The Notre Dame men’s basketball team saw its 2024-25 campaign come to an end in the second round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, falling 76-56 to a determined North Carolina squad fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth. The loss capped off a season of growth and adversity for the Fighting Irish, who finished with a 15-18 overall record in their second year under head coach Micah Shrewsberry.
North Carolina’s Hot Start Sets the Tone
North Carolina wasted no time establishing control, punishing Notre Dame from beyond the arc. Jae’L Withers, who entered the game averaging just 6.0 points per contest, erupted early, connecting on five of his first six three-point attempts. His sharpshooting spearheaded a 22-8 Tar Heel advantage before the midway point of the first half.
Notre Dame tried to respond, led by Markus Burton, who attacked the rim and scored five straight points, igniting a 7-0 Irish run. However, every Irish push was countered by North Carolina’s perimeter attack. The Tar Heels built their lead to as much as 20 points before halftime, but Notre Dame closed the half with a 9-2 spurt behind two Matt Allocco three-pointers and an and-one from Tae Davis, trimming the deficit to 43-29 at the break.
At halftime, the numbers told the story: Notre Dame shot just 10-for-34 from the field (29.4%) compared to North Carolina’s 14-for-30 (46.7%). The Tar Heels also dominated from beyond the arc, hitting 9-of-17 threes, while the Irish managed just 4-of-11. Allocco led Notre Dame with nine points at the break, while Withers’ five threes fueled his 15-point first half.
Tar Heels Keep Irish at Arm’s Length
Notre Dame showed a spark to begin the second half when Davis converted a layup to cut the deficit to 12. However, North Carolina responded yet again, with former Irish player Ven-Allen Lubin taking over in the paint. Lubin scored five of the next seven points for the Tar Heels, and when Withers drilled his sixth three-pointer of the night, North Carolina’s lead ballooned back to 19 with 14:39 remaining.
From there, the Irish struggled to mount a serious comeback, as shooting woes continued to plague them. Notre Dame shot just 32.3% (20-for-62) from the field for the game and went cold from three-point range, finishing 6-for-20 (30%). Meanwhile, Withers continued to torch the Irish defense, finishing with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from deep.
Lubin proved to be the perfect complement to Withers, recording a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. R.J. Davis added 13 points and six assists, orchestrating North Carolina’s offense with precision.
Notre Dame’s late-game efforts were not enough, as the Tar Heels maintained a comfortable lead down the stretch. Braeden Chebuhar hit a late three-pointer, but by that point, the outcome was already decided.
Burton’s Historic Season Ends
Markus Burton, who led the Irish with 11 points on the night, finished the season averaging 21.3 points per game, putting him among the nation’s top 10 scorers when final rankings are released. Burton became the first Notre Dame player to average over 20 points per game in a season since Luke Harangody in 2009-10. He also joined elite company with Ring of Honor inductee David Rivers as the only two Irish players to average 20+ points and 3+ assists in a season.
Burton’s breakout year earned him Second-Team All-ACC honors while also landing him on the Associated Press’ First-Team All-ACC list.
Allocco’s Efficiency Sets Program Records
Graduate guard Matt Allocco quietly put together one of the most efficient seasons in Notre Dame history. He finished the year with a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio, the highest mark in program history. Additionally, his 46.5% shooting from beyond the arc ranks as the third-best single-season three-point percentage in Irish history.
Key Takeaways
- Shooting Struggles Doom Irish – Notre Dame shot just 32.3% from the field and 30% from three-point range, failing to generate consistent offense.
- Rebounding Edge to North Carolina – The Tar Heels outrebounded Notre Dame 42-34, controlling the glass and limiting second-chance opportunities.
- Withers’ Career Night – Withers’ seven three-pointers (7-for-10) were a difference-maker, as he entered the game averaging just 6.0 points per game.
- Burton Joins Notre Dame Greats – Burton’s 21.3 points per game made him just the second Irish player to average 20+ points and 3+ assists in a season, alongside David Rivers.
Looking Ahead
Despite the season-ending loss, Notre Dame showed growth throughout the year, particularly in the latter half of ACC play. With Micah Shrewsberry’s second season in the books, the focus now shifts to offseason development, recruiting, and building a foundation for the future.
Check out Len Clark's full breakdown of this game at the Len Zone!