How Marquette will present a challenge Notre Dame men's basketball in old Big East throwback
Mike Brey had a term he used specifically for describing the character of Marquette’s roster when his Notre Dame team would play Tom Crean’s or Buzz Williams’ Golden Eagles yearly in the old Big East.
“I called them nail-eaters,” Brey said.
Those nail-eaters had one goal on defense: make life miserable for ball-handlers and shooters. Get in your face and make you feel claustrophobic. The Golden Eagles were top-75 in forced turnover rate in four of their final seven seasons in the Big East with Notre Dame. They coerced the normally sure-handed Irish into three games with a turnover rate of at least 20 percent in the last four years before the Big East split.
Ten years later, with the rivalry renewing Sunday at Purcell Pavilion (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2) for its 118th edition, Brey sees the same M.O. under second-year head coach Shaka Smart.
“I think it’s similar,” Brey said. “Buzz had similar bodies who came after you. Marquette always had nail-eaters under Buzz. I don’t think anything has changed. More full-court pressure with Shaka, though.”
Marquette plays pressure defense the way Smart’s early 2010s VCU teams did. His “havoc” identity made the Rams an annual March Madness disruptor and upset threat. So far this year, the Golden Eagles (7-3) are forcing turnovers at a 22.7 percent clip, which is 43rd nationally. That includes harassing No. 6 Baylor for 20 giveaways and a 29 percent rate in a 96-70 win Nov. 29 and forcing Wisconsin to cough it up on 21.7 percent of possessions in an overtime loss Dec. 3.
Notre Dame’s offense, meanwhile, is its usual turnover-averse self. The Irish are fourth nationally in turnover rate, at 13.6 percent.
“Two forces hit each other,” Brey said. “The best team at taking the ball in the country against a team that needs to turn you over. Something has to give.”
Notre Dame (7-2) ought to be prepared for the pressure after seeing it once earlier this year. St. Bonaventure plays a get-in-your face style on and off the ball that leads to a low volume of clean 3-pointers and assists.
The thing is, though, Notre Dame appeared hapless in that game. The Irish lost to the Bonnies 63-51 Nov. 25 and shot 2-of-17 on 3-pointers, the low volume just as troubling as the poor accuracy. They had only 6 assists – all from guard Trey Wertz – and 9 turnovers. It was just the fifth time since 2010-11 they were held to 6 or fewer assists.
The memory is still fresh as they prepare for another bout with the same style.
“Don’t be Bonaventure’d,” Brey said. “Here’s our challenge. They’re going to come and Bonaventure us.”
Marquette is the second top-40 KenPom team on Notre Dame’s schedule and another chance at an early season addition to an NCAA tournament résumé. The Irish have a convincing win over Michigan State on there, but it’s only worth so much with losses to St. Bonaventure and Syracuse – neither of which is ranked higher than 79th at KenPom.
The message is the same as it was before that Michigan State game: urgency and recognize the opportunity.
“We have to eventually put a few on your résumé,” Brey said. “It’s the same opportunity. I think Marquette is going to have a good run in the Big East.”
John Shumate going into Ring of Honor
Notre Dame will raise another banner into the program’s Ring of Honor before Sunday’s game. John Shumate, a forward for the Irish from 1971-74, will see his No. 34 hung in Purcell Pavilion’s rafters.
Shumate, 70, was a two-time All-American and averaged a double-double for his career, with 22.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Three of the others who posted career double-doubles – LaPhonso Ellis, Tommy Hawkins and Bob Whitmore – are already in the Ring of Honor.
The 6-foot-9 Shumate scored 1,334 points in two seasons with the program. He grabbed the rebound that sealed Notre Dame’s 71-70 win over UCLA Jan. 19, 1974 and snapped the Bruins’ 88-game win streak.
“Unbelievable numbers,” Brey said. “The one thing about him that was interesting is amazing toughness between the lines, but a total gentleman outside.”
The idea of Shumate playing at all once felt tenuous. Heath concerns that included a blood clot in his calf and a virus near his heart wiped out his 1971-72 season.
The Phoenix Suns took Shumate with the No. 4 pick in the 1974 NBA Draft. He played five years in the pros, averaging 12.3 points per game before health issues led him to retire. He spent 10 seasons as a college head coach at Grand Canyon (1983-85) and SMU (1988-95). He was the head coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury in 2003.
“Digger [Phelps] claims he’s the best big man coach ever, footwork-wise and stuff like that,” Brey said. “I’ve heard that from Phonz and different big guys he coached.”
Notre Dame (7-2) vs. Marquette (7-3)
When: Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. ET
Where: Purcell Pavilion
TV: ESPN2
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 73-65 in the Big East Tournament on March 14, 2013
Series history: Notre Dame leads 81-37
KenPom prediction: Marquette 74, Notre Dame 73
Leading scorers:
• Notre Dame: forward Nate Laszewski (14.3 ppg), guard Dane Goodwin (13.7 ppg)
• Marquette: guard Kam Jones (15.5), forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (15.2 ppg).
