Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC basketball: Power ranking the league down the stretch

By Michael Walton

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - January 31: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on January 31, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - January 31: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Louisville Cardinals at John Paul Jones Arena on January 31, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 16: Matt Farrell
SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 16: Matt Farrell /

Last week: Loss at North Carolina 83-66 – Home win 84-67 vs Boston College 

Notre Dame has been tough to judge all season, as injuries have hit them perhaps harder than any other team in the ACC. They have not dealt well with the loss of one of their team leaders in leading scorer Bonzie Colson. February started off rough for the Fighting Irish as they were walloped 76-58 by NC State.

But Head coach Mike Brey’s group responded well to the loss. Notre Dame has scored 82 ppg over the three-game stretch since that loss. The return of senior guard and another team leader Matt Farrell has done wonders for them. His presence on the court opens up the offense. He is a career 39 percent 3-point shooter. Farrell was especially dominant in Notre Dame’s win over Florida State where he scored a career-high 28 points.

Recency bias is real. And I can’t help but to remember the Fighting Irish getting thoroughly beat down by North Carolina last Monday. In that game Notre Dame allowed the Tar Heels to get downhill repeatedly whether it be off the dribble, via pick-and-roll, or on the fast break. The Fighting Irish (without Colson) have one player averaging a block per game. No one else on the team averages at least 0.5 blocks per game. Point being, they don’t have the rim protection to allow so many breakdowns on the perimeter.

They are playing for pride unless the string together an undefeated run that would conclude with a road victory at current #1 Virginia.

This week: Monday vs Miami (H) – Saturday vs Wake Forest (A)