On March 7, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-17, 4-13) will take on the Boston College Eagles (10-20, 3-14) at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, with tip-off scheduled for 12:00 PM ET. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPNU with commentators Doug Sherman and Scott Williams providing the call.
Historically, Notre Dame has the upper hand in this rivalry, leading the all-time series 30-17. The Irish were victorious in their last encounter with Boston College, emerging with a 68-64 win in January. Currently, Notre Dame holds the 92nd position in the NET rankings and is just nine wins shy of achieving 2,000 victories as a program.
Among the players to watch, Cole Certa stands out as he has been exceptional at the free-throw line, shooting 90.8% this season, which is just shy of Notre Dame’s season record of 91.0%. Certa is averaging 12.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game, leading his team in scoring.
For Boston College, Fred Payne is a key player, averaging 15.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The Eagles will look to utilize his scoring ability, as they enter the game with a lower scoring offense compared to Notre Dame, averaging only 67.1 points per game against the Irish’s 74.6.
In terms of overall team stats, Notre Dame enjoys a higher field goal percentage at 44.8% compared to Boston College’s 40.9%. Additionally, the Irish have a slight edge in rebounding, averaging 36.6 boards per game against Boston College’s 36.3.
As the season winds down, this matchup presents an opportunity for both teams to gain momentum as they prepare for potential postseason play. Fans can stay updated on updates and insights about the Fighting Irish by signing up for the ISD newsletter.