Notre Dame Vs. Stephen F. Austin: 10 To 1

10 Victories by head coach Mike Brey in NCAA Tournament action after the 70-63 conquest of Michigan — which balanced his ledger in the Big Dance to 10-10. In 16 years, he is only five behind the school-record 15-16 mark (one of the wins was a consolation game) for men’s basketball held by Digger Phelps in his 20 seasons from 1971-91.

9 This could be the ninth time in Notre Dame’s 35 NCAA Tournament appearances — which is tied for ninth most nationally — the Fighting Irish win two games in a row. It did it three times with head coach John Jordan (1953, 1954 and 1958), three times with Phelps (1978, 1979 and 1987), and now maybe the third time with Brey (2003 and 2015 so far). For only the third time in history, Notre Dame could win at least two games in a row in back-to-back years after posting three victories last season. The other times were 1953 (two) and 1954 (two), and then 1978 (three) and 1979 (two).

8 Ranking of Notre Dame in all-time wins now with 1,817. Believe it or not, it is only three behind UCLA (1,820) — meaning the Fighting Irish could tie the Bruins if it reaches the Final Four this season. Notre Dame is the lone school that ranks in the top 10 in both the number of football victories (No. 2 with 892) and basketball (No. 8 with 1,817). Under Brey, it has improved from 12th to eighth in the rankings.

7 Junior wing V.J. Beachem was 7 of 7 from the floor against Michigan — with four of them coming from three-point range. It is believed to be the best postseason tournament shooting from the floor in one game since center John Shumate made a school-record 20 consecutive field goals in the 1973 NIT victories versus Louisville (9 of 9) and North Carolina (11 of 12, after missing his final attempt). Guard David Rivers did convert five treys in a clutch 58-57 win over TCU in the second round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament, but it came on 11 attempts. In six ACC and NCAA Tournament games last year, Beachem faltered while totaling only 14 points. This year in three tourney games he has 48 points, and he is 16 of 28 from three-point range (57.1 percent) in his last six contests.

6 Notre Dame is the lone No. 6 seed in this year’s tournament that survived and advanced beyond the first round. The other three lost to their 11th-seeded opponent: Wichita State — whom the Irish defeated in the Sweet 16 last year — toppled Arizona (65-55), Northern Iowa stunned Texas (75-72) with a half-court shot and Gonzaga cruised by Seton Hall (68-52). That’s not even including the first-round exit of two No. 5 seeds (Baylor and Purdue), a No. 4 seed (California), No. 3 seed (West Virginia) and even a No. 2 seed (Michigan State). It should make one cherish every triumph and recognize how difficult it is to attain victory this time of year.

5 Players who average double-figure scoring for Notre Dame: junior guard Demetrius Jackson (15.4), senior center Zach Auguste (14.2), junior guard Steve Vasturia (11.7), junior forward V.J. Beachem (11.5) and sophomore forward Bonzie Colson (11.5). The only other year that was accomplished by the Fighting Irish was during a 22-7 campaign in 1976-77 — the year after Adrian Dantley departed and the year before advancing to the Final Four for the only time in program history.

4 Times since Feb. 6 Notre Dame has rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to win the game. On Feb. 6, it trailed then No. 2 North Carolina 43-32 early in the second half, and had been down by 15 (37-22) before prevailing 80-76. Versus No. 13 Louisville Feb. 13, the Fighting Irish fell behind 53-42 with 14:57 left, but Brey’s troops won 71-66. In the ACC Tournament against Duke March 10, the Blue Devils built a seemingly insurmountable 16-point lead (64-48) with 9:57 left, but the Irish won 84-79 in overtime. Against Michigan on Friday, Notre Dame trailed by as many as 13 (26-13) and were behind 41-29 at halftime before winning 70-63. The Irish had lost 13 straight NCAA Tournament games when trailing at halftime until vanquishing the Wolverines. Michigan had been 18-1 this year when leading at halftime.

3 Power Five conference teams faced by Stephen F. Austin this season: It was crushed 97-55 in its opener against Baylor and lost 80-73 at Arizona State Dec. 22 before upsetting No. 3 seed West Virginia in the first round.

2 Wins by Stephen F. Austin in NCAA Tournament history, with the 70-56 upset of No. 3 seed West Virginia on Friday the most recent. The Lumberjacks, who rank No. 1 in defensive turnover percentage (and forced 22 versus the Mountaineers), are making their fourth appearance ever in the tourney, the first coming in 2009.

1 Notre Dame has been defeated by a No. 14 seed — which is what Stephen F. Austin is — only one time: the 90-83 loss to Arkansas Little-Rock in the first round of the 1986 NCAA Tournament. This also is Notre Dame’s first meeting with the 28-5 Lumberjacks, whose 20-game winning streak is currently No. 1 in the nation.

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