Tallahassee, FL – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-11, 4-6 ACC) travel to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Tuesday, February 4, for a crucial matchup against the Florida State Seminoles (13-9, 4-7 ACC). Tip-off is set for 7 PM ET, with the game broadcast on the ACC Network.
For Notre Dame, this game presents an opportunity to gain some much-needed momentum in conference play. The Fighting Irish, under second-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry, have shown flashes of brilliance but have struggled with consistency, especially on the road. They'll be looking to reverse that trend against a Seminole squad that is trying to find their footing as well.
Key Irish Storylines:
Burton's Back: Sophomore guard Markus Burton has been the primary offensive catalyst for the Irish, averaging 20.1 ppg on the season. After missing time with an injury, Burton has returned to dominate in ACC play, averaging 21.6 ppg. He’ll be looking to continue his hot streak and carry the Irish offense.
Shrewsberry's Touch: Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry continues to rebuild the program, and his influence is starting to show. After having the program's highest-rated recruiting class in the modern era, he has the Irish playing better basketball, especially on the offensive end. The numbers back this up, with the Irish shooting 37.9% from three, and an ACC-leading 40.9% in league play.
Road Woes: Notre Dame has a 2-6 road record on the season. After a recent win at Virginia in Charlottesville, the Irish are looking to pick up back-to-back ACC road wins and exorcise their demons in Tallahassee, where they have never won.
Balanced Attack: While Burton is the clear offensive leader, the Irish have other options as well. Junior forward Tae Davis is having a career year, averaging 15.5 ppg. Graduate guard Matt Allocco is making his presence felt, shooting a career high 47.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Seminole Showdown:
Florida State, led by veteran head coach Leonard Hamilton, has been inconsistent this year. The Seminoles rely on an athletic, lengthy lineup that creates turnovers and looks to attack the basket. The Fighting Irish will need to maintain their poise against FSU's pressure.
Keys to Victory for the Irish:
Contain the Seminoles' Length: The Seminoles' size and length can cause problems for opponents. The Irish will need to crash the boards, box out effectively and move the ball with purpose.
Control the Pace: Slowing down the game and maintaining ball possession will be key for the Fighting Irish. Limiting turnovers and taking care of the basketball on the road is a must.
Consistent Offense: Notre Dame's offensive firepower lies in their perimeter game. The Irish will need to be consistent and knock down open shots, and they'll need to make sure they're not settling too much and attacking the basket.
Defend the Three: FSU is capable of scoring from the perimeter. Notre Dame must stay disciplined on defense, limit open looks, and force FSU into tough two-point shots.
Prediction
This is a crucial game for both teams as they head down the stretch in conference play. If the Irish can continue to use the momentum from their last couple of games, limit their turnovers, and keep FSU from getting easy looks at the basket, the Fighting Irish can steal one on the road in Tallahassee.
Notre Dame 75, Florida State 71
This should be a hard-fought game between two teams looking to move into the middle of the ACC standings.
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