Game Thread | Notre Dame at NC State

Notre Dame (10-4, 1-2) at NC State (10-4, 1-2)

Date: January 8th

Time: 7:00p.m. ET

Where: PNC Arena | Raleigh, N.C.

TV:  ESPN2 | Mike Couzens and Seth Greenberg

ACC Standings

Quick Facts 

- Notre Dame and NC State will meet for the 15^th time on Wednesday and for the eighth time as ACC opponents.  

- The Irish lead the all-time series 8-6 and 4-3 in ACC play. 

- John Mooney is tied for first in the nation in rebounds per game at 13.5.

- Notre Dame is the only school leading the country in four major statistical categories (the NCAA has 32 statistical categories in which it maintains national leaders). The Irish lead in fouls committed per game (11.6), least amount of turnovers per game (9.6), least amount of total turnovers (134) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.96)

- The Irish are the only program to have three players in the top five of the ACC in assist-to-turnover ratio. (Hubb, Gibbs and Pflueger) 

- Prentiss Hubb is tied for the most three-pointers made in ACC play this season (14). 

-TJ Gibbs is averaging 20.6 points per game in ACC play this season.  

THE STARTERS

Notre Dame

NC State 

Preview

Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 76.1
NC State: 80.2

Opponent Points Per Game
Notre Dame: 65.0
NC State: 70.6

FG%
Notre Dame: 42.3%
NC State: 47.2%

Rebounds Per Game
Notre Dame: 40.6
NC State: 36.9

Assists Per Game
Notre Dame: 18.8
NC State: 13.9

Blocks Per Game
Notre Dame: 4.4
NC State: 4.8

Steals Per Game
Notre Dame: 6.2
NC State: 8.1

The good news is Notre Dame is coming off an impressive win at Syracuse on Saturday to get its first ACC win of the year. The bad news is senior captain Rex Pflueger is a game-time decision. 

“I think he’ll be a game-time decision, just an update on him,” Mike Brey said. “It’s nothing with the ACL. He’s got a little bit of a bone bruise that you get when you blow an ACL, and there’s always going to be irritation. 

“We won’t let him practice (Monday), and we’ll see how he is Wednesday. But it’s not anything with the ACL.”

If Pflueger can’t go, it’s a loss for Notre Dame as a short rotation will get even shorter to essentially six guys. Nik Djogo would be the seventh man, but he has played a total of nine minutes over the last three games. 

On the other side, NC State could be without its best player CJ Bryce for a third-straight game. Bryce suffered a concussion during a shootaround as he hand hit him in the jaw. 

If Bryce isn’t available, it’s likely a bigger loss than Pflueger as he’s averaging 16.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, which leads the Wolfpack. 

Now, NC State played a seven-man rotation during Saturday’s 81-70 loss to Clemson, but there is still offensive firepower there. Three starters average in double-figures and point guard Markell Johnson is as dangerous as any player Notre Dame will face in the ACC. 

Notre Dame is playing good basketball right now and scoring 88 points on the road is a phenomenal sign for a team who couldn’t buy a bucket at times in December. 

Both teams shooting the three at a 34 percent clip, so it won’t be a surprise if the game is decided by shots from beyond the arc. The Irish went 15-for-31 from three against Syracuse and will need to hit at least 12 to pull off another road win on Wednesday. 

Call me crazy, but I’m going to roll with the Irish in this one as I think Brey has a hot team right now. 

Prediction: Notre Dame 71 NC State 67

Brey Wants Offense Rolling; Rex Update, Mooney Honored

Gibbs, Hubb Can Be Elite Tandem

ISD Video | Mike Brey Positive Heading Into NC State

ISD Video | Prentiss Hubb Looking To Continue Momentum

ISD Video | TJ Gibbs Red Hot Heading Into NC State

ISD Video | John Mooney Looking To Carry Positive Momentum