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Notre Dame Basketball: Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2015-16 Season Preview

By James Fitzgerald

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish

2014-2015 Record: 32-6 (14-4, ACC)
Postseason: NCAA Tournament – Elite Eight (lost to Kentucky 68-66)

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Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish had a season for the ages. Notre Dame’s 32 wins in the 2014-15 season is the highest win total the Irish have enjoyed since 1908-09.

They also won the ACC Conference tournament and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament where they had the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats on the ropes. But Jerian Grant’s three-point attempt from the left corner missed the mark and the Irish lost 68-66.

All this was accomplished by a team that was not even ranked in the preseason Top 25 going into their 2014-15 campaign.

Going into 2015-16, Notre Dame is going to be without Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton who were two major pieces to the success the Irish had.

With both of those players moving on to the NBA, Mike Brey will be depending on some of his holdovers to build on the accomplishments of last year’s squad.

 Newcomers

G – Rex Pflueger (#117 247Sports Composite)
F – Elijah Burns (#230 247Sports Composite)
F – Matt Ryan (#101 247Sports Composite)

Key Non-Conference Games

Dec. 2 at Illinois – The Fighting Irish will be taking on the Fighting Illini in the Big 10/ACC Challenge on the road in Champaign. The Irish do not have many road contests on their non-conference slate, so being able to get themselves a road win when the opportunity is available to them would be nice.

Dec 19 vs Indiana – Interstate rivalry games are always huge and Notre Dame vs Indiana will be a solid matchup. Indiana brings in a strong backcourt featuring Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr. which should be a good test for Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vasturia. Given that the overall look of Notre Dame’s non-conference schedule looks pretty weak, this is easily one of , if not the strongest, game of their non-conference slate.

Key Players

Demetrius Jackson – Jackson is easily one of the best point guards in the country and the most pro ready point guard in the ACC. His efficiency shooting the ball last season was outstanding averaging 12.4 points on 50.8% shooting from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.

With Jerian Grant moving on to the NBA, Demetrius Jackson will be called upon a lot more this season to orchestrate the offense and set the tempo for Mike Brey.

Zach Auguste – Zach August stock rose a great deal after his Elite Eight performance against the Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament. Auguste finished that game with 20 points and nine rebounds in that contest putting himself on the 2016 NBA Draft Radar.

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Audric Estimé is a top 2024 running back prospect
Audric Estimé is a top 2024 running back prospect /

With the First Pick

  • Ranking college football's top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3Saturday Blitz
  • Notre Dame Football Lands Massive Commitment from QB Deuce KnightSaturday Blitz
  • College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3Saturday Blitz
  • College Football National Championship Odds Following Week 3: Georgia Survives ScareBetsided
  • Heisman Power Rankings 2023, Week 3: Shedeur Sanders' statement, Michael Penix Jr. moves upFanSided

    • Auguste is one of the best defensive big men in the ACC. He is going to be depended on to hold down the paint yet again in 2015-16 and Mike Brey is hoping that he will improve on his averages of 12.9 points and 6.5 rebounds.

    Season Outlook

    Winning 30 games for the second season in a row is not out of the realm of possibility, but it is highly unlikely that Notre Dame will do so. Making the NCAA Tournament, however, should be a definite for Mike Brey’s squad.

    What is going to be key for the Irish is for players like V.J. Beachem and Bonzi Colson to find themselves quickly in their increased roles with the team.

    Demetrius Jackson will be the leader of this team and depended on to steer the ship and keep it steady.

    Last season the Irish were one of the best offensive clubs in the nation averaging 78.0 points per contest which ranked 14th in the country and shooting 50.9% from the field which was second best in the nation.

    If they are able to do that again this season they will not only be in the running for an ACC Championship again, but also a legitimate threat to make the Final Four.

    Next: Busting Brackets Season Preview: ACC Home Page

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