Duke men’s basketball welcomes Notre Dame to Cameron Indoor Stadium, hoping to extend its win streak to 10 games. The Chronicle previews the encounter with an overview and an X-Factor for each team:
Overview
2023-24 record: 13-20, 7-3 in the ACC
2024-2024 record: 7-8, 1-3 in the ACC
Head coach: Micah Shrewsberry
History: Duke leads 31-8
Last meeting: 71-53 Duke, Feb. 7, 2024
It has been four years since the Fighting Irish upset Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium. With a final score of 93-89, Notre Dame stunned Blue Devil fans as guard Prentiss Hubb nailed a game-sealing 3-pointer with 38.2 seconds left. Today, Notre Dame is led by Micah Shrewsberry, who was recently hired as head coach in 2023.
Since the last time they defeated Duke, the Fighting Irish have struggled mightily against the Blue Devils. In 2023 Notre Dame returned to Cameron but fell just short of a win in a game that ended 68-64. This year, Notre Dame's best players are sophomore guard Markus Burton and junior forward Tae Davis. Both hailing from the state of Indiana, they have averaged 18.4 and 16.5 points per game respectively this season.
Despite housing players that can put up points for the Fighting Irish, the team has faltered several times this year in the pressure of close games, especially recently against teams from the state of North Carolina. In the closing seconds of its recent match against the Tar Heels, a hasty decision to foul caused Notre Dame to lose 74-73. This trend was made more apparent after the Fighting Irish’s second straight one-point loss this week against N.C. State. In the face of playing another team in North Carolina, Notre Dame needs to work on creating smart moves under the pressure of the clock — and the pressure of the Cameron crazies — for any chance of competing with No. 4 Duke.
X-Factor
Duke: Kon Knueppel
Kon Koneuppel performed phenomenally in Duke's recent matchup against Pittsburgh. With a 57.1% 3-point percentage, the Milwaukee native showed Blue Devil fans he could shoot efficiently despite the Panthers’ pressure. Not only did Knueppel shoot 5-of-12 from the field, but he skillfully excelled in other areas on the court. The freshman guard went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line and ended the game with 17 points.
Knueppel's performance against Pittsburgh proved to be different from past games. In a challenging game against Kansas, the Blue Devil freshman missed all of his eight shots from beyond the arc and went 4-of-14 overall in field goals. Throughout the season, Kon has shot inconsistently in certain games, but for the Blue Devils to continue to be a powerhouse team in the ACC, Knueppel needs to continue to solidify himself as a dependable and efficient shooter.
Notre Dame: Tae Davis
Junior Tae Davis is in his second year playing for Notre Dame. After leading the team in shooting percentage during the 2023-24 season, Davis continues to dominate in his role for the Fighting Irish. In the past two games, the forward notched 17 points against North Carolina and 14 points against the Wolfpack. Interestingly, Davis is able to navigate his way into the paint for scoring opportunities rather than primarily being a threat from 3-point range.
Overall, the junior is averaging 16.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season. Additionally, Davis is a solid free throw shooter, converting 75.5% of his attempts this year. The Indianapolis native shows no signs of slowing down, so the Blue Devils should emphasize limiting his production when they take on Notre Dame Saturday.
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