Game Preview/Thread: Notre Dame (15-10, 4-7) at No. 14 North Carolina (19-7, 8-5)
Notre Dame (15-10, 4-7) at No. 14 North Carolina (19-7, 8-5)
Date: February 12th
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Dean Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV: ESPN
QUICK FACTS
- North Carolina leads the all-time series 23-7.
- Matt Farrell is averaging 3.10 three-point field goals made per game.
- TJ Gibbs has scored in double-figures for 13 consecutive games.
- Martinas Geben has scored in double figures in nine of the last 13 games.
- Note Dame has made 26 three-point field goals over the last two games.
- The senior class has tied the win total for winningest class in Notre Dame history with 97 wins.
THE STARTERS
Notre Dame
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Matt Farrell | 16.5 | 2.4 | 5.2 |
| TJ Gibbs | 16.3 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Rex Pflueger | 9.1 | 4.3 | 3.2 |
| Austin Torres | 1.9 | 2.4 | 0.4 |
| Martinas Geben | 10.1 | 7.9 | 1.2 |
North Carolina
| Name | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Joel Berry II | 17.4 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| Cameron Johnson | 13.1 | 4.8 | 2.2 |
| Kenny Williams | 11.5 | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| Theo Pinson | 8.7 | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Luke Maye | 18.7 | 10.5 | 2.4 |
National Rankings
| Category | Notre Dame | North Carolina |
| Scoring Offense | 76.5 (108) | 83.3 (24) |
| Scoring Defense | 68.1 (72) | 73.6 (222) |
| Rebound Margin | 2.1 (117) | 11.7 (1) |
| Assist Per Game | 14.3 (140) | 17.8 (10) |
| FG% Offense | 45.1% (156) | 46.5% (90) |
| FG% Defense | 42.2% (91) | 42.4% (95) |
| Three-Pointers Per Game | 8.6 (83) | 8.2 (121) |
| Three-Point Percentage | 37.4% (73) | 36.9% (92) |
| Free-Throw Percentage | 76.3% (33) | 73.7% (90) |
| Assist-Turnover Ratio | 1.38 (28) | 1.41 (20) |
Preview
Notre Dame battled North Carolina in the first meeting and fell 69-68 without Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson. TJ Gibbs scored 19 points and Nik Djogo scored 12 points in the first meeting and the Irish would love to see Djogo come up with another big night.
The Irish will need to score points on Monday night and Farrell back in the lineup helps with that as Notre Dame has put up points the last two games.
Notre Dame out-rebounded the Tar Heels in the first meeting 45-37 and a duplicate performance would go a long way towards staying in this one.
For the Irish to leave Chapel Hill with a victory the three-point shot will need to fall. Farrell and Gibbs will hit their shots, but John Mooney, Rex Pflueger and Djogo will need to hit open shots from behind the arc.
The Irish have done a good job of turning games into ugly games with Colson out and they need to do it again on Monday night. A slug it out contest will benefit Notre Dame as in the first matchup, but if the Irish get into an up and down game, the Tar Heels could run them out of the gym.
Notre Dame has also put themselves in a good position to make a late run for the NCAA Tournament and stealing a game in Chapel Hill would give the Irish a major confidence boost and a big resumè builder.
Prediction: North Carolina 81 Notre Dame 70