No. 17 Virginia (16-3, 5-2 ACC) is set to play against Notre Dame (11-9, 2-5 ACC) on Tuesday, January 27, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana, with tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Virginia, currently tied for third in the ACC, has a strong away record of 6-2 and averages 84 points per game, ranking third in school history. Notre Dame, struggling with injuries, especially their key player Markus Burton, has lost five straight ACC games but recently snapped a five-game skid with a win over Boston College. Notre Dame has a historical series advantage over Virginia, but recent meetings have favored the Cavaliers, with Notre Dame’s last victory in the series coming in December 2023. Virginia aims to rebound from a recent loss to North Carolina, where they blew a 16-point lead, and continue their strong defensive and rebounding performance. The Irish team relies heavily on their leading scorer Jalen Haralson, who averages 14.7 points, and guard Braeden Shrewsberry, who has been hot from three-point range. The game also marks Notre Dame’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer event. Virginia, under new head coach Ryan Odom, who has a 5-0 start at UVA, looks to secure a win and improve their NCAA Tournament resume. The matchup is expected to be competitive, with Virginia favored to win based on recent performance and defensive strength.