NC State Hosts Notre Dame in Crucial ACC Basketball Clash

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball team returns home to the Lenovo Center on Wednesday, January 8, to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a pivotal ACC matchup. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on ESPNU. The Wolfpack, currently on a two-game losing streak, aims to rebound against a Notre Dame team seeking to build momentum after a mixed start to the season.

NC State (8-6 overall, 1-2 ACC) is coming off a disappointing 77-59 loss to Wake Forest, where the team struggled defensively, allowing a season-high 77 points. Senior guard DJ Hill has been a bright spot, scoring in double figures in seven consecutive games and leading the team with an average of 12.6 points per game. Meanwhile, junior forward Mohamed Diarra notched his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Notre Dame (10-5 overall, 2-2 ACC) enters the game with renewed confidence after securing its first Quadrant 1 win of the season, a 21-point victory over Georgetown. The Fighting Irish are led by sophomore guard Markus Burton, who averages 18.9 points per game, and junior forward Tae Davis, contributing 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Notre Dame’s offense has been bolstered by the addition of Princeton transfer Matt Allocco, a sharpshooting guard averaging 10 points per game with a 46.3% three-point shooting rate.

The Wolfpack’s defense, which ranks fourth in the ACC in scoring defense (66.3 points per game), will need to tighten up against Notre Dame’s balanced attack. NC State’s ability to control turnovers and dominate in the paint will be critical. The team is 8-1 this season when outscoring opponents in the paint but 0-5 when tied or outscored.

Historically, the series between NC State and Notre Dame is tied at 10 wins apiece. The Wolfpack won the last meeting on January 3, 2024, with a dramatic 54-52 victory secured by a game-winning basket from forward DJ Burns Jr. with 0.6 seconds remaining. Head coach Kevin Keatts holds a 6-3 record against Notre Dame, including a 3-1 mark at home.

With the ACC standings tightening, Wednesday’s game carries significant implications for both teams. A win for NC State would provide a much-needed boost ahead of a challenging matchup against UNC on Saturday, while Notre Dame looks to solidify its position in the conference hierarchy.