ACC Tournament First Round: Notre Dame Faces Pittsburgh in Do-or-Die Matchup

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers in the first round of the 2025 ACC Tournament at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Spectrum Center. Both teams enter the matchup seeking a momentum boost to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Notre Dame finished their regular season with a 14-17 record and an 8-12 conference performance, placing them as the No. 12 seed in the tournament. The Fighting Irish are coming off a thrilling four-overtime win against California, which showcased their scoring potential led by sophomore guard Markus Burton, the conference’s leading scorer with an average of 22.2 points per game.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, holds a slightly better record at 17-14 with an equal 8-12 conference mark, earning them the No. 13 seed. The Panthers recently ended a four-game losing streak with a decisive 93-67 victory over Boston College, a performance that reignited hopes for an extended run in the tournament. Junior guard Jaland Lowe leads the charge, averaging 16.8 points per game.

The teams faced each other once this season, with Notre Dame securing a 76-72 victory in South Bend. The Fighting Irish have dominated this matchup historically, winning six of their last seven meetings.

“This game is about survival,” said Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. “Winning momentum is key. We need our offense to fire on all cylinders, especially with Markus playing at such a high level.”

The stakes are high for both squads; the winner will advance to the next round to face North Carolina, the No. 5 seed. Furthermore, both teams are vying for a chance to improve their tournament resume, as a run through the ACC Tournament could bolster their chances for an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Despite being the lower seed, Pittsburgh enters the game favored by 3.5 points according to the latest lines. The over/under for total points is set at 136.5. Coach Jeff Capel remains optimistic about his team’s chances. “We know what we’re fighting for. If we can replicate our dominant last game, we stand a decent chance,” he said.

As the ACC Tournament unfolds, fans will be looking to see if any Cinderella stories emerge, reminiscent of last year’s surprise run by NC State. March Madness often brings unforeseen surprises, and these two teams are looking to make their mark.