Marshall @ Notre Dame preview

One of the things that is expected to make Notre Dame a vastly improved team this season is its depth, and the Fighting Irish look to continue developing that when they host Marshall in a non-conference contest Friday night. Notre Dame has gotten at least nine points per game from five different players over the first three contests and averaged 85.5 points in a pair of wins after dropping its opener at No. 11 North Carolina.

Senior forward John Mooney scored 18 to lead six players with at least eight points as the Irish shot 50.8 percent from the floor for a 79-50 victory over Howard on Tuesday in the second game during a stretch where they play six straight at home against mid-majors. “Very important,” Mooney told reporters of the team’s depth. “When you have multiple players in double figures, multiple guys playing well, it’s certainly hard for other teams to scout. Especially when you get into league play. ... if multiple guys are playing at a high level on one given night, we’re going to be hard to stop.” Notre Dame looks to continue getting production from multiple players and Marshall hopes to begin doing that as the Thundering Herd have had just two players score more than 7.5 per game in their first two contests. Marshall knocked off Robert Morris 67-60 in its opener - a team the Irish beat by 35 points - before suffering a 96-70 setback against Toledo at home on Sunday.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT MARSHALL (1-1): The Thundering Herd must also improve their defense after allowing 55 points in the first half and 51.5 percent shooting overall - 14-of-25 from 3-point range - in the loss to Toledo. Junior guard Jarrod West averaged 20 points and 3.5 steals in the first two games while sophomore backcourt mate Taevion Kinsey has scored 32 and dished out eight assists combined, but the rest of the team must step up its production. Junior forward Mikel Beyers is third on the team, averaging 7.5 points, and freshman forward Cam Brooks-Harris has pulled down a team-best 17 rebounds early on.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (2-1): Mooney has posted double-doubles in the last two games, including 16 boards versus Howard, and coach Mike Brey told reporters: “It’s an art form watching him rebound the ball. How he goes and gets it is really beautiful to watch.” Sophomore point guard Prentiss Hubb leads the team in scoring (14.7 per game) and assists (4.7) while draining 9-of-18 from 3-point range with Mooney (12.7 points) and senior guard T.J. Gibbs (12.3) close behind. Sophomore guards Dane Goodwin (10.3 points, 55.6 percent shooting) and Robby Carmody (9.0) have contributed off the bench.

TIP-INS

1. Notre Dame’s 6-11 senior F Juwan Durham is 8-of-9 from the field with five total blocks in the last two contests.

2. West had four steals against Toledo to move into eighth place on the program’s all-time list with 144.

3. Irish senior G Rex Pflueger had 10 points against Howard on 3-of-6 shooting after managing five points on 1-of-6 shooting in the first two games.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 84, Marshall 62