Tar Heels Dominate Notre Dame in ACC Tournament Opener

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The University of North Carolina Tar Heels triumphed over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, securing a decisive 76-56 victory in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday.

The Tar Heels showcased significant improvement in their three-point shooting, hitting 13 of 28 attempts from beyond the arc. Over the last eight games, the team has averaged a remarkable 45.5 percent shooting rate from three-point range, up from dismal statistics earlier in the season.

Leading the charge was Jalen Withers, who netted a career-high 21 points, including seven three-pointers. This impressive performance parallels a feat achieved by former star Tyler Hansbrough, who also scored seven three-pointers during a notable 42-point game against Miami. Withers also contributed nine rebounds, falling just shy of a double-double.

The Tar Heels improved their defensive effort against Notre Dame’s Markus Burton, who scored 23 points in their previous matchup. This time, with added defensive support from , Burton struggled, finishing with only 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting from the field.

In the pivotal first half, Withers made five three-pointers, helping UNC build a lead as large as 21 points. Withers’ first-half scoring was part of a broader offensive strategy that heavily relied on spacing and shooting from long range, as the Tar Heels converted nine of 17 three-point attempts to hold a 43-29 lead at halftime.

Alongside Withers, Omar Lubin quietly made an impact, achieving a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. While credited with just one assist, he facilitated scoring opportunities with crucial passes that contributed to the team’s offensive flow, leading the lineup with a +28 plus-minus rating.

In terms of assisting, point guard Elliot Cadeau delivered 10 assists for his fifth double-digit assist game of the season while committing only two turnovers. His contribution was vital to maintaining ball control and executing the team’s plays effectively.

The victory allowed the Tar Heels to take command of the boards, coming off an earlier struggle against Notre Dame. In this game, Carolina out-rebounded the Irish by eight boards and has shown a +65 margin in rebounding over the last seven games. The team is now 16-4 when out-rebounding opponents.

Carolina also continued its strong performance in the Spectrum Center, boasting a home record of 19-3 and an overall mark of 169-28 in Charlotte.

With this win, the Tar Heels extended their winning streak to 14 of the last 16 matchups against Notre Dame and are set to face Wake Forest in the quarterfinals tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. The teams have not met in the ACC Tournament since 2000.