No. 13 Clemson hosts Notre Dame in a critical ACC basketball showdown Wednesday night, with both teams aiming to solidify their conference standings. The Tigers (22-5, 14-2 ACC) boast a dominant 13-2 home record, while the Fighting Irish (12-15, 6-10 ACC) seek redemption after recent close losses.
Clemson’s offense averages 77.5 points per game – 5.6 more than Notre Dame’s defense allows. Key to their success is forward Ian Schieffelin, who leads the ACC with 2.9 offensive rebounds per game. Guard Chase Hunter adds firepower with 17 points per game and a 42.7% three-point shooting average.
Notre Dame’s Markus Burton enters red-hot, averaging 21.6 points over his last ten games. However, the Fighting Irish struggle in tight contests, winning just 2 of 6 games decided by fewer than four points this season.
- Tigers’ Last 10: 9-1 record, averaging 77.3 points on 48.5% shooting
- Fighting Irish’ Last 10: 4-6 record, allowing 73.7 points per game
This matchup marks their first ACC meeting this season, with Clemson’s defense facing its toughest test yet against Notre Dame’s 73.3-point offense. Viktor Lakhin’s 55.4% field goal accuracy could prove decisive for the Tigers’ frontcourt dominance.
With NCAA tournament implications on the line, Notre Dame needs Tae Davis to replicate his 21-point performance from their upset over Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Clemson aims to leverage its 9.1 average home crowd advantage to secure a top conference seed.