NC State @ Notre Dame preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2017 ) Notre Dame 81, NC State 72

Notre Dame looks to move to 2-0 in conference play as it hosts North Carolina State on Wednesday. The Fighting Irish beat Georgia Tech 68-59 in their ACC opener Saturday, while the Wolfpack lost their first conference game 78-62 to Clemson.

It could be a historic night in South Bend as coach Mike Brey can become the winningest coach in Notre Dame men's basketball history with a victory. Brey tied Digger Phelps for most wins in program history with 393 on Saturday. N.C. State is looking to get first-year coach Kevin Keatts his first ACC victory. The Wolfpack are coming off their worst offensive effort of the season in the loss to Clemson but are averaging 84.3 points per game, fifth-best in the ACC.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (10-4, 0-1 ACC): Keatts called out senior forwards Lennard Freeman and Abdul-Malik Abu after the pair combined for only 11 points and seven rebounds against Clemson. "I have to get more production out of Malik and Lennard in order for this team to be successful,” Keatts told reporters after the game. Freshman guard Allerik Freeman leads the Wolfpack in scoring with 15.4 points per game.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (11-3, 1-0): The Fighting Irish have won three straight after a rough patch that saw them lose three of five. Junior guard Rex Pflueger has led the way offensively during the win streak, averaging 13.6 points over the last three games. Senior forward Bonzie Colson is off to a terrific start to the season, leading the team in scoring (21.4) and rebounds (10.4) as one of three players in the ACC averaging a double-double.

TIP-INS

1. The Fighting Irish hold a 7-4 series lead against the Wolfpack and have won the last three meetings.

2. Notre Dame is taking advantage of its trips to the line as it leads the ACC in free-throw percentage (.769). The Irish led the nation in free-throw percentage in 2016-17 (.800).

3. N.C. State is allowing 70.6 points per game, fourth-worst in the ACC.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 85, N.C. State 78