Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame basketball: Foot on the Gas, Irish Head Home for Binghamton

By Chase Eyrich

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers battles for a rebound against Nate Laszewski #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Grady Eifert #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers battles for a rebound against Nate Laszewski #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The tough stretch is over for Notre Dame basketball. The team continues to get better game after game as the Irish head home to take on Binghamton.

Mike Brey took his young Notre Dame basketball team on the road for the first time three games ago. The results were not what they would have liked in the win-loss column, but it’s hard to argue that they didn’t like what they saw on the court.

Back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and UCLA were hard to swallow. Losing both games by a combined eight points thanks to UCLA’s game-winner, Brey stayed confident.

As their heads hung low, Brey told his squad that they got better. It was clear he was right Saturday versus Purdue.

The Boilermakers tried everything they could to get back into the game, but Notre Dame was in control and refused to let go. With the Crossroads Classic victory, the Irish look solid.

Heading back to Purcell Pavilion, the other side of the court will be occupied by the Binghamton Bearcats.

On Sunday the two schools women’s programs faced off with Notre Dame cruising to a 103-53 victory. With the men’s team bringing in a 3-8 record, the results could be similar.

The highlight of the Bearcats team is freshman Sam Sessoms and his 17.6 ppg. The small shifty guard could cause some issues at the top of the key as well as on his trips to the lane.

For the first time in Sessoms’ short college career, he was held to just nine points last time out versus Youngstown State. Binghamton relies on their guard play, but it was 6’9” Caleb Stewart putting in the work against the Penguins. Stewart was one rebound short of a double-double with 15-points and nine boards.

Notre Dame’s John Mooney, who is less than one rebound shy of averaging a double-double this season, should continue to dominate this potential matchup. His 21-point, seven rebound performance over Purdue came right after being named team captain.

With eyes on the guard matchup between these two teams, a clear advantage rests in Juwan Durham. The transfer should be a quick scorer and highlight blocker with his 6’11” frame.

dark. Next. Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Strong First Half Powers Irish past Binghamton

Binghamton is catching the Irish at the wrong time, as Notre Dame appears to be hitting its stride. This will likely be a good look of what Notre Dame will look like without their senior leader Rex Pflueger, who suffered an ACL tear in the Crossroads Classic.