Game Thread | Notre Dame at North Carolina

Notre Dame (8-7, 0-4) at North Carolina (10-5, 2-2)

Date: January 7th

Time: 11:30 AM ET 

Where: Dean E. Smith Center | Chapel Hill, N.C.

TV: ESPN2 | Dan Shulman & Jay Bilas

Line: North Carolina -12.5

O/U: 145

QUICK FACTS 

- North Carolina leads the all-time series 27-9

- The Irish have won just once at North Carolina (1-8).

- Dane Goodwin has played in 141 career games for the Irish and will set a program record for games played on Saturday. 

- Goodwin is shooting 46.0% from three-point range this season and ranks No. 3 in the ACC. 

- JJ Starling leads Notre Dame in double-digit scoring games this season with 11. 

- Notre Dame is averaging 9.3 turnovers a game, which is No. 2 in the country. 

PROJECTED STARTERS

Notre Dame

North Carolina 

Preview

On paper - this one could get ugly. It’s not because North Carolina is going to keep the points down, but rather the fact the Tar Heels could likely put up 100 on the Irish if they wanted. Notre Dame’s defense has been poor all year and now they’ll face one of the best offensive teams in the country and they’ll be short-handed as freshman Ven-Allen Lubin will miss the game (and the next week) with an ankle injury. 

Lubin has been one of the few bright spots for Mike Brey’s team this year as the freshman is averaging 5.7 pp and 4.5 rpg this season. The 6-foot-8 forward has been Notre Dame's most consistent defensive presence at the rim as he’s recorded 14 blocks this year. 

And Notre Dame will need an inside presence in Chapel Hill as Armando Bacot leads the Tar Heels in scoring (18.6 points) and rebounds (11.1). 

Another note - Bacot isn’t the only 6-foot-11 starter for the North Carolina as Pete Nance also patrols the pain. But the good news for the Irish is Nance left Wednesday’s game with a sore back, so we’ll see if he plays. If he doesn’t, look for the Tar Heels to go with a three-guard lineup and start Seth Trimble. 

Regardless, Notre Dame hasn’t done well this year against teams with more athleticism and length and North Carolina will be the most athletic and biggest team the Irish have faced this season. 

Now, if you’re looking for positive news, Notre Dame has shown up in big games over the last few years and this would qualify despite the Tar Heels not being ranked. Hubert Davis’ squad lost four games in a row at the end of November, but have won 5 of the last 6. 

The Irish will need to hit from three this game, which they’ve done at times this season. In fact, Notre Dame has hit 87 threes since November 30th, which is No. 12 in the country. If the three-ball isn’t falling, it might be a long day as the Irish won’t have an inside presence and only JJ Starling has shown the will to attack the rim. 

Speaking of Starling, the freshman guard has started to come on strong over the last month. Since December 7th, Starling has scored at least 11 points in six of the last seven games. 

This might be the most telling game of the season. Notre Dame hasn’t shown much fight this season, but they’ll have to fight from the tip today. If they don’t, it’s hard not to remember the ACC Tournament game in 2021 where the Tar Heels won 101-59, which included the Irish falling behind by 50 points following a 52-4 run by North Carolina. 

And yes, the level of concern is at that level as Brey’s team needs to prove they simply want to compete. 

Notre Dame Last Five
Boston College - 70-63 L
Miami - 76-65 L 
Jacksonville - 59-43 W 
Florida State - 73-72 L 
Georgia - 77-62 L

North Carolina Last Five
Wake Forest - 88--79 W
Pitt - 76.74 L 
Michigan- 80-76 W
Ohio State - 89-84 W
The Citadel - 100-67 W 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish OHT Military Appreciation Digit Quarter-Snap