Notre Dame men’s basketball has a chance this season because of this position group

SOUTH BEND − Keep sleeping on ‘em.

Keep believing that a team that lost more games than it won in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season can’t return the next year with three elite players at one position as anyone in that 18-team league.

Keep staring hard down Tobacco Road when the topic turns to the ACC’s best backcourts. The guys near Grape Road don’t mind at all. They probably prefer it.

If Wednesday was a sign, something big is brewing with the Notre Dame men’s basketball backcourt. The starting combination of sophomores Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry and graduate student Matt Allocco aren’t known names outside of Northern Indiana. However, that will change as we meander through ACC play in the coming months.

The Irish have a chance to be good this season because their guards have a chance to be good. Really good. Special.

Would Irish head coach Micah Shrewsberry like to see his guards get more ACC love?

“Nah, it’s cool,” he said post-game. “They can talk about everybody else. We’re just going to hang out here in the shadows. Don’t nobody notice us.”

If you know basketball, you’re going to notice. You have to.

The trio of Burton, Shrewsberry and Allocco – sounds like a law firm that will settle your small-claims case for a small fee – combined for 46 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals as Notre Dame (1-0) steamrolled Stonehill, 89-60, in its season opener at Purcell Pavilion.

Following a freshman year in which Burton and Shrewsberry each played in all 33 games and finished first and second on the squad in scoring – the only Irish to average double figures for points – we’ve reached a point where we might take for granted what they do. Game after game. Night after night. Play heavy minutes. Do the heavy lifting. Make shots. Handle. Move. Cut. Compete.

Burton was named the league’s top freshman last year while Shrewsberry made a strong run at the all-rookie team. In many ways, they were forced to grow up last year….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-mens-basketball-chance-035518454.html

Author : South Bend Tribune

Publish date : 2024-11-07 03:55:00

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