In a crucial Atlantic Coast Conference encounter, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame, both languishing at the bottom of the ACC standings with identical 2-10 records, are preparing to face off in South Bend, Indiana. This Saturday afternoon game is more than just another fixture; it's a battle for survival, with both teams desperate to climb out of the basement and secure a spot in next month's conference tournament. With only six games remaining in the regular season, the stakes are incredibly high, as a loss could severely jeopardize their post-season aspirations.
Both the Yellow Jackets and the Fighting Irish enter this contest on significant losing streaks. Georgia Tech has dropped their last six games, while Notre Dame is in the midst of a five-game slide. These dismal performances have left them in a three-way tie for last place in the ACC, alongside Pittsburgh. If the season were to conclude today, all three teams would be excluded from the prestigious conference tournament held in Charlotte during the second week of March. This grim reality underscores the urgency and importance of Saturday's matchup for both programs.
Georgia Tech's recent struggles include back-to-back losses to Stanford and Wake Forest, where they were outscored by a combined 39 points. Third-year head coach Damon Stoudamire acknowledges the critical need for a victory, stating, "First and foremost, we need to win. I think that we all understand that." He further emphasized the team's challenge in handling adversity, noting, "When times get tough, we don't stick together all the time. To me, that is hurting us more than anything at the end of the day." The Yellow Jackets are led by Kowacie Reeves Jr., who averages 15.2 points per game, and Baye Ndongo, contributing 12.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest.
Notre Dame's season took a downturn in December with a season-ending broken ankle injury to their star player, Markus Burton. Since the start of 2026, the Fighting Irish have managed only one victory in eleven games, a narrow four-point home win against Boston College. Further compounding their challenges, center Kebba Njie is also sidelined for the season due to a knee injury. These key absences have forced head coach Micah Shrewsberry to heavily rely on his guard play. Shrewsberry explained, "We really only have one true post player. We play smaller and see if we can spread it out a little bit more. I feel like that's one of the ways we can try and get more threes is to have more ball handlers, have more shooting out there, have more guys that can attack." Freshman Jalen Haralson leads Notre Dame with 15.5 points per game, followed by Braeden Shrewsberry with 12 points.
This Saturday's game represents a pivotal moment for both Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. With their backs against the wall and conference tournament hopes hanging in the balance, both teams will be fighting to reverse their recent fortunes and secure a much-needed win. The outcome could significantly impact their trajectory for the remainder of the season and their chances of making a post-season appearance.
