The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play the North Carolina Tar Heels in a big NCAA men's basketball matchup that will be live streaming online free from Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 7:30 PM ET
After a slow start to the conference season, North Carolina turned it around in a major way, winning 11 straight to clinch a first-round bye in the ACC tournament.
During their current streak, the Tar Heels (22-7, 12-4) have won in a variety of ways, from high-scoring shootouts to overtime thrillers. On Saturday at Virginia Tech, the team won a game coach Roy Williams described as "workman-like."
North Carolina shot just 50.0 percent from the free throw line, but Leslie McDonald sank two in the final seconds to help give the team a 60-56 victory. The win ensured the Heels a top-four finish in the regular season ACC standings and a place in the quarterfinals when the league's tournament begins next week in Greensboro, N.C.
"I don't know that I care that much about getting a bye," Williams said. "I care more about that meaning that you've had a pretty good run. I like winning games."
The 60 points were the fewest the Tar Heels have posted in a victory since a 54-51 win over Virginia on Feb. 25, 2012.
While North Carolina's finale comes March 8 at Duke, this matchup will close out the regular season for the Fighting Irish (15-15, 6-11), who have lost three of four.
Notre Dame has been especially poor on the road this season, going 1-8 in ACC play. Among the team's issues in those contests has been a lack of crashing the boards, with opponents grabbing 33.3 rebounds per game.
That problem crept up again Saturday when the Irish fell 85-81 in overtime at home against Pittsburgh. Despite the five extra minutes, Notre Dame grabbed its fewest rebounds in a conference game this season and was outworked 38-22 on the glass.
A win versus North Carolina would end the Fighting Irish's debut ACC season on a high note. The Irish struggled when the teams met earlier this season, losing 73-62 at home on Feb. 8. This game will mark Notre Dame's first appearance in Chapel Hill since Feb. 23, 1993, a game won by the eventual-NCAA champion Tar Heels 85-56.
The game will be live streamed on ESPN/ESPNWatch.com
