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Notre Dame Basketball: Irish Look to Turn Things Around vs. Boston College

By Chase Eyrich

SOUTH BEND, IN - JANUARY 28: Prentiss Hubb #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes for a loose ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half of the game at Purcell Pavilion on January 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Duke won 83-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - JANUARY 28: Prentiss Hubb #3 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish goes for a loose ball against the Duke Blue Devils in the first half of the game at Purcell Pavilion on January 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Duke won 83-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Away from home, Notre Dame will try to validate their sole ACC win with a rematch vs. Boston College.

A rocky start doesn’t quite do justice to how Notre Dame has faired this season in the ACC.

It was obvious that there would be growing pains. The youthful Irish have leaned heavily on junior John Mooney, who is just as inexperienced in his leadership position as the freshmen are playing at the college level.

Take a few players out of the rotation due to injury and you have an inevitable 1-7 start to the conference season for the Irish.

That “1” in the win column is the only real bright spot from the month of January. It represents the 69-66 victory over Boston College. Notre Dame’s best chance for another win since that day comes this Saturday in their second meeting with the Eagles.

Notre Dame will play with the obvious notion that Ky Bowman will get his numbers one way or another. His consistency is like that of Mooney’s on the stat sheet.

Bowman is averaging 20.5 ppg and 7.7 rebounds this season while tacking on 3.6 assists. His most balanced performance of the season came against Notre Dame with 24-points and 16-rebounds.

Even with Notre Dame scraping by for a three-point win just a couple weeks ago, things will likely play out differently this time around.

The Irish won that game with just six players ever seeing the court. The team found out only minutes before tipoff that they would be so short-handed. With three freshmen in the starting line up, it was Prentiss Hubb who became the offensive weapon with 16-points.

This time around, Notre Dame will have Temple Gibbs to help slow down Bowman and Juwan Durham – who has been out since the first BC meeting — to be a blocking presence down low.

Brey expects Durham to give about 20 minutes on Saturday, but his defensive abilities will be vital when he’s on the court.

The Eagles find their offensive production from four players averaging more than 13 ppg. Notre Dame, while lacking depth, comes in with more of a balanced attack in hopes of securing their second ACC win.

dark. Next. Notre Dame commit Sam Brunelle named McDonald’s All-American

Tip-off is set for 2 PM ET as Notre Dame and Boston College look to separate themselves from the bottom of the ACC.