As the Virginia Cavaliers gear up to host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, fans are buzzing after Isaac McKneely's outstanding 21-point performance that led Virginia to a decisive victory over the Boston College Eagles. The Cavaliers will seek to leverage their solid home record when they meet Notre Dame at Charlottesville this Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m. EST.
The Cavaliers have been formidable on their home court, achieving an 8-3 record. Virginia tends to excel in closely contested match-ups, boasting a record of 1-2 in games decided by a narrow margin of three points or less. On the contrary, the Fighting Irish have struggled in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), marked by a 2-5 record, and are yet to clinch a victory in one-possession games, standing at 0-3.
One critical aspect of the upcoming game is each team's long-range shooting capability. Virginia averages 7.9 successful three-point attempts per game, slightly surpassing the 7.8 that Notre Dame concedes to their opponents. Meanwhile, the Irish have managed an impressive shooting percentage of 46.7% this season, which is notably higher than the 41.5% shooting average that Virginia's defense usually restricts their opponents to.
This matchup marks their first encounter in the ACC this season, setting the stage for an exciting contest. McKneely, a pivotal player for the Cavaliers, has been consistently impressive, shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc and averaging 12.3 points per game. His contribution from deep with 2.8 three-pointers per game is noteworthy, especially considering the shooting prowess of his teammate Elijah Saunders, who has been shooting at 51.1%, accumulating an average of 14.2 points over the last ten games.
For Notre Dame, Braeden Shrewsberry has been a standout performer, matching McKneely's 2.8 made three-pointers per game, while maintaining a decent 37.0% shooting rate from distance and averaging 14.8 points. Additionally, Tae Davis has been a powerhouse for the Irish, scoring an average of 17.9 points and securing 5.3 rebounds in his last 10 games.
Reviewing their recent performances, both teams have recorded a 4-6 record in their last ten games. The Cavaliers have scored an average of 62.3 points per game while maintaining a shooting accuracy of 43.1%, with their opponents averaging slightly more at 65.4 points. On the other hand, Notre Dame has been more prolific in scoring, averaging 72.3 points per game while maintaining a higher shooting percentage of 45.3%, though they allow an average of 70.9 points from their opponents.
As the two teams prepare to face off, spectators can expect a thrilling game as each team endeavors to improve their standing in the conference. With Virginia's home advantage and McKneely's form hitting a peak, Notre Dame will need to bring their A-game to pose a challenge.