The second meeting between UNC and Notre Dame by the numbers
North Carolina | Notre Dame | |
Record | 22-7 | 15-15 |
ACC Record | 12-4 | 6-11 |
KenPom Rank | 22nd | 97th |
Points per game | 76.7 | 72.4 |
Points per possession(raw) | 1.09 | 1.11 |
Adj. Offensive Efficiency(Rank) | 111.8(46th) | 113.3(34th) |
Adj. Defensive Efficiency(Rank) | 94.1(23rd) | 106.5(206th) |
Tempo(Rank) | 70.7(24th) | 64.2(291st) |
Offensive eFG% | 49.5% | 51.9% |
Defensive eFG% | 45.5% | 51.0% |
Field Goal % | 46.1% | 45.7% |
3P FG% | 33.9% | 36.1% |
Offensive Reb Rate | 38.7% | 32.7% |
Defensive Reb Rate | 69.0% | 69.9% |
TO Rate | 17.1% | 15.9% |
FT Rate | 44.6% | 30.2% |
KenPom win probability | UNC 87% |
Stats sources: KenPom and Statsheet
UNC faces Notre Dame for the second time this season after playing very well, especially in the second half during the first meeting in South Bend. One particular stat that turned the game was the turnover rate. On the season Notre Dame has been very good at taking care of the basketball. That was not the case against the Tar Heels with the Irish committing 17 miscues for a turnover rate of 25% or 10% higher than the season average. That catalyst for those turnovers was 13 Tar Heel steals, a season high. UNC turned those steals into baskets and was able to force the tempo at times. In the end it was UNC's athleticism that won out.
For UNC to get a repeat performance, the same blueprint should apply. There is obviously concern about the Tar Heels coming off one day of rest but the Irish are in the same boat having played overtime versus Pittsburgh on Saturday. The counterweight to UNC's potential fatigue is the fact it will be Senior Night. Roy Williams has just one loss on Senior Night/Day and that was last season vs Duke. The team will be ready to send Leslie McDonald out on a high note.
One of other note, with UNC's win on Saturday, the Tar Heels hit the 12-win mark in ACC play for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in eleven seasons under Roy Williams. The three years UNC didn't reach 12 wins was 2004(9-7), 2007(11-5) and 2010(5-11).