Heels vs Irish
| North Carolina | Notre Dame | |
| Record | 19-3 | 15-7 |
| ACC Record | 8-1 | 6-4 |
| KenPom Rank | #4 | #34 |
| Points per game | 84.9 | 78.5 |
| Adj. Off. Efficiency(Rank) | 120.1(4th) | 122.9(1st) |
| Ad. Def. Efficiency(Rank) | 95.6(38th) | 105.9(227th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 73.4(32nd) | 66.5(304th) |
| Offensive eFG% | 51.9% | 56.1% |
| Defensive eFG% | 48.9% | 50.0% |
| Field Goal % | 47.9% | 49.5% |
| 2P FG% | 54.4% | 55.4% |
| 3P FG% | 30.2% | 38.1% |
| FT% | 72.9% | 71.8% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 39.1% | 33.7% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 72.0% | 71.3% |
| TO Rate | 14.9% | 14.5% |
| FT Rate | 35.3% | 31.9% |
| 3PA% | 26.7% | 34.7% |
Oh boy.
As far as match-ups go, Notre Dame is both the best and worst kind of team for UNC to face. The worst part is the Irish play small and love the three point shot. As a team Notre Dame is hitting 38% of threes with a 3PA% of 34.7. This will obviously give UNC trouble in terms of guarding the three and drawing one of the big into defending away from the basket. Of course UNC has the personnel to go small and counter the Irish to some extent.
On the flip side, Notre Dame has very little to counter UNC's post game. Given some of the perimeter scoring issues the Tar Heels have had of late and the relative dominance on the interior, UNC should spend much of the game pounding the ball inside. Brice Johnson will obviously be a tough cover for the Irish as will Isaiah Hicks. Kennedy Meeks, who struggled against Louisville, should find plenty of room to work.
This game will match the #1 and #4 teams in offensive efficiency. UNC's is well ahead of Notre Dame on defense ranked 38th versus the Irish at 227th. Notre Dame's three point shooting is likely to make a dent in UNC's defense but given how poorly the Irish perform on the defensive end, if there was a game to snap out of the shooting slump, this would be it.
