Notre Dame will not only be Georgia Tech’s opponent on Sunday.
The Fighting Irish and coach Mike Brey are also a template for Tech coach Josh Pastner.
“I’m really hoping we can model ourselves with what coach Brey has done there at Notre Dame in terms of consistency for so long,” Pastner said. “They’ve just been so good for so long.”
After Pastner was hired at Tech in April, he studied the ACC and came away with respect for all of Tech’s opponents in the league, but developed a particular appreciation for what Brey has done. In his first 16 seasons at Notre Dame, the Irish have made the NCAA tournament 11 times, including six of the past seven seasons. They won the ACC championship in 2015 and have made back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.
Further, they’ve done it with an attractive and effective offensive style. In the past seven seasons, the Irish have ranked in the top 10 in adjusted offensive efficiency (KenPom) four times and are 15th this season.
“I think they’re tough, and they can flat out shoot the basketball,” Pastner said.
