Notre Dame Heads to Virginia Tech Looking to Flip the Script in ACC Clash
Notre Dame men’s basketball is gearing up for a Saturday matinee showdown at Cassell Coliseum, and the stakes are quietly stacking up. Tip-off is set for Noon ET on the ACC Network, and while the Hokies have owned the recent history between these two-winning eight of the last nine-the margins have been razor-thin.
The last seven meetings have all been decided by single digits, with an average spread of just 5.4 points. In short: this one’s usually a grind, and Saturday should be no different.
A win for the Irish would check a few meaningful boxes. It would be their first victory in Blacksburg since 2017, their third road win of the season (matching last year’s total), and-perhaps most importantly-their third Quad 1 win on the year. For a young squad trying to build momentum, those are the kind of benchmarks that matter come March.
Both Teams Looking to Bounce Back
Notre Dame and Virginia Tech both come into this one nursing fresh wounds. The Irish are still stinging from a gut-wrenching finish at Cal, while the Hokies just got stunned by a half-court buzzer-beater from SMU on Wednesday. Both squads are looking for a statement win to get back on track in ACC play.
Defense Will Be Key for Notre Dame
If Notre Dame wants to leave Cassell with a win, it starts on the defensive end. The Irish boast one of the top defensive units in the ACC, and they’ll need every bit of that grit against a Virginia Tech offense averaging 81.9 points per game. The Hokies are balanced and deep-six players are averaging double figures, with Amani Hansberry leading the way at 15.5 points per game.
One stat to watch: Virginia Tech’s opponents are shooting just 29.0% from three, good for 24th nationally. If Notre Dame wants to keep pace, they’ll need to find ways to generate clean looks beyond the arc-and knock them down.
Jalen Haralson Heating Up
With Markus Burton sidelined, freshman guard Jalen Haralson has stepped into a bigger role-and he’s made the most of it. In ACC play, Haralson is averaging 16.5 points per game and showing a level of poise well beyond his years.
What’s been especially impressive is how quickly he’s added new layers to his game. After going 13 games without a made three-pointer, Haralson has gone 5-for-8 from deep over his last three outings. He’s also been remarkably consistent, scoring 17 or more points in each of those games while shooting 51.5% from the field.
It’s not just the totals-it’s the timing. Haralson has been explosive early.
In the opening 10 minutes of recent games against Cal, Clemson, and Miami, he went a combined 10-for-13 from the field for 27 points. Against Clemson, he scored 11 of Notre Dame’s first 17 points and finished with a team-high 18.
At Cal, he poured in the team’s first 10 points and ended with 17. He’s setting the tone early and often.
His season averages tell the story: 15.1 points per game, fifth among ACC freshmen, and a 15-game streak of double-digit scoring that includes battles against Kansas, Houston, Missouri, and TCU. Around the rim, he’s been lethal-converting nearly 68% of his shots within 4.5 feet and shooting over 50% from two-point range overall.
Shrewsberry Finding His Stroke
Braeden Shrewsberry is quietly becoming one of the most dangerous shooters in the country. He’s hitting 44.6% from three-point range-tops in the ACC and 18th nationally-and he’s doing it with volume, averaging 2.9 made threes per game (third in the conference).
He had a career night against Evansville, dropping 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting from deep. That performance tied him for seventh-most threes in a single game in program history. And on Tuesday night against Miami, he hit a milestone-his 200th career made three-pointer, making him just the 14th player in Notre Dame history to reach that mark.
Carson Towt: The Glue Guy
Carson Towt doesn’t always make the highlight reels, but his impact is undeniable. Over the last eight games, he’s shooting 73.8% from the field (31-of-42), and in ACC play, that number jumps to 75% (12-of-16). He’s averaging 7.3 points and a team-leading 10.5 rebounds in conference games.
Towt’s rebounding numbers are elite:
- 10.2 rebounds per game (13th nationally, 2nd in ACC)
- 3.7 offensive rebounds per game (1st in ACC, 17th nationally)
- 6.6 defensive boards per game (4th in ACC)
- 174 total rebounds (15th nationally)
- 1,252 career rebounds - the most among active players in college hoops
Coach Micah Shrewsberry has also praised Towt’s vision and passing-he’s third on the team in assists at 1.8 per game, a rare trait for a big man.
Other Key Contributors
- Cole Certa is quietly becoming a reliable scoring option. He’s hit 7-of-15 from three over the last three games, scoring 32 points in that stretch. His 9.3 points per game in ACC play rank second on the team.
- Brady Koehler is knocking down 45.5% of his midrange jumpers, giving the Irish another efficient scoring option in the halfcourt.
- Sir Mohammed is coming off his second-highest scoring game of the season with 15 points against Miami. He’s converting 54.2% of his looks in the paint.
- Certa also opened the season with a perfect 27-for-27 streak from the free throw line. He’s now 34-of-36 on the year-good for 94.4%.
- Ryder Frost provided a spark off the bench against Miami, scoring seven straight points, including a pair of triples.
Looking Ahead
Notre Dame’s NET ranking sits at 74, with a 2-5 record in Quad 1 games. They’re 1-1 in Quad 2, 1-0 in Quad 3, and 6-1 in Quad 4. It’s a team still figuring itself out, but the pieces are starting to come together-and Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech offers another chance to prove it.
And one more milestone worth watching: the Irish are just 12 wins away from 2,000 all-time. Only seven programs have ever reached that mark. If they can stay on track, Notre Dame could join that elite club before the season’s out.