Notre Dame Fighting Irish – March Madness Team Predictions, Odds and Preview 2016

East No. 6 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Overall: 21-11, Conf: 11-7)

Team Strengths:

Offense, offense, offense. The Fighting Irish don’t necessarily score a ton of points, but they sure do make their shots count. They are the most-efficient team in the ACC this season, and their shooting percentage stats from basically anywhere on the floor rank no lower than 66th in the entire NCAA.

As such, all five of Notre Dame’s starters finished with double-digit scoring averages this season. Dynamic guard Demetrius Johnson, who leads the team in scoring, assists and steals, can always be relied on to provide the spark that the Irish need to catch fire.

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Team Weaknesses:

Well, the Fighting Irish have a tendency to just give up playing on defense, much like in their poor showing against UNC in the ACC conference semifinals where they scored a season-low 48 points en route to a 31-point blowout loss.

They’re not a very streaky team as well. The Irish’s longest win streak this season is a four-game stretch from mid-January. Just give Notre Dame one game where its offense completely falls flat like in the conference semis, and this storied program might be sent home packing earlier than expected.

Team Stats:

Category | Stat | NCAA Rank
Points Per Game | 75.7 | 99
Rebounds Per Game | 36.1 | 156
Blocks Per Game | 3.9 | 104
3-Point Percentage | 36.9% | 66
Free Throw Percentage | 73.5% | 46

Starting Lineup:

Position | Name | PPG
F | Zach Auguste | 14.4
F | V.J. Beachem | 11.3
F | Bonzie Colson | 11.5
G | Demetrius Jackson | 15.6
G | Steve Vasturia | 11.8

Writer’s Prediction:

Notre Dame earns a Sweet 16 nod only to be eliminated by the East Region’s top-seeded Tar Heels once again.