Notre Dame Takes on Georgia Tech in a Key ACC Matchup

Notre Dame and Georgia Tech are gearing up for a big showdown on Tuesday in Atlanta, as they return to ACC action fresh off dominant nonconference wins. Both teams have something to prove, and this game could set the tone for their conference play.

Notre Dame is Finding Ways to Win

The Fighting Irish (7-5, 1-0 ACC) are coming in hot after a 91-62 rout of Le Moyne on Dec. 22. Notre Dame has dominated this rivalry lately, winning the last three meetings and six of the last seven. That said, these games are almost always close, with only one of those victories coming by more than seven points.

Notre Dame’s success this season is even more impressive considering they’ve been without their star point guard Markus Burton for six games. Burton, last year’s ACC Freshman of the Year, is the team’s top scorer (18.2 PPG) and playmaker (4.3 APG). He’s been sidelined with an MCL injury, but coach Micah Shrewsbury is taking a cautious approach to his return.

“Every week that goes by, he’s getting better,” Shrewsbury said. “We’re going to err on the side of caution. You can see progress on a daily basis.”

In Burton’s absence, Tae Davis has been stepping up big time, averaging 18.6 points over the last six games. Along with Davis, Braeden Shrewsberry (16.5 PPG) and Matt Allocco (9.8 PPG) have helped carry the load for the Irish.

Georgia Tech is Locking Down on Defense

Georgia Tech (6-7, 0-2 ACC) is coming off a statement win, crushing Alabama A&M 92-49 on Saturday. It’s their biggest win under coach Damon Stoudamire, and their defense was on point, holding Alabama A&M to just 20.8% shooting—the second-lowest in school history.

This dominant performance was a much-needed bounce-back after getting blown out by Duke 82-56 the week before. Stoudamire, however, is keeping the focus on his team’s growth.

“We’ve got to worry about who we are,” Stoudamire said. “That’s all I care about—getting better as a team, getting better individually, and getting ready to get back into ACC play.”

On offense, the Yellow Jackets are led by Lance Terry (15.4 PPG), Baye Ndongo (12.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG), and Javian McCollum (10.7 PPG). With three games scoring 90+ points this season, Georgia Tech is showing it can get things done on both ends of the floor.

Industry’s Best

Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

What to Watch For

• Notre Dame’s Depth: Without Burton, players like Davis and Shrewsberry will need to keep stepping up. Their ability to maintain this level of play could make or break the game.
• Georgia Tech’s Defense: The Yellow Jackets need to bring the same energy they had against Alabama A&M. If they can shut down Notre Dame’s scorers, they’ll be tough to beat.
• Rebounding Battle: Baye Ndongo could play a huge role in controlling the boards, which might be the difference in a close game.

Why This Game Matters

Notre Dame wants to keep its winning streak alive against Georgia Tech and stay perfect in ACC play. For Georgia Tech, this is a chance to bounce back in conference competition and show that their defensive dominance can hold up against tougher teams.

Both teams are coming in with momentum, so expect a hard-fought game that could go down to the wire. Don’t miss it—it’s shaping up to be a good one.