Frank Anselem reveals initial thoughts on Notre Dame

Ahead of an important non-conference matchup against Notre Dame — games like these loom large come Selection Sunday — Georgia center Frank Anselem dove into what he’s seen from the Irish on film. He also did something uncommon, giving props by name to Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey.

After spending two seasons at Syracuse, where the Orange regularly faced the Irish in ACC play, Anselem has experience against Notre Dame that his teammates likely don’t. In any guise, Anselem made it clear the Irish are no joke.

“They play five guys that can finish it and pass, they don’t foul a lot. They shoot the ball a lot. Great, solid team,” Anselem said. “Mike Brey is a good coach. It’s going to be a really good game I think, though.”

Georgia head coach Mike White also had high praise for Notre Dame

White has studied his film, and is ready to take on Notre Dame this Sunday. The Georgia headman broke down what has impressed him from this year’s Fighting Irish squad, and how he plans to combat their “unique” style of basketball.

“They’re pretty extreme in certain areas. They’re a very unique team. They’re really big, they don’t really play that deep at all,” White said Thursday. “They really shoot it, they do not turn the ball over and they play at a very unique pace. You can’t speed them up, they’re going to shoot the three well, they’re really skilled, really sound defensively. They keep it in front.

“We’re going to have to make shots. They do a really good job of defending the glass, too, and that’s been a huge strength of ours but I think it’ll be a bit more difficult against these guys to get some of those extra possessions.”

The Irish might do well defending the rim, but they still rank dead last in rebounding in the ACC this season. They’re one of four teams to have played 10 or less games to this point, but Notre Dame averages just 31.6 rebounds per game, even less than the 1-9 Louisville Cardinals (31.9).