North Carolina To Host Notre Dame For Big Monday

North Carolina has a quick turn around as they will host Notre Dame for Big Monday  after traveling to NC State Saturday where they avenged their loss to NC State in overtime on January 27th in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina comes into their game with Notre Dame with a record of 19-7 and 8-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://goheels.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball and are coming off a win over NC State.

The shots kept falling. The basket felt huge. And Luke Maye was so good that he nearly single-handedly carried No. 21 North Carolina's second-half offense to a road rivalry win."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

Maye scored 27 of his career-high 33 points after halftime to help the Tar Heels beat North Carolina State 96-89 on Saturday, getting even for last month's home loss to the Wolfpack."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

The 6-foot-8 junior also had 17 rebounds and spent most of the second half as a one-man show for the Tar Heels (19-7, 8-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), who were less than 48 hours removed from an emotional win against another area rival: ninth-ranked Duke."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"I really didn't get to the basket very much the first half and was kind of shooting it a little soft," Maye said. "So I just challenged myself to get out there and take it to the basket. Once I got some easy ones, I just started shooting and it started falling."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"And when it's falling like that, you just continue to play and the basketball gods are looking out for you.""according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

As senior teammate Theo Pinson noted: "Luke was cookin' today." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"That was one of those games that you wish you could just watch on TV," Pinson said. "I mean, that was a performance." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

Maye made 12 of 14 shots after halftime, included one stretch in which he scored 10 straight points and buried a heat-check 3-pointer over Omer Yurtseven with 5:50 left. His 15 made baskets overall were also the most for a UNC player under 15th-year coach Roy Williams."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

With Maye rolling, UNC's teammates basically grabbed a handful of his jersey and took the ride."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

North Carolina shot 25 of 32 (78.1 percent) after halftime, the highest for any half under Williams and the best in any game since January 2000 (also against N.C. State). And in the end, Maye's presence opened up things for his teammates to hit several critical late baskets."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

The biggest came when Kenny Williams hit a 3-pointer with 1:13 left and UNC protecting an 85-83 lead."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"They started focusing on him a little bit more," said Pinson, who had a couple of late layups himself. "And that opened up driving lanes for us." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

Torin Dorn scored 21 points to lead the Wolfpack (16-9, 6-6), who won in overtime in Chapel Hill two weeks ago. But N.C. State couldn't complete its first regular-season sweep of the Tar Heels since 2003.

"We've just got to take more pride in getting stops," Wolfpack freshman Braxton Beverly said, "especially at that point.""according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball


BIG PICTURE
UNC: The Tar Heels were coming off Thursday's 82-78 win against the Blue Devils at home. And like that night, they were playing in a loud and rowdy environment — this time hostile — before responding with a strong performance out of the break. UNC trailed 37-35 at halftime before scoring on seven straight possessions — Maye scored on five of them — to go ahead for good and beat N.C. State for the 28th time in 32 meetings under Roy Williams. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

N.C. State: N.C. State is still in the NCAA Tournament chase, but this one would've helped immensely. Picked 12th in the ACC, the Wolfpack entered Saturday with top-line wins (Arizona, Duke, Clemson, UNC) offset somewhat by an otherwise-weak schedule that featured 12 wins against Quadrant 3 and 4 teams — the lower half of the NCAA selection committee's revamped system evaluating win quality. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"Now I have to get these guys to change their expectations," first-year coach Kevin Keatts said. "I don't want them to get to the point where they're satisfied with how many wins that we've won right now." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball


BERRY'S FINAL WORD
UNC senior Joel Berry II stirred things up Tuesday by saying he didn't consider N.C. State to be a rival for UNC."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"I ain't got nothing to say," Berry said. "My play spoke tonight, and that's all I've got to say." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

With Pinson cackling from the next locker, Berry shrugged off a follow-up question, too."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

"If y'all have got any more questions about it, put that statement on your article," he said. "But that's all I'm saying." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/10/mens-basketball-basketball-at-n-c-state.aspx?path=mbball

Notre Dame comes into their game with North Carolina with a record of 15-10 5-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference after their win over Florida State on Saturday.

 Notre Dame (15-10, 5-7 ACC) used a 17-2 run midway through the second half to pull away from Florida State (17-7, 6-6 ACC) in Saturday's 84-69 win over the Seminoles inside Purcell Pavilion."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

Senior guard Matt Farrell turned in a performance to remember, scoring a career-high 28 points. Farrelll wasn't the only Notre Dame player to have the best offensive performance of his career against Florida State, as junior Rex Pflueger also posted a career-high 19 points. Other Irish players to reach double figures in the win were T.J. Gibbs (19 points) and senior Martinas Geben (10 points)."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

Notre Dame also welcomed back former standouts from the 1977-78 team to campus this weekend. The team reached the Final Four and was honored at halftime of the game. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

HOW IT HAPPENED

After knocking down a season-high 16 three-pointers in Tuesday's victory over Boston College, the Irish picked up right where they left off against the Seminoles. Notre Dame connected on 7-of-16 shots from beyond the arc in the first frame to help build a 40-34 lead at the half. The Irish were in the lead for over 19 minutes of action in the first half and led by as many as 10 points."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

Florida State managed to tie the game at 52-52 off a three-pointer from C.J. Walker with just over 10 minutes left in the game. After the two sides traded buckets for a couple of possessions the Irish took complete control of the contest, ripping off a 17-2 run over a five-minute stretch to go on top 73-58 with just three minutes to play. Notre Dame then cruised to the 84-69 victory."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Farrell had the best game of his career on the offensive end of the floor on Saturday, pouring in a career-best 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the floor, including a remarkable 6-of-10 effort from three-point range. The six makes from distance are the most the senior has ever recorded in a game in his Irish career. Farrell also added a team-high five assists, four rebounds and a steal to complete impressive performance."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE GAME

The Irish shot 55.6 percent from the floor in the second half off 15-of-27 shooting while holding the seminoles to just 36.8 percent shooting."according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

NOTES OF THE GAME

• The Irish leveled the all-time series with the Seminoles at 4-4 and have now won three straight games in the series.
• The senior class of Bonzie Colson, Matt Farrell, Martinas Geben, Matt Gregory and graduate student Austin Torres tied the program record for most wins in a career with 97.
• Notre Dame knocked down 10 three-pointers against the Seminoles, marking the 10th time the Irish have finished with 10 or more in a game during the 2017-18 campaign.
• Notre Dame improves to 12-1 in games when leading at the half this season.
• The Irish are 10-0 on the year when they score 80-plus points.
• Pflueger scored 19 points, marking his 12th time this season with 10-plus points.
• Farrell became the seventh player in program history to record 350-plus assists and 150 or more made three-point field goals in his career against Florida State. Farrell currently sits at 351 assists and 155 threes in his career.
• Farrell's 28-point performance was his 18th double-digit scoring game of the season in just 20 games played. He now also has five games of 20 or more points this year.
• Gibbs has recorded 10-plus points in 20 outings this season, including 13 straight. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

Geben has finished in double figures 14 times during his senior campaign "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/021018aaa.html

Tip-off is set for 7:00pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://www.und.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/nd-m-baskbl-sched.html