Four non-conference games will be played on Monday night around the ACC, with #11 North Carolina amongst the teams in action. There shouldn’t be any surprises in these match-ups, but here are some tidbits to keep in mind as you navigate the games.
Charleston Southern (4-7) Vs. Florida State (8-2), 2:00 PM ET on ESPN3.com
Game Notes
- Charleston Southern ranks as one of the nation’s worst defensive teams, ranking 312th in the country in points allowed at 78.9 per game.
- Florida State’s dynamic freshman duo of Malik Beasley and Dwayne Bacon have continued to steal the show in their first season in Tallahassee. They are averaging 17.4 and 16.9 points per game respectively for one of the top offenses in the ACC.
Prediction
Florida State ranks fourth in the conference in points per game, and 31st nationally at 83.7 points per game. They have athletic scorers at nearly every position, and Charleston Southern has proven to be unable to stop anyone defensively this season. Seminoles will cruise to a home win in this one.
Florida State 88 Charleston Southern 64
Southeastern Louisiana (2-9) Vs. Georgia Tech (7-3), 7:00 PM ET on ESPN3.com
Game Notes
- Southeastern Louisiana has struggled mightily at the free throw line this season, as they are shooting an atrocious 61.7 percent as a team. That mark is 325th in the country.
- Georgia Tech currently ranks 29th in the country in rebounding at 42.3 per game as a team. Southeastern Louisiana meanwhile sits at an uninspiring 34.6 per game, which is 278th in the nation.
Prediction
Rebounding, free throws, and protecting the basketball are three phases of the game that Georgia Tech should dominate this evening. Forward Charles Mitchell should have a big game for the Yellow Jackets, as his 12.8 points per game and 11.7 rebounds provide a baseline of what to expect out of him. Georgia Tech will win this one big at home.
Georgia Tech 80 Southeastern Louisiana 46
Appalachian State (2-8) Vs. #11 North Carolina (9-2), 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2
Game Notes
- Appalachian State enters the game ranked 322nd in the country in field goal percentage defense, as they have allowed opponents to shoot 47.7 percent against them this season.
- Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, North Carolina is shooting at a 49.8 percent clip as a team this season, which ranks 16th in all of college basketball.
- North Carolina will be without junior forward Kennedy Meeks for a third consecutive game. Meeks is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Prediction
Marcus Paige and company have way too much talent to amass any sort of home let down at the Dean Dome this evening. No Meeks, no problem for the Tar Heels. They’ll roll.
North Carolina 86 Appalachian State 58
Youngstown State (5-7) Vs. Notre Dame (7-3), 7:00 PM ET on ESPN3.com
Game Notes
- After blowing a late second half lead in a neutral site game against in-state rival Indiana, Notre Dame will take the floor this evening looking to improve upon their putrid 5 for 18 (27.8%) effort from beyond the arc against the Hoosiers.
- Youngstown State ranks 290th in the country in field goal percentage defense, as opponents have shot 46.0% against them this season. This seems like a likely candidate for a bounce-back game for Notre Dame’s offense.
Prediction
The Irish have been struggling to find their identity on offense and defense this season, which does not come as a huge surprise following the departures of program cornerstones in Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton, who are both now playing in the NBA. The Irish have struggled with consistency, but a win tonight following a tough Indiana loss will be a step in the right direction for a program in a theoretical rebuilding mode.
Notre Dame 78 Youngstown State 67
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