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Notre Dame Basketball: Fighting Irish vs NC State Live Stream

By Noah Strackbein

Jan 23, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Mark Gottfried talks with guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) on the sidelines in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2017; Durham, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Mark Gottfried talks with guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) on the sidelines in the first half of their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame basketball has four games left in the regular season and are hoping to use them to climb the ACC standings. Here’s how to watch the Irish take on NC State online.

Barely cracking .500 at 14-13 and finishing the season with a coach who will be gone after their final buzzer of the year sounds, NC State is not a promising candidate for an upset. The Wolfpack are a talented team, especially sitting at the bottom of the ACC. But with no motivation and little to play for, they are nothing more than a forgotten opponent.

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Notre Dame has come into games against much less talent and struggled. All season they have played to the level of their facer instead of building big leads early. It’s hard to know exactly why the Irish can compete against some of the best in the world, but come inches away from an upset.

NC State won’t be the same as the other bottom half teams, though. The Wolfpack have a strong offense but haven’t been able to stop anyone on the defensive end. Allowing 80.5 points per contest, NC State ranks as low as 328th in the country. Against Notre Dame who averages 79.4 points, it shows quick where the Wolfpack’ problems will come from.

This game isn’t meaningless for the Irish. Notre Dame is one game out of first place in the ACC. With four games left and North Carolina and Virginia squaring off today as well, the Irish have a real chance to jump the rankings.

Although NC State hasn’t proven they can beat the top teams in the conference, they match up better than almost any other opponent to Notre Dame. Both teams like to run small sets with four guards and an athletic big man. With Dennis Smith Jr. leading the way, the Wolfpack are dangerous when they get hot.

Notre Dame needs to outmatch their guards. A task they’ve been able to do this season, though, NC State may be the best combination of four guards they’ve played yet. A powerful defensive motor and coming out looking to run should be the gameplan. Shut them down on offense, and they won’t have the defense to stay competitive.

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Notre Dame should come away with this win. NC State has impressive numbers, but their record proves for itself that they aren’t a strong team. Once the Irish build momentum, they’ll take everything away from the Wolfpack. Starting hot on the defensive end of the floor could mean a runaway win early in this one.

Here’s how to watch Notre Dame vs NC State online: 

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2017
Start Time: 12:00 PM EST
Location: Raleigh, NC
Venue: PNC Arena
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN