Preview: Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to climb above .500 will meet Saturday when the Boston College Eagles visit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball matchup at Joyce Athletic Center.

Boston College (9-10, 3-5 ACC) arrives with a flicker of momentum after a 65-62 home win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Eagles have struggled for consistency, however, alternating wins and losses over their past six games.

Notre Dame (10-9, 2-6) seeks to halt a five-game skid, all in conference play. The Fighting Irish are coming off a 91-69 road loss to North Carolina on Wednesday. Their last victory was a 47-40 defensive battle at Stanford on Dec. 30.

The game features a contrast in recent performance for key players. Boston College will rely on forward Boden Kapke, who is coming off a season-high 19 points in 35 minutes against Pittsburgh. Over his last seven games, Kapke is averaging 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds, including a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double at Georgia Tech on Jan. 3.

For Notre Dame, guard Sir Mohammed has provided a bright spot during the losing streak, averaging 13.7 points over the last three contests. He scored 14 points at North Carolina and had 15 points in just 12 minutes against Miami on Jan. 13.

The Eagles’ offense runs through Kapke and guard Fred Payne, who scored 18 points against Pitt. Notre Dame will need more from its supporting cast beyond Mohammed, as the team has allowed an average of 81.4 points during its five-game slide.

Historically, Notre Dame holds a 27-10 advantage in the series, but Boston College won the last meeting, 63-59, in South Bend on Jan. 28, 2025.

Saturday’s contest is critical for both teams’ mid-season aspirations. Boston College aims to build its first winning streak since November, while Notre Dame desperately needs a conference win to stabilize its season before a tough upcoming stretch.

Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.