HOOPS Preview: No. 9 Notre Dame At Delaware

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NOTRE DAME (7-2, 0-0 ACC) VS. DELAWARE (4-5, 0-0 CAA)

Where: Bob Carpenter Center Acierno Arena (Newark, Del.)

Rankings: Notre Dame is ranked No. 9 in the AP poll.

Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET/CBS Sports Network

Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2013. Notre Dame 80-75.

Series Info: Notre Dame leads all-time series 1-0.

Mike Brey returns to the site of his first head coaching gig tonight for the first time. It will be the second time Brey has faced the Blue Hens since taking over in South Bend.

To throw another wrinkle into the game, former long-time Irish assistant Martin Ingelsby is at the helm and faces Notre Dame for the first time.

Both programs are looking to bounce back after recent rough stretches with the Irish dropping two of their last three games and the Blue Hens losing three straight.

Here is a look at Notre Dame heading into the matchup along with a look at Delaware and a score prediction.

The Irish got a wakeup call on Tuesday during its 80-77 loss at home to Ball State behind 24 points from Tayler Persons.

Since capturing the 2017 Maui Jim Maui Invitational, Notre Dame has struggled including losing two of its last three games.

Brey and company are searching but not panicking. Getting off to slow starts offensively has been part of the problem and what has come up most when players or Brey are asked.

This isn’t the most ideal game in terms of making any somewhat drastic changes or tinkering. Road games typically aren’t cakewalks and this game given Brey’s history with Delaware will have a little more emotion along with some of the Irish player’s connection to Ingelsby.

The big question mark for Notre Dame heading into this game is the bench. Against Ball State, the group contributed just six points with all six coming from sophomore big man John Mooney. Notre Dame needs more from the group to help alleviate the slow starts.

Increased production from the bench will also give the Irish starters some extra rest to help stay fresh throughout the full 40 minutes.

I’m curious to see if Brey changes the rotation off the bench to see if something clicks. He mentioned sophomore guard Nik Djogo as someone he may take a stronger look at. Djogo can shoot it from deep and also get to the basket with his athleticism.

“My thing was ‘fellas, we win Maui and we rocket to fifth in the country and everybody kind of thinks we’re a finished product,’” Brey said on Thursday. “I said, ‘we still have some things to answer and figure out. Let’s remember we’re still in the process … I want to give all the credit to Ball State … Let’s tweak a few things as we get ready for Saturday. Not wholesale stuff and see if we can get it done.”

Like Notre Dame, the Blue Hens are entering this matchup looking to get back on track after a rough stretch. Delaware has lost its last contests to Yale (76-66), Navy (82-76) and Buffalo (75-72) after a 4-2 start in Ingelsby’s second season.

The Blue Hens will throw out a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen at the Irish in the starting lineup and off the bench.

Guard Ryan Daly leads the in scoring at 17.0 points while adding 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.44 steals per game. The junior is joined by senior guard Anthony Mosely and freshman guard Kevin Anderson. Mosely is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.3 points and contributes 4.2 rebounds, 2.88 assists and 1.78 steals per game. Anderson is averaging 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.63 assists.

Junior Eric Carter leads the frontcourt for the Blue Hens. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward is close to a double-double at 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. Sophomore forward Jacob Cushing plays just over 13 minutes a game averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Though guard Ryan Allen comes off the bench, the freshman plays 33.0 minutes per game and averages 12.3 points and 2.8 rebounds. Fellow freshman forward Chyree Walker adds 4.9 points and 2.8 rebounds to the team’s bench production.

To complement Allen and Walker on the perimeter, the Blue Hens boast redshirt sophomore forward Derrick Woods (5.8 points, 5.0 rebounds) and senior forward Skye Johnson (4.2 points, 2.3 rebounds).

Junior guard Darian Bryant (4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds) could be part of the equation off the bench for Ingelsby, but Bryant missed the team’s game on Wednesday versus Buffalo with a concussion.

Through nine games, Delaware is scoring 72.8 points per game shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 32.2 percent behind the arc. The Blue Hens also hold a +2.6 (35.8-33.2) advantage on the boards while averaging 10.5 offensive rebounds.

Opponents are shooting 44.5 percent overall including 40.9 percent from the three-point line and putting up 71.2 points.

Delaware also turns the ball over just over 11 times per game.

Notre Dame has an opportunity tonight to get back on track and avoid a downward spiral. Delaware may be 4-5, but with Brey’s return there will be an energy surrounding the game.

The Blue Hens, like Ball State, will play like they have nothing to lose and will take their best swing at the Irish.

Controlling Daly and Allen will be the big key for Notre Dame to slow down Ingelsby’s group. Senior Irish big man Martinas Geben has been playing well of late and will get a good challenge against Carter in the paint.

For the Blue Hens, it’s about limiting star forward Bonzie Colson as much as possible. The offense goes through him and maybe even more so to help the team get started offensively to open games.

Prediction

Notre Dame 78, Delaware 70

Since the 2014-2015 season, Notre Dame is 20-5 in games following a loss. Not a bad record. I don’t see the loss column growing against the Blue Hens.

With the familiarity with the program and some of the players, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ingelsby has a great game plan constructed for his former boss.

But Notre Dame is a senior driven team and I think that ultimately helps get the Irish back on the right foot despite being on the road and involved in a meaningful game for Brey. I expect the Irish to come out focused and prepared.

It won’t be easy, but I see Notre Dame claiming a tough road win this evening.

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