Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball vs. Notre Dame: Preview, game info and more

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 12: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots over Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 12: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels shoots over Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Basketball team looks to get back on rack as they host Notre Dame in the Dean Dome on Tuesday night

The North Carolina Tar Heels return to the court on Tuesday night, hoping to rebound after a bad home loss on Saturday to Louisville.

Saturday’s game against the Cardinals was the worst performance of the year for the Tar Heels, seeing that it was at home in a game they were favored in. The Tar Heels came out flat and fell behind from the start, never fully recovering and never leading in the game once.

After a 2-0 start with both wins coming on the road, UNC is now 2-1 with the loss on Saturday but has a quick turnaround and the chance to move to 3-1.

Standing in their way is a Notre Dame team that enters Tuesday’s game 11-5 overall and just 1-2 in ACC play. The Fighting Irish lost to Virginia Tech to open conference play, then dropped their second game to Syracuse before winning a home game against Boston College.

They really struggle to score the basketball, averaging 75.2 points per game this season which is 118th in all of college basketball. Notre Dame has three guys averaging in double figures with  T.J. Gibbs leading the way at 14.7 points per game. After him, John Mooney averages 13.6 and D.J. Harvey is at 11.5.

This might just be the team UNC needs to face coming off that embarrassing loss to Louisville.

The Fighting Irish are making just 34 percent of their three-point attempts on the year, ranking 181st in college basketball. This has been an area UNC has struggled to defend and on Saturday Louisville made 11 threes, shooting 42 percent from behind the arc.

If UNC wants to achieve its goal and get better this year, they will need to amp it up on the defensive end. There has been way too many games this year where they have struggled defensively both in wins and losses.

This will be a big chance for the Tar Heels to get going on that defensive side of the floor.

Key to the game for UNC

Defense, defense, defense. I know I sound like a broken record but it’s very important that UNC plays well on defense in this game.

The Fighting Irish are a team UNC should beat at home and have struggled to score in games this season. There’s no reason why UNC cant put together a good game on defense.

After that loss to Louisville, I can guarantee you that Roy Williams ran his team hard in practice trying to get through to them that they need to play better. Playing better starts on defense and it starts Tuesday night against Notre Dame.

Key to the game for Notre Dame

Get out to an early lead and set the pace. The Tar Heels love to run and if you give them second chances, you’re going to be in trouble.

One thing Louisville did well was come out and grab the early lead and set the tone of the game in the Dean Dome. The Cardinals didn’t let UNC get run outs or second chances and it worked in their favor.

If the Fighting Irish want to come away with a win, this will be a huge key to the game.

What you need to know

What? Notre Dame 11-5 (1-2) at UNC 12-4 (2-1)
When? Tuesday, January 13 – 9 p.m. EST
Where? Dean E. Smith Center – Chapel Hill, NC
TV? ESPN
Radio? Tar Heels Sports Network
All-Time series? North Carolina leads 23-7
Prediction? UNC 83, Notre Dame 75

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