With Notre Dame’s NCAA tournament hopes dashed short of an ACC tournament title, the only thing left is to see if it can finish strongly enough to get a home game in the NIT or one of the other lesser postseasons college basketball decided needed to exist. The Irish (18-11, 9-9) will play their final two regular-season games at the Purcell Pavilion, starting Wednesday against No. 7 Florida State (24-5, 11-4). Revenge will be on their mind after a one-point loss Jan. 25 in Tallahassee.
History stands to be made during this homestand. By playing in both games, Rex Pflueger will break Pat Connaughton’s record for most appearances in program history (139). Pflueger also is seven steals away from 150 this season, which would make him the fourth Notre Dame player with 700 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals. Meanwhile, John Mooney needs two double-doubles to pass Luke Harangody for the single-season record (25) and to match Bob Whitmore for third on the career list (47).