Visiting Notre Dame will attempt to keep its ACC tournament hopes alive Saturday at Boston College in the final game of the regular season for both teams.
Wednesday’s 86-78 loss to Stanford left Notre Dame (13-17, 4-13) with no wiggle room. In addition to beating Boston College (10-20, 3-14 ACC), the Fighting Irish will need Syracuse to beat Pittsburgh on Saturday to extend their season.
Defense was an issue against Stanford as the Cardinal shot 57.1% from the field, including 52.2% from 3-point territory (12 of 23).
“For us, you get what you deserve,” Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “When your back is against the wall you got to come out and be better than that, and we weren’t. … We keep getting chances (but) now we need somebody else’s help.”
Notre Dame will be seeking its first victory away from home since it won at Stanford, 47-40, on Dec. 30.
BC has lost two games in a row and 10 of its last 11. The Eagles have no chance to qualify for the ACC tournament.
“The only thing I would say to the BC community is we got to keep pushing,” Boston College coach Earl Grant said. “We got to adapt to what we’re seeing is happening in college basketball and just keep trying to make the commitment, not so we can be competitive – we’ve been very competitive – so we can win.”
Most of Boston College’s problems have come on the offensive end of the court this season. The Eagles rank last in the ACC in scoring (67.1 ppg), field goal percentage (40.9%), and 3-point field goal percentage (29.7%), but are fifth in points allowed (70.7).
Notre Dame’s Jalen Haralson is averaging 16.0 points per game, which is 12th in the ACC. Boston College’s Fred Payne is averaging a team-high 15.5 ppg.
Notre Dame prevailed 68-64 at home when the teams met on Jan. 24.
