Know Your Opponent: Notre Dame

By Bobby Hundley

Notre Dame (UND.com)
Location: South Bend, Ind.
Rankings: ND - No. 17 KenPom, RV AP; UNC - No. 11 KenPom, No. 20 AP
Records: ND - 13-4, 3-1 ACC; UNC - 13-4, 2-2 ACC
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 21-7 (UNC 83, Notre Dame 76, Feb. 5, 2017, Greensboro Coliseum)

Notre Dame lost Bonzie Colson to a broken foot just days after the do-it-all senior went for 22 points and 17 rebounds in a 68-59 home win over Georgia Tech. The Irish then played one of their best games of the season, pummeling NC State by 30, but losing Matt Farrell to a sprained ankle in the process. With Colson not expected back until March and Farrell questionable for Saturday, it's instructive to look at Notre Dame's last two games for what we could expect against the Tar Heels.

Last Saturday, the Irish went to Syracuse and gutted out a 51-49 win in what may end up being the slowest game in the ACC this year. ND scored just three points in the first 10 minutes of a glacial 55-possession affair, but 18 points from T.J. Gibbs and some key plays down the stretch by Elijah Burns were enough to overcome the Orange and push Notre Dame's record to 3-0 in the league.

Wednesday at Georgia Tech went the other way, however, as the Irish slumped to their worst offensive output (0.82 points per possession) since the 78-47 loss to Carolina (0.68 PPP) in the 2016 ACC Tournament. Rex Pflueger struggled through 35 minutes with the flu and was shut out on 0-of-8 shooting from the floor. Martinas Geben scored 16 points to lead the attack, but a 10-2 second half Tech run effectively put the game out of reach.

Despite Colson averaging 21.4 points per game when he went down, his absence may hurt as much on defense as it does on offense long term. Even though he famously stands just 6-6, Colson is an elite shot blocker and defensive rebounder. He even leads the team in steals at 2.0 per game.

While the 6-10 Geben will continue to be a key player inside on both ends of the floor, freshman D.J. Harvey has jumped into the starting lineup in place of Colson. Harvey can stretch the floor as a perimeter threat, essentially making the Irish a four-guard team if Farrell is healthy. If Farrell can't go Saturday, expect more minutes for both Harvey and John Mooney, a stretch-4 who had 11 points and eight boards in the loss at Georgia Tech.

Mike Brey is taking a very pragmatic approach to Farrell's status, avoiding the temptation to rush him back in part because of the Irish's 3-0 start to league play. The Maui Invitational title that included a win over Wichita State helps too. If Notre Dame can keep its head above water for the remainder of the regular season, it should also get the benefit of the doubt from the committee come March, assuming Colson is able to return.

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