ACC Semifinals
| North Carolina | Notre Dame | |
| Record | 26-6 | 21-10 |
| ACC Record | 14-4 | 11-7 |
| KenPom Rank | #5 | #34 |
| Points per game | 83.1 | 76.6 |
| Adj. Off. Efficiency(Rank) | 120.1(4th) | 119.4(6th) |
| Ad. Def. Efficiency(Rank) | 95.7(30th) | 103.9(178th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 72.4(41st) | 65.9(315th) |
| Offensive eFG% | 52.1% | 54.0% |
| Defensive eFG% | 47.8% | 49.3% |
| Field Goal % | 47.9% | 47.6% |
| 2P FG% | 54.1% | 53.1% |
| 3P FG% | 31.3% | 37.2% |
| FT% | 74.0% | 73.6% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 40.0% | 33.3% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 70.2% | 69.1% |
| TO Rate | 15.4% | 14.5% |
| FT Rate | 32.5% | 33.2% |
| 3PA% | 26.8% | 29.0% |
UNC gets another crack at Notre Dame, a team the Tar Heels have lost three straight against including last season ACC Championship game in Greensboro.
This season's loss saw UNC take a 15 point first half lead and a nine point advantage at the break before the Irish rallied to win by four. That game was also characterized by Notre Dame outperforming season averages in the four factors. Notre Dame entered that game with a FTR of 31.9, ORB% of 33.7 and a TO% of 14.5. Against UNC those numbers were 57.6, 43.5 and 3.0. The Irish hit 31-37 free throws to go with a 19-0 advantage in points off turnovers. Those two numbers largely negated the Tar Heels keeping Notre Dame in check offensively.
Given Notre Dame's style of play and how the Irish have approached UNC over the past two seasons, playing defense without fouling will be crucial along with turning the Irish over. Notre Dame's TO% of 3.0 versus UNC was a season low for the Tar Heels and made it difficult for the Tar Heels to get into transition versus a slower tempo team.
Ultimately these are two great offensive teams but only one has a solid defense. UNC has cracked the top 30 while Notre Dame has a defensive efficiency well over 100 and ranked 178th. That can and should be the edge UNC exploits to advance to the ACC title game.
