Notre Dame (4-1) will face off against Rutgers (4-1) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday night as part of the Players Era Festival. The Irish are looking to rebound from a 77-84 loss to Elon, while Rutgers is also coming off a tough loss to Kennesaw State. This game marks the 35th all-time meeting between the programs, with Notre Dame holding a 21-13 series lead. Their last clash was an 89-87 double-overtime win for the Irish in the 2022 NCAA Tournament First Four.
Notre Dame's offensive averaging 82.2 points per game, is led by Markus Burton's 21.4 points per game (19th nationally, 2nd in the ACC). Burton has been exceptional, coming off back-to-back 20+ point performances, and leads the team in scoring, assists, and rebounding. The team is also shooting a sharp 51.9% from the field, good for 14th in the nation.
Rutgers presents a strong challenge defensively, allowing just 68.0 points per game while forcing 8.0 steals per contest. However, Notre Dame's ability to control the tempo, limit turnovers (9.8 per game), and dominate the boards (+5.2 rebound margin) could be crucial in securing a win.
Expect a tight contest as both teams look to recover from recent losses. Given Notre Dame's offensive efficiency, Rutgers’ defensive prowess, and their historical matchups, a competitive game is on the horizon.
Make sure to check out Len Clark's full prediction of how this game will play out and why!