Notre Dame Basketball: Keys for Irish to upset Alabama in Round of 64

1. Be more consistent from behind the three-point line

It is no secret that Notre Dame is a three-point shooting team this season. In the win against Rutgers, they did not shoot it great from three-point range only going 6-19 from three-point distance. They were still able to pick up the victory and advance, but you cannot bank on outscoring Alabama in the paint as much as the Irish did against Rutgers in the opening round. Notre Dame needs to get back to making closer to nine or ten 3-point field goals against Alabama on Friday.

Dane Goodwin, Nate Laszsewski, and Cormac Ryan each had two 3-point field goals against Rutgers which is great, but they need to get two guys going in Blake Wesley and Prentiss Hubb. Both Wesley and Hubb went a combined 0-7 from three-point range. The Irish will need a few more guys like Wesley and Hubb to get back into their groove and knock down a few from the outside earlier on to help boost their confidence back up from distance.

Alabama comes into this game courtesy of the stats on the NCAA website as the 162nd best team in the country defending the three-point line. Notre Dame needs to take advantage of this as they are one of the better three-pointing shooting teams in the country. Doing a little bit more digging Alabama in its last three games their opponents are shooting 37.1% from three-point range.

When Notre Dame is able to make at least ten 3-point field goals they are a tough team to beat as their record is 14-1 on the year. Yes, I know my early key was making sure to feed Paul Atkinson Jr. overall. Feeding him down low could help draw defenders and he is then able to dish it back out for different looks throughout the game, especially from downtown.

If Notre Dame is able to be more consistent from three I believe they can be right there in the end to knock off Alabama and advance to the round of 32 on Sunday.