What channel is Notre Dame basketball vs. Virginia on Saturday? Time, TV, prediction

Posted by author January 24, 2025 Basketball

Spread the love

This Atlantic Coast Conference road thing eventually must swing in the other direction for Notre Dame basketball, right?

Right?

Entering Saturday’s game at Virginia, Notre Dame has lost 24 of its last 26 league road games, the last being a week ago when the Irish let a 17-point lead get away in a 77-69 loss at Syracuse.

Notre Dame lost its last two league road games at the end of that dream 2021-22 season, then went 0-10 in league play on the road in coach Mike Brey’s final year. The Irish were 2-8 in league road games last season. Notre Dame has lost each of its four league road games this year by an average of seven points.

Maybe that changes Saturday at the halfway point in league road play for Notre Dame, which has been idle since the loss at Syracuse.

“Once again, we get to test ourselves on the road,” said Irish coach Micah Shrewsberry. “We get another opportunity to see if we can make a step as a group.”

That step would need Notre Dame to do something it hasn’t done much of in losing five of six – playing a full 40 minutes. The Irish are sometimes good in the first half, then bad in the second. Or they’re bad in the first half and good in the second. Or just bad, period.

“Gotta become a better team,” Shrewsberry said. “Gotta put two halves together.”

Notre Dame at Virginia start time

Date: Saturday, January 25

What channel is Notre Dame vs Virginia basketball on?

Radio: 960 WSBT-AM in South Bend

Streaming: SiriusXM on ACC Radio and channels 955 and 956

Series history

Virginia leads the all-time series 18-4, including 9-0 in Charlottesville and 13-2 as ACC colleagues. The teams have split the last four meetings, including last season as repeat league opponents. An Irish victory on January 29, 2022, snapped a six-game series losing streak.

Notre Dame’s last win in the series was a 76-54 victory on December 30, 2023. These teams meet only once this regular season.

Keep an eye on …

Notre Dame (8-10; 2-5)

A third time certainly would be the charm – and needed – for graduate student guard Matt Allocco.

Allocco is coming off a second straight game scoring double figures (11 points, seven rebounds at Syracuse) for the first time at Notre Dame. A third game with at least 10 points could go a long way in helping the Irish secure a consistent third scorer and a needed road win.

Allocco entered the weekend averaging 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 34.1 minutes per game. He leads the ACC in assist/turnover ratio (3.86) and is ninth in minutes. When he’s good, so are the Irish. When he’s OK playing in more of a fit-in role, the Irish struggle to make it all fit.

An aggressive, confident Allocco is good for Notre Dame.

Virginia (9-10; 2-6)

Junior shooting guard Isaac McKneely, who averages a team-high 12.3 points with 3.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.1 minutes per game. He’s made twice as many 3-pointers (54) as the next Cavalier (22).

McKneely is the team’s lone deep threat and most consistent scorer. Neutralize him and dare the other Cavaliers to collectively beat you might be the way for the Irish to go.

Notre Dame vs. Virginia prediction

Notre Dame 71, Virginia 66: John Paul Jones Arena remains the only building that Notre Dame has not won a league road game in (0-9) since joining the ACC in 2013-14. This is nowhere close to the Virginia team that has caused so many issues for Notre Dame of late. If there’s ever a time – and maybe a team – to break through at JPJ, Saturday is it. Notre Dame must decide that enough is enough in terms of being good but not good enough on the road in league play. Be better, play better and get a win.