It’s hard to believe that the Blue Devils have yet another big game coming up after the 72-66 victory over Georgia Tech earlier this week. But Saturday is going to be another must-watch as Duke hosts Notre Dame in parte deux of their season matchup–a mere ten days after their initial face off in the 2014-2015 campaign.
The first tilt between the ACC titans, which the Irish won 77-73 on Jan. 28, was one heck of a nailbiter–as if the tight score didn’t tell you that already. The mix of the close ACC race, the excitement of the rematch and the always-energized atmosphere that Cameron Indoor generates, makes this duel down in Durham a battle not to be missed.
Both teams are coming in hot with only three losses in hand, and as Eamonn Brennan of ESPN points out, the race to catch up to Virginia isn’t cooling either teams competitive streak. A win for Duke would be huge, heading into the regular season home stretch, given that the more difficult match-ups on the Blue Devils’ schedule are in the rearview mirror. They are also no slouches on their home court, and thrive under pressure.
However the Irish still have the better conference record–9-2 to the Devils’ 6-3 record in the ACC–and a victory on the road on Saturday would put some cushion between them and the rest of the pack. (Not to mention give them a seeding boost as the NCAA tourney gets closer.)
Tip off for the Saturday matinee between Notre Dame and Duke is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
*Section Photo credit to Streeter Lecka, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Matt Cashore, USA Today Sports.
