20. Late Night Hoops on Tuesday as Irish Host Georgia Tech – Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Official Athletics Website

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Fighting Irish (9-10, 3-5) men’s basketball team looks to make it two wins in a row when they return home to complete the two-game series with Georgia Tech (9-11, 3-6). They’ll also have revenge in the back of their minds, trying to avenge a 75-86 loss in Atlanta on NYE. The Irish and Yellow Jackets will tip off at 9 p.m. ET on ACC Network.

Tuesday night also marks the program’s Coaches vs Cancer Game with the staff raising awareness in conjunction with Suits and Sneakers Week.

ALWAYS CLOSE

The first matchup was a tale of two halves and it also was a game that didn’t feature Markus Burton. The Irish found themselves in a 19-point halftime deficit after a poor shooting start; however, the Irish fought back in the second half and cut it to a one-possession game with just under six minutes left. The Irish ultimately shot 60.0 percent in the second half, scoring 51 points. Tae Davis tied his career high in points with 27, with 22 being scored in the second half.

For whatever reason, these two teams always play close and it’s always a battle. Twenty-one of the last 24 games between these two have been decided by single digits. Five of those games have gone to overtime. Of those 21 games that have been decided by single digits, the average margin of victory has been 4.9.

ND leads the overall series 18-14 with an impressive 12-2 mark at home.

BURTON EMPHATICALLY BACK

After 39 days away rehabbing his knee injury, Burton has returned and amplified the ND offense. If you discount the Rutgers game since Burton got injured in the first four minutes, the sophomore has recorded 20+ points in seven of his last eight games.

When you look at January-only scoring averages amongst ACC players, Burton ranks second, trailing only Duke’s Cooper Flagg (25.0). Burton is averaging 21.7 ppg in January, which coincides with his ACC scoring average.

Markus Burton has produced four straight games with 20+ points and if he gets to five, he’ll be the first Irish player to achieve said feat since Ben Hansbrough in February of 2011.

The sophomore has recorded incredible stretches during this four-game stint. He scored the first nine points at Virginia before finishing with a team best 21 in the win – tying his season high of four made threes. Prior, Burton dropped a first-half career high 22 points at Syracuse, finishing with 28.

We’ll end on this note … even despite that 2-point Rutgers game dragging down his scoring average, Burton is still averaging 19.9 ppg on the year.

CHASING ACHIEVEMENTS

Burton is currently averaging 19.9 ppg and 3.3 apg. If he finishes the season at 20.0+ ppg and 3.0+ apg, he’ll become the first Irish player ever to do so. When we broaden the scope, he would become just the 15th ACC player to do so since 1996.

However, Burton isn’t the only one who can cement their name in the Irish record books this season. Grad transfer Matt Allocco owns a 3.50 assist-to-turnover ratio. The highest A/TO ratio in program history for a season was 3.16 by Martin Inglesby back in 2000-01.

Allocco is also converting 47.9 percent from deep which would ranks second all-time in program history for a season. The top two spots both belong to Joe Fredrick who shot 47.2 percent in 1989-90 and 52.1 percent in 1988-89.

THREE BALL HEATING UP

The three ball is starting to flow for the Fighting Irish. In ACC play, Notre Dame is converting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc, which leads all league schools.

Overall on the year, the Irish have drained 37.6 percent from deep which ranks 31st in the country.

Twice over the past four games, the Irish have connected on double-digit treys. They sunk 14 at Duke (which tied their season high) and 12 in the win at Virginia.

PROGRAM FIRST IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

There’s not a better way to correct a certain ACC road narrative then by claiming a road victory in a building you’ve never won in. The Irish did just that this past Saturday with a 74-59 victory at Virginia. Coach Shrewsberry has now defeated Virginia twice in three matchups.

The Irish were led by Markus Burton with 21 points, shooting 50% on the night and 4-6 from behind the arc. Tae Davis finished with 16 points and six rebounds.

Notre Dame shot 48% on the game and an impressive 52% from three, knocking down 12 from deep. The Irish held the Cavaliers to 40% from the floor as they outrebounded Virginia 39-27.

THE TAE-KOVER

Tae Davis has emerged as one of the top talents in the ACC and should be a candidate for Most Improved.

Tae is averaging a career best 16.4 ppg, up from last year’s 9.2 ppg. His scoring average ranks 10th amongst ACC players.

The Indy native is also shooting a career best 50.5 percent, up from last year’s 48.4. In ACC play, Tae’s scoring average is slightly higher at 17.3 ppg.

Tae is ultimately riding a career best 14 straight games in double figures. Where is he getting it done at? Well, the junior has been highly proficient around the rim where he’s 70-of-104 (.673). He’s also improved from the free-throw line over the course of the season. He’s 22 for his last 27, raising his FT% to a career best 76.7 percent.

EVOLVING

When Burton was recovering, other Irish had to step up and evolve and we saw it unfold.  We’ve already mentioned how Tae Davis is posting career numbers, but so is Braeden Shrewsberry.

The sophomore guard is averaging 14.7 ppg, up from last year’s 10.2. He’s shooting 43.5 percent, which is up from last year’s 39.8.

• He’s connecting on 2.8 threes per game this season, with a .371 clip from beyond the arc. Shrewsberry’s sweet spot has been the corner three where he’s 14-31 (.452), which is 9.7 percent above the D1 average. Shrewsberry boasts higher three ball numbers in ACC play where he ranks third in 3pt FG% (.431) and second in threes/game (3.1).

However, it’s important to point out that he’s added to his overall arsenal with a dangerous floater that keeps defenders guessing. He’s shooting 47.1 percent from midrange twos and 48.6 percent from the paint. He’s 53.9 percent overall from two-point range.

VET LEADER

When Coach Shrews added grad transfer Matt Allocco to the roster he got two things – a talented guard with NCAA Tournament experience and a leader by every definition of the word. Coach Shrews hoped that his young core of players would pick up those characteristics and then be leaders to the next group coming in.

This season, Allocco is averaging 10.1 ppg on 46.7 percent shooting. He’s draining a career best 47.9 percent from three, which would ranks as the second highest for a season in program history.

As previously mentioned, Allocco is also on pace for the highest A/TO ratio in program history at 3.50.

Allocco also leads the team in defensive rebounds per game at 4.3 and leads in +/- at +94 on the year. Lastly, the Ohio native is averaging 1.5 steals in ACC play which ranks ninth.

NOTRE NOTABLES

• With 13 points in the win over BC on Jan. 13, Matt Allocco officially crossed over the 1,000 career point milestone. He currently sits at 1,027.
• Allocco boasts a true shooting percentage of 70.8 over the last five games, which according to CBB Analytics ranks in the 99th percentile.
• Kebba entered the year with just four double-digit scoring performances to his name. He’s posted three in ACC play including his first career double-double at NC State.
• Speaking of Kebba, the junior is averaging 2.9 offensive rebounds/game in ACC play, which ranks fourth in the league.
• Braeden is comfortable playing at home where he averages 15.8 ppg on 48.0 percent shooting.
• Burton is averaging 2.2 made threes per game in ACC play which ranks eighth in  the league.
• Yes Sir! – The freshman guard impressed at #4 Duke, recording his first double-digit scoring performance with 11 points on 4-7 shooting, plus 2-4 from three.
• Notre Dame continues to raise its KenPom Offense Adj. Efficiency. Over the last several games, it has risen from 56th to 40th with a rating of 116.6. Notre Dame’s overall KenPom rating sits at No. 76.

— ND —