The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have looked impressive through two games this season and will look continue their strong play against Saint Joseph's on Friday night.
The two teams will face off at the brand-new Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the semifinals of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Notre Dame coasted through the early rounds of the tournament, winning at home 58-49 against Evansville and dispatching Mommouth 84-57 on Monday. Head coach Mike Brey has relied heavily on Jack Cooley and Garrick Sherman this season and they have each come through with strong rebounding and solid offensive play.
"That really helped us, just being able to pound away with two big guys," Brey said. "This is so important for (Sherman) as we head to Brooklyn. That's a game that kind of makes him believe he's really part of it."
Sherman, who transferred from Michigan State, scored a career-high 22 points with nine rebounds against Monmouth, while Cooley had 16 points and nine rebounds. He struggled in the first game, scoring only three points against Evansville.
"I think I was a little too passive in the first game, trying to find my role," Sherman said. "I owe it to Coach Brey and I owe it to this program to start playing better."
Cooley has proven to be the most skilled player on the Irish and leads the team in scoring, with 17.5 per game. The senior is averaging 10 rebounds per game and is coming off of his best year after he averaged 12 points and nine rebounds last season.
"(Sherman) is able to give us rebounds and points," Cooley told the Irish's official website. "It is huge for us to have two guys who can do that."
The Irish last played Saint Joseph's in 1992 and will face Florida State or BYU on Saturday if they win on Friday night.
"It will be cool," said swingman Pat Connaughton. "It will also bring a little added intensity to the locker room because it's such a big event. I think it's just going to get us more hyped and ready for the game."
Notre Dame is the only ranked team of the four left in the tournament, but the Saint Joseph Hawks will be the most talented one the Irish have faced this season.
Last year the Hawks were 20-14 and went to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Northern Iowa. The team is coming off of an impressive 61-35 win against Yale and will look to continue their strong defensive play against Notre Dame.
Saint Joseph's is averaging 41 rebounds per game and held Yale to only 25 percent shooting in the opening win.
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