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Notre Dame Men’s Basketball: Crucial two-game stretch coming up

By Brad Weiss

Feb 26, 2020; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) gestures to his teammates in a game against Boston College Eagles at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Adam Richins-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2020; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) gestures to his teammates in a game against Boston College Eagles at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Adam Richins-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame Men’s Basketball team has had an up-and-down 2020-21 season, and a crucial two-game ACC stretch is on the horizon.

The schedule for the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball team was a tough one to start, as head coach Mike Brey wanted to test his team early on. The results have been a bit disappointing, as the Irish have won only three of their first nine games, and have yet to win a game in ACC play.

While the record is nothing to write home about, there have been a bunch of bright spots, including the play of forward Nate Laszewski. The 6-foot-10 junior has dominated no matter who the opponent has been, leading the team in both scoring and rebounds, all the while becoming a legitimate NBA prospect.

Laszewski is one of three members of the Irish basketball team to average double-figures in scoring this season, as he is joined by guards Prentiss Hubb and Dane Goodwin. Hubb has struggled mightily from the field this season, shooting under 40 percent, and his assist numbers are nowhere close to where they should be.

Irish take on two straight ranked ACC opponents

Over the next two games, the Irish can certainly right some wrongs in terms of their season, as they will take on two conference opponents. Both Virginia Tech and Virginia are ranked in the top-25 entering those matchups, and the Cavaliers have already beaten the Irish once this season, a 66-57 score back on December 30 of last year.

Notre Dame is 0-3 in the conference, also losing to Duke and North Carolina, although that UNC loss went down to the wire, and it took a Leaky Black shot in the closing seconds to do in the Irish. Notre Dame can build off a loss like that, and Sunday against Virginia Tech, they will look to do just that.

dark. Next. Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Maddy Westbeld takes ACC by storm

This is a group that is led mostly by veteran talent, and that should go a long way in terms of them figuring it out as we enter the final two months of the season. The Irish have not made the NCAA Tournament since the 2016-17 season, and if they do not get things turned around in a hurry, that could be the case once again this year.