Prediction: Notre Dame 90-85
This is the fourth time in the past five years that the Irish and Huskies will meet in the Jimmy V Classic. UConn has won the previous three classic meetings, including last year’s game 80-71 in Hartford. The Huskies, who got18 points from Samuelson, outscored the Irish 26-9 in the final stanza. UConn is 8-2 all-time in the event and Notre Dame 0-3.
This game should be fun and rocking as the game is completely sold out, marking Notre Dame’s first sell out since Feb. 26, 2017.
While the game should be close throughout, I favor the Irish in this matchup due to their overall experience and depth. All five of the Irish starters are upperclassmen, and coach Muffet McGraw plays nine players typically. Meanwhile, coach Geno Auriemma starts three seniors and two youngsters, including a freshman. He also doesn’t have much depth with Irwin seeing the most time of the team’s top reserves at under 13 minutes a game.
Notre Dame is also more explosive offensively, and the Irish have a huge advantage inside with Shepard and Turner. Ogwunbowle and Young can take over games when need be. Plus, Mabry’s return gives the Irish another three-point threat. Additionally, the Irish are more tested than the Huskies at this point.
UConn is better defensively, holding opponents to under 60 points in five of their six games and 50 twice. Samuelson, Collier, and Dangerfield can definitely put pressure on the opposition’s defense.
The two key areas that can turn the game in either direction is rebounding and turnovers. The Fighting Irish, as mentioned above, has a size advantage and will pound the offensive glass. The Irish also have kept their turnovers to under double-digits in each of their last three games.