From Staff Reports
Here’s all the scoop on tonight’s Virginia game with Notre Dame in ACC play …
Who: Virginia (16-3, 5-2) vs. Notre Dame (11-9, 2-5)
When: Tuesday night, 7 p.m. Eastern
Where: Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network
Who’s Favored: Oddsmakers have Virginia as a 10-point favorite
Key Irish Players: Jalen Haralson, 6-foot-7 freshman, averages 14.7 ppg; Braeden Shrewsberry, 6-4 junior, 11.2 ppg.
The Skinny: Virginia (No. 14 NET, No. 17 Kenpom) is coming off its first home loss of the season, blowing a 16-point, first-half lead and losing 85-80 to North Carolina. Notre Dame (No. 83 NET) had lost five straight games until erasing a 13-point, first-half deficit at home and defeated Boston College, 68-64.
The Irish had two Quad 1 wins over TCU and Stanford early in the season before they lost starting point guard Markus Burton (18.5 ppg). Burton suffered a broken ankle on Dec. 5 vs. TCU. Notre Dame has a 4-6 record since that injury.
Keys to the game: Virginia needs to own the paint, and Thijs De Ridder is expected to play a huge role for the Cavaliers in tonight’s game. UVA also must put forth a stronger defensive effort than it did vs. the Tar Heels. Virginia also needs to avoid foul trouble as the Irish received 20 trips to the free-throw line in the second half comeback vs. BC.
