confines of Purcell Pavilion.
Notre Dame remains shorthanded heading into Wednesday’s clash, as touted freshman wing Sir Mohammed and preseason all-ACC First Team sophomore guard Markus Burton continue to be sidelined indefinitely with lower body injuries. This weekend’s victory over the Orange snapped a frustrating, five-game losing skid for the Irish and also marked the team’s first triumph in the absence of Burton, who went down early in the Nov. 26 overtime defeat to Rutgers in Las Vegas.
Without Burton and his over 22 points per full game, the squad’s offensive efficiency has plummeted, but the increased opportunity has allowed multiple players to shoulder the load while the ACC’s best playmaker continues his recovery. Sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry broke free from a weeks-long shooting slump on Saturday, as his 25 points and six three-pointers marked season-highs following a breakout freshman campaign a year ago. Also stepping up has been junior forward Tae Davis, whose 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game have made him the catalyst for the Irish on both ends of the court. Additionally, graduate guard Matt Allocco has enjoyed some hot shooting nights, including a memorable performance against Rutgers, while also assuming point guard duties in Burton’s absence.
On the opposing bench, the Dartmouth Big Green of the Ivy League travels to Northern Indiana with a 4-4 record, following a heartbreaking overtime loss at UIC on Sunday. Despite winning just six games a year ago, the Big Green have looked much improved thus far in 2024-25, including a marquee road victory at ACC opponent Boston College on Nov. 29. Head coach David McLaughlin’s side also went on the road to Durham, New Hampshire, where it knocked off the New Hampshire Wildcats in a tense rivalry showdown.
The Big Green deploys a balanced scoring attack, as seven players average over eight points a night. Senior guard Ryan Cornish leads the team with 14.3 points, with senior forward Cade Haskins not too far behind at 13.6.
Wednesday night will be only the seventh meeting between Notre Dame and Dartmouth, with the Irish emerging victorious in all six previous contests. The Irish have been dominant against Ivy League foes all-time, boasting an illustrious 47-4 record, including a winning streak dating back to early January 1977.
Tip-off between the Big Green and the Irish is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday and can be streamed on ACCNX.
