Tar Heels Face Notre Dame in Critical ACC Tournament Clash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The North Carolina Tar Heels, the fifth seed in the 2025 ACC Tournament, are set to face the twelfth-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, at Spectrum Center. Both teams are looking to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resumes, with UNC aiming to bolster its chances after falling short of the tournament last year.

North Carolina enters the match with a 20-12 overall record, having secured six victories in their last seven games. The Tar Heels secured a tie for fourth in the regular-season ACC standings with a 13-7 record.

“We are confident heading into this game,” said Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis. “We’ve shown we can compete at a high level, and it’s all about executing our game plan.”

In their first encounter this season, Carolina edged Notre Dame 74-73 in a tightly contested game in January. RJ Davis scored the game-winning three-pointer, followed by a free throw which made for a remarkable four-point play.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, advanced to the second round following a narrow 55-54 victory over Pittsburgh, a game marred by controversial officiating in the final moments. Tae Davis secured victory with a pivotal free throw after a late foul.

North Carolina has a storied history against Notre Dame, boasting a 31-9 all-time record, including a 2-1 mark in ACC Tournament play against the Irish. The Tar Heels are heavily favored in this matchup as they enter with significant momentum, backed by the strong performances from their key players, RJ Davis and Ian Jackson.

“We need to keep pushing ourselves and focus on what we can control,” Davis added. “The ACC Tournament is a fresh start for us.”

The Tar Heels, if successful against Notre Dame, will advance to the quarterfinals to face the fourth-seeded Wake Forest on Thursday. With UNC predicted as a 7.5-point favorite, this game will be crucial for both teams in terms of tournament seeding.

All eyes will be on the dynamic scoring and rebounding efforts from both teams as they vie for a chance to progress in the tournament. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, providing fans the opportunity to follow one of college basketball’s most storied rivalries.