Notre Dame Looks to Slow Down Red-Hot Louisville After Double-OT Victory

Fresh off a double-overtime thriller, Notre Dame returns home Sunday night to face No. 19 Louisville, which is eyeing its first 20-win season in four years.

Both teams are riding momentum into this ACC clash, with the Irish (11-13, 5-8 ACC) escaping Boston College 97-94 in double OT on Wednesday and the Cardinals (19-6, 12-2 ACC) rolling past NC State 91-66 for their third straight victory.

Notre Dame’s Resilience on Display

The Irish looked dead in the water, trailing by 14 points late against Boston College, but a furious rally pushed them into double overtime, where Markus Burton took over.

• Burton dropped 32 points in the win and has been on fire lately, scoring 23+ in five of his last seven games.
• Since returning from a knee injury in January, Burton has averaged 21.3 points per game, providing a major spark for the Irish offense.
• Despite their inconsistent season, Notre Dame has played well at home (8-3 record) and will look to protect their home court against a strong Louisville team.

Burton acknowledged the team’s rollercoaster season but said confidence never wavered.

Louisville’s Fast Rise Under Pat Kelsey

Louisville is silencing doubters under first-year coach Pat Kelsey, who has the Cardinals on pace for their best season since 2019-20.

• Chucky Hepburn (15.0 PPG, 6.2 APG) continues to be the engine for the Cards, averaging 16.4 points in road games this season.
• Louisville dominates with consistency, breaking games into four 10-minute segments to maintain focus throughout.
• The Cardinals have been elite on the road, boasting a 7-2 away record and showing they can win in hostile environments.

Kelsey emphasized “readiness” as the key to Louisville’s success.

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What’s at Stake?

• Louisville: A win would give the Cardinals their first 20-win season since 2019-20 and keep them in the race for a top ACC seed.
• Notre Dame: A victory would mark their biggest of the season and show that Burton’s leadership is paying off.

With two teams trending in different directions, this ACC showdown has plenty on the line. Can Notre Dame’s home-court magic cool off Louisville’s hot streak? Tip-off is set for Sunday night in South Bend.