3. Bench vs Bench
This is the matchup that should be Indiana’s biggest advantage in this contest.
Notre Dame historically plays a tight rotation, rarely going more than seven or eight guys deep consistently. This year is not much of an exception as the Irish only play eight guys more than eight minutes per game, with one of them – Robby Carmody – out for the season.
Indiana, on the other hand, has an incredible amount of depth- playing 10 guys double-digit minutes every game. Damezi Anderson, Armaan Franklin, Jerome Hunter, Race Thompson and Rob Phinisee all are significant contributors off of the bench. Though, Rob Phinisee brings a spark off of the bench, he should be starting within the next few games.
Indiana is built to survive physical games in which foul trouble may be an issue. Notre Dame is not.
If Mooney or Gibbs pick up two quick fouls there’s not really anybody that they can plug in that can provide anywhere near the production those two provide.
Bench production could prove to be the big difference maker in this one,