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Notre Dame Basketball: What to Expect From Princeton

By Noah Strackbein

Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) talks with Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Bray during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game against the Florida State Seminolesat Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) talks with Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Bray during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game against the Florida State Seminolesat Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame basketball takes on the red shot Princeton Tigers in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

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For the Tigers, their 19-game winning streak means they have more momentum than any other team in the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame, on the other hand, is simply looking to redeem their ACC Championship loss and begin their journey to another NCAA Tournament run.

Princeton has relied heavily on their defense during the regular season, finishing tenth in the country with 61.6 points allowed per game. Lead by Steve Cook, leading their defense with 1.6 steals per contest; the Tigers have four players averaging at least one SPG.

Notre Dame is the complete opposite. The Fighting Irish have dominated the court this season through a sound offensive presence and more hustle than any opponent they’ve faced. Averaging 78 points per matchup, Notre Dame has been led by Bonzie Colson and Matt Farell, while being complemented by seniors, V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia.

This matchup is a heavy favorite for the Irish. Princeton has little to no offense. Their leading scorer, Cook, averages just 13.7 points per game. As a senior forward, he will square off with one of the best post players in the NCAA, Bonzie Colson, a matchup most players haven’t done well with this season.

As another 6’5 forward, averaging just 5.1 rebounds per game, Cook doesn’t pose nearly as big as some of the forwards Colson has played in the ACC. For the first time all season, Notre Dame’s star junior will be the true big man on the court, a position he has not been in yet this year.

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This little doubt that Colson won’t secure his 19th double-double of the season against the Tigers and Cook. Averaging 17.5 PPG and 10.2 RPG, Colson has been a man amongst boys in the ACC. Playing another undersized big man for the first time, he should have one of his best performances of the year.

In the backcourt, the matchups will play out much like when Notre Dame plays Virginia. It isn’t about who scores more, but if the Irish can beat Princeton’s defense.

As the Tigers are a defensive team, they do not win through scoring. How they’ve pulled off their last 19 games is through shutting down the opposition’s offense. Where Notre Dame gets most of their points is through their four-guard lineup, meaning if Princeton wants to pull this one off, they need to shut down the Irish backcourt.

That all starts with Matt Farrell. Averaging 14.2 points per game and 5.5 assists, the Irish’s junior point guard has led Notre Dame through most of their tough moments this season. It isn’t likely, but if they need the extra boost in this one, he’ll be the one they turn to again.

What gives Notre Dame they advantage, though, is experience. This team has been to the Elite Eight the last two seasons, have one an ACC title, and competed for another one this year. Princeton may be the top dog in the Ivy League over recent years, but when you compare the two, the Irish win the achievement battle hands down.

Guys like Vasturia, Beachem and Colson know as much about March Madness as anyone in college basketball. As crazy as things get this time of year, having veterans to lean on is one of the most important aspects of surviving March.

Prediction: Notre Dame wins, and there’s no way to know by how much.

Here’s the thing, Notre Dame will win this game, but it’s impossible to know by what margin. This is March. I repeat, this, is, March. No one has ever completed a perfect bracket and no one ever will. Guessing a final score of a NCAA Tournament game is likely guessing the weight of a person you’ve never seen before.

Princeton is the hottest team in basketball. Even though they won’t win this game, they sure as hell can make it close. Knowing if they will or not is an area no expert can be certain of.

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It’ll come down to this, though; Notre Dame has everything they need for a NCAA Tournament run. They completely outmatch the Tigers, and their experience is something you need come March. Their road to the Final Four starts here, and although Princeton is a dangerous team, they aren’t enough to beat the Irish.