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A team that entered Wednesday leading the nation in offensive efficiency has been anything but for the better part of two weeks. Notre Dame has lost three of four and hasn’t had a lead in each of its last two games, producing just 108 points in the two losses.
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HOW THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Players of the year in any conference usually don’t come from a team struggling to stay out of last place. Voters in the ACC may have to make an exception for NC State’s Cat Barber, who’s been a bright light in a rather dark season for the Wolfpack.
North Carolina hasn’t had a deep rotation all season and coach Mark Gottfried has been even more hamstrung lately with regulars Maverick Rowan and Lennard Freeman dealing with injuries that have limited their minutes. And that means even more Cat.
No one tracks compete games in basketball because rarely do players go the distance. Barber is making an argument that maybe someone should. The junior point guard has started and finished 14 games without a breather.
Barber is playing as well as anyone in the country. He’s scored 30 or more points eight times this season, which is more impressive considering opponents key on him. Barber is something of a one-man army and he’s embraced the role. The Pack has a chance if Cat is on his game.
HOW THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH CAN COVER THE SPREAD
All the recent sluggish efforts and road struggles were supposed to be solved Wednesday when the Irish returned home for the final week of regular season play. It didn’t work out that way. A 68-50 loss to Miami continues to have coach Mike Brey scratching his head over the sudden loss of his team’s once most efficient offense.
Losers of consecutive games for the first time since the end of the 2013-14 season after 13 ‘bounce back’ victories, Notre Dame set a season low in points for a second straight game.
Getting the guards back in gear would be one way to resolve the current offensive woes. The backcourt duo of Demetrious Jackson and Steve Vasturia were a key reason why Notre Dame had the nation’s most efficient offense as recently as a week ago. Both were scoring at a high rate, making plays for others regularly and doing everything good guards need to do on really good teams.
Notre Dame controlled its ACC tournament destiny heading into the final week that included two home games. The Irish still have a shot at a double-bye; they also could finish eighth. For now, beating NC State is all that matters.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Notre Dame was cruising along with a 9-4 league record, wins over North Carolina, Louisville and Duke, and looking like a team that could make some noise come tournament time. All of a sudden the Irish hit a brick wall. They’ve lost three of four and the once efficient offense is AWOL. When asked how he can fix the problem, Brey responded, “I have absolutely no freakin’ idea.” Not encouraging words from the head coach, but a testament to how confounding the struggles have been. In 25 games prior to a 63-62 loss at Georgia Tech, which began the recent funk, the Irish failed to reach 70 points four times. They matched that in their last four games, with the past two in the 50s, something unheard of around South Bend. The good news for Notre Dame is that the issues are correctable and NC State isn’t the scrappiest defensive team. Look for Zach Auguste to get plenty of looks down low against an undersized Pack front line and the Irish to get back to their efficient offensive ways.
Notre Dame 76, North Carolina State 68
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