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Texas Tech basketball: What to know about Notre Dame

By Matthew Conner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 10: head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2022 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament - Quarterfinals at Barclays Center on March 10, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 10: head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2022 Men's ACC Basketball Tournament - Quarterfinals at Barclays Center on March 10, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Dane Goodwin #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes up for a layup against Charles Bediako #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 18, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Dane Goodwin #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes up for a layup against Charles Bediako #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 18, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

They have not played a challenging schedule

There was a time when playing in the ACC guaranteed that a team would face some of the stiffest competition in the nation.  But not this year.  In fact, what was for years considered to be the best conference in the NCAA would end the regular season with only one ranked team, No. 9 Duke.

Thus, Notre Dame’s schedule has been devoid of top-flight competition outside of their 57-43 loss to the Blue Devils and their 66-62 win over then-No. 10 Kentucky in December.  In fact, those are the only two ranked teams the Irish have played all season.

When you compare the resumes of the Red Raiders and the Irish, it isn’t much of a debate as to which team had the tougher road to get to this point.

Overall, Tech has the No. 12 strength of schedule in the nation while ND has the No. 68.  What’s more, Tech is 8-9 against Quad 1 teams while the Irish are just 2-8.  Similarly, Tech is 7-0 against Quad 2 teams while ND is just 2-1.

Where the Irish have built their record is against Quad 3 teams where they are 11-1.  Meanwhile, Tech played only one game against a Quad 3 team (which they won).

Also, the Irish have played only three teams in the top 30 in the KenPom.com adjusted defensive efficiency rankings (Indiana, St. Marys, and Illinois).  They lost each of those games averaging only 62.3 points in those defeats.  Thus, one has to wonder what they will do against the nation’s best defense.

The reality is that playing in the ACC this year was not the same as it has historically been.  That league was mediocre at best and as a result, the Irish are not as battle-hardened as Tech is.  That’s another reason to believe that the Red Raiders should have an edge in round two.

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