What to know about Notre Dame men's basketball vs. Elon
Despite a 75-58 win over North Dakota on Tuesday, Notre Dame head men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry was displeased with his team’s effort and intensity. He’s chalking it up as a lesson learned as the Irish move onto a Friday night matchup against Elon.
“I know how we’re gonna prepare tomorrow,” Shrewsberry said after Tuesday’s game. “We’re gonna watch this film, and I know how we’re gonna prepare for Elon. I know what we’re gonna do on Thursday, leading into Friday. I know what we’re gonna do at shootaround on Friday.”
Notre Dame still beat North Dakota behind a 29-point, 9-rebound, 3-assist outing from sophomore guard Markus Burton, a preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference player. It did that despite an off night from fellow sophomore guard Braeden Shrewsberry, who entered the game as a 50 percent three-point shooter but went 0-for-7 against the Fighting Hawks.
This is a much-improved Irish team, and it should take out its annoyance at its previous performance on the Phoenix.
“I ain’t worried about Friday,” Shrewsberry said. “These boys are gonna play like their hair is on fire on Friday.”
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Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s game against Elon.
Notre Dame vs. Elon game information
- Teams: Notre Dame (4-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Elon (2-2, 0-0 CAA)
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Date: Friday, Nov. 22
- Location: Purcell Pavilion in South Bend
- Streaming: ACC Network Extra
- Radio: 960 WSBT-AM in South Bend
Matchup notables
• Notre Dame graduate student forward Nikita Konstantynovskyi faced Elon last season with Monmouth in Coastal Athletic Association play. Konstantynovskyi scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass, in an 85-70 Hawks win.
• Front-court play is much improved for the Irish this season, between Konstantynovskyi and junior forward Kebba Njie. Njie averages 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on 71.4 percent shooting, up from 4.3, 5.4 (in more minutes) and 37.4 percent last year. Konstantynovskyi has 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 66.7 percent shooting in just 13.0 minutes, which is exactly what he’s supposed to do as the backup big man.
• Picked 12th out of 14 teams in the CAA preseason poll, Elon is led by identical twin brothers TJ Simpkins and TK Simpkins. The guards average 17.0 and 16.0 points per game, respectively. Not far behind is fellow guard Nick Dorn with 15.5 points per game.
• Elon can compete with ACC competition if the home team isn’t careful, even when it faces the top of the league. In its season opener on Nov. 4, Elon fell to then-No. 9 North Carolina 90-76. However, the Tar Heels trailed the Phoenix as late as 6:48 remaining in the second half.
