Three-Point Play
News and views from Notre Dame's 10-1 start
1. Despite already having faced three non-conference challenges in Providence, Massachusetts and
Michigan State, the Irish ranked second to last nationally in strength of schedule according to analytics
guru Ken Pomeroy heading into the ACC opener against Florida State Dec. 13. Head coach Mike Brey
admits that was a strategic decision after his squad finished 15-17 a year ago.
"Our strategy coming off of last year was to get confident and to schedule to get a group confident,"
said Brey, who noted that the league schedule in the ACC and in the old Big East speaks for itself come
March. "Mix in some power, but can we build this group?"
When asked whether the schedule is perhaps too easy, even for a squad with a number of underclass-
men contributing, Brey replied: "Not really. I wouldn't do anything different. Also to get everyone else
playing and getting guys into games and having guys, it makes for a pretty happy locker room and I think
that's a good thing.
"As we get into league play and into [the matchup versus Florida State], some guys may not be playing
as much."
Maybe Brey is on to something, with a number of eye-popping early-season upsets, from Michigan
Junior forward Zach Auguste scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help
the Irish rout Florida State 83-63 Dec. 13.
PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND
