Notre Dame’s shooting poses many potential problems for Wichita State

Notre Dame players compared Wichita State to Virginia and Butler, which is the kind of company the Shockers want to keep.

Notre Dame is one of the nation’s best scoring teams, a bunch of accurate shooters who rarely commit turnovers. Virginia and Butler held the Irish under 60 points in regulation play, the only teams to do so in 36 games.

“They’ve got five guys on the floor that can all score,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “They call all shoot it. Most of them can drive it.”

Notre Dame’s offense starts with three-point shooting. It ranks No. 22 nationally by making 38.9 percent from behind the arc. It made 389 threes, No. 18 nationally. It uses that threat to open driving lanes and Notre Dame is shooting 50.9 percent overall, second in the nation. With four players making 40 percent or better from three-poinnt range, the Irish remind the Shockers of Northern Iowa.

“They stretch the floor about as good as UNI does,” WSU guard Ron Baker said. “And their big man does a real good job of setting good screens and rolling to the basket. They shoot the ball tremendously well.”

Guard Jerian Grant, an All-ACC pick, leads the Irish with 236 assists and a 16.8 scoring average, although his three-point shooting (32 percent) isn’t as dangerous as some of his teammates. Center Zach Auguste (6-foot-10) averages 12.6 points and shoots 60.4 percent from the field. He hasn’t attempted a three. Pat Connaughton (12.5 points), Demetrius Jackson (12.4) and Steve Vasturia (9.8) all shoot well from three-point range.

“They shoot a great percentage from three and they try to come off ball screens a lot and drive,” WSU forward Darius Carter said. “That’s how they get their wide-open looks. We’ve got to stay with our principles, try to drive them off the three-point line a little bit.”

WSU’s backcourt won its battles with Indiana and Kansas, largely by bullying their opponent out of the offensive rhythm. Indiana shot 40.7 percent and had more turnovers than assists. Kansas missed 15 of 21 three-pointers and couldn’t get the ball to its big men.

“You look at the way Butler played, and it’s a similar toughness,” Connaughton said. “The style of play that they have, the toughness that they have, that’s something they pride themselves on. Wichita State’s going to bring a top-tier defense.”

The Irish are solid, not dominant, on defense. They don’t block many shots, in part because of their small lineup, and like to create turnovers that give them fast-break chances. Teams shoot 42.6 percent against them, 32.8 from behind the arch. They’ve been outrebounded 19 times and lost three of those games. Coach Mike Brey sees the matchup of Jackson, Notre Dame’s best one-on-one defender, against WSU’s Fred VanVleet as crucial.

“We play fairly similar offensively, with guards who can use ball screens and spread the floor and make shots,” Brey said. “VanVleet is so dangerous where he drags its and then goes in and makes a play and waits for an angle. He’s just so good and poised and he doesn’t play too fast. He’s a veteran guy who’s won a lot and it shows.”

VanVleet compared Jackson, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, to Kansas guard Frank Mason.

“He wants to get in the paint and he can knock down a three,” VanVleet said. “They’ve got some skilled post players and they shoot the ball really well, kind of similar to Indiana. When you keep advancing, it doesn’t get easier.”

This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Notre Dame’s shooting poses many potential problems for Wichita State."