Notre Dame Looks to Snap Skid, Spark Momentum in Irish Wear Green Game vs. Florida State
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The green jerseys are coming out, and so is the fight. This Saturday, Notre Dame men’s basketball will look to channel some of that Irish magic as they host Florida State in the annual Irish Wear Green game.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on the CW, and while the jerseys bring the flair, the real story is whether the Irish can turn recent grit into a much-needed ACC win.
Notre Dame (11-12, 2-8 ACC) enters the matchup trying to halt a five-game losing streak against the Seminoles (10-12, 3-6), with the last Irish win in the series coming back in March 2021. This one also carries some added weight: a win would count as a Quad 3 victory, thanks to Florida State’s current NET ranking of 98. And perhaps more importantly, it would push Notre Dame above .500 at home (currently 8-5 at Purcell Pavilion).
Florida State: Offense-First, Live-by-the-Three Team
The Seminoles come in with a clear identity - offense is their calling card. Florida State ranks 91st nationally in offensive efficiency, putting up over 114 points per 100 possessions.
They’re not shy about letting it fly from deep either. In fact, they rank 25th in the nation in three-point attempt rate, meaning a big chunk of their offense is built around perimeter shooting.
But the numbers tell a bit of a mixed story. While the volume is there, the accuracy isn’t elite - FSU is hitting just 32.1% from beyond the arc. That leaves the door open for opponents to hang around, especially if the Seminoles go cold from deep.
Defensively, Florida State is solid but not suffocating. They rank 98th in defensive efficiency, but what they do particularly well is stay disciplined. The Seminoles are among the best in the country at limiting opponents’ trips to the free-throw line, ranking 33rd in defensive free throw rate.
Three players are doing the heavy lifting in ACC play for Florida State: Robert McCray V (15.6 ppg), Chauncey Wiggins (13.1), and Lajae Jones (10.8). Expect those three to carry the bulk of the offensive load again on Saturday.
Notre Dame: Close Calls, Young Core, and a Team That Keeps Swinging
If you’ve been watching the Irish lately, you know this team is better than its record suggests. They’ve been in the fight - sometimes right down to the final possession - but haven’t always landed the knockout blow.
Take the double-overtime heartbreaker against No. 17 Virginia.
Notre Dame built a 19-point first-half lead, gave it up, rallied back to go up six with two minutes to go, and still had a shot to win it in regulation and again in the first OT. It was a game that showed just how close this young Irish squad is to turning the corner.
Freshman guard Cole Certa was electric that night, dropping a career-high 34 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including five threes and 9-of-11 from the line. That’s the most points by a Notre Dame player against a ranked opponent since Kyle McAlarney lit up No.
1 UNC for 39 back in 2008. It also stands as the third-highest scoring performance by an Irish player in an ACC game.
Brady Koehler, the 6-10 freshman forward from Indiana, also had his breakout moment against Virginia. He recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while adding three steals and four blocks - both season highs.
The challenge now is turning those flashes into consistency. Against Syracuse, the Irish kept clawing back but couldn’t overcome a few critical mistakes.
A technical foul in the second half flipped momentum, turning what could’ve been a single-digit game into a 14-point deficit. Even when Certa hit another big three to bring the Irish within six, Syracuse responded with a buzzer-beating triple that sparked a 9-0 run.
Jalen Haralson was a bright spot in that one, pouring in 19 second-half points and finishing with a career-high 26. The freshman’s blend of scoring and poise continues to be one of the most promising developments of the season.
Against Louisville, another top-25 opponent, the Irish started strong with a nine-point lead but couldn’t hold off a second-half surge. A 16-1 Cardinals run in the final 10 minutes proved to be the difference. Still, the effort was there - Certa led the way with 18 points (including five threes), while Koehler chipped in 11 points, four steals, and two blocks.
Trending Up: Offensive Growth
There’s been a noticeable uptick in offensive rhythm lately. Even without Markus Burton’s 19 points per game in the mix, Notre Dame has averaged 75.5 points over its last four contests. That’s a significant jump for a team that struggled to generate consistent offense earlier in the year.
The trio of Haralson, Certa, and Braeden Shrewsberry has emerged as a reliable scoring core, each averaging at least 16 points during that stretch. It’s a sign that this young group is starting to figure things out - not just individually, but as a unit.
What’s at Stake
Saturday’s game is more than just a chance to break a losing streak or wear a different shade of green. It’s a measuring stick.
Can Notre Dame turn close calls into wins? Can this young core continue to grow under the bright lights?
Can they protect home court and build some momentum heading into the back half of the ACC slate?
Head coach Micah Shrewsberry summed it up best after the Virginia game: “We are about the process. We are about using every opportunity to learn and get better. These dudes keep coming, keep fighting, keep competing.”
They’ve shown the fight. Now it’s time to see if it translates to the win column.