Notre Dame Basketball: Staff Picks - North Carolina

Pat Rick, Editor (5-4) (9-7)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 82 - Duke 76 (Oklahoma St. W, Butler L, Maryland W, West Virginia W)

North Carolina Tar Heels 89 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 80

“North Carolina is better than Notre Dame and the game is at North Carolina. I don't think there's much else to say. Also I've missed 4 of my last 5 picks so worst-case pick scenario, ND wins thanks to my reverse jinx. Also, I give up on Marty Geben getting a dunk in each game. I've lost the faith. I think TJ Gibbs will do something cool, though.”

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Maryland
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Florida
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin

Jeff Czerniakowski, Staff Writer (6-3) (7-9)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 81 - Duke 79 (Oklahoma L, Butler L, Maryland W, West Virginia W)

North Carolina Tar Heels 85 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72

“I don't think this will be a close game. I see North Carolina having a steady 10-15 point lead all game. UNC is the class of the ACC and they are playing at home against a struggling Irish team. This isn't the game to end the losing 3 game losing streak for Notre Dame.”

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Purdue
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Kentucky
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin

Ryan Chichester, Staff Writer (6-3) (9-7)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 79 - Duke 74 (Oklahoma State W, Butler L, Maryland W, West Virginia W)

North Carolina Tar Heel 83 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 79

“What's the best cure for a losing streak? Me picking against the team that needs to right the ship. I've struck out the past three games and while I really do think Notre Dame will eventually return to form, playing in Chapel Hill against a top ACC team is an awfully tough assignment to the Irish to start their climb back. Maybe next week. But hey, if the Irish pull off the upset, you can all thank me.”

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Purdue
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Kentucky
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin

Brad Wechter, Editor (6-3) (7-9)

Previous Picks: Duke 70 - Notre Dame 62 (Oklahoma L, Creighton W, Maryland W, West Virginia W)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 73 - North Carolina Tar Heels 72

“I like to think that while we were all talkin' football 'crootin this week, the down-on-their-luck, losers-of-four-out-of-their-last-five Fighting Irish quietly went about the business of fixing whatever was wrong during that stretch. I think we get a massive VJ Beachem dunk, and I think Steve Vasturia will shake the slump. I think he comes out and shows us all that he still wants the ball in his hands (in the corner, obviously), down 72-70, with one second left on the clock and the defender one step too slow.”

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Purdue
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Kentucky
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin

Bobby Norell, Editor (4-5) (6-10)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 84 - Duke 79 (Oklahoma St. W, Butler L, Maryland W, Iowa State L)

North Carolina Tar Heels 84 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 69

“Notre Dame is ripe for a butt-kicking. Notre Dame isn’t playing well right now and a trip to Chapel Hill is not a good remedy for their current situation. North Carolina just has too much size for Notre Dame to combat. Hicks and Meeks should have huge days. I expect Notre Dame to stay close for a little bit in the first half, but the Tar Heels will cruise from there on out.”

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Purdue
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Florida
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin

Joshua Vowles, Site Manager (5-4) (6-10)

Previous Picks: Notre Dame 83 - Duke 80 (Oklahoma L, Butler L, Ohio State L, Iowa State L)

North Carolina Tar Heels 78 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish 75

BONUS PICKS

No.23 Purdue @ No.17 Maryland - Purdue
No.5 Arizona @ No.13 Oregon - Arizona
No.8 Kentucky @ No.24 Florida - Kentucky
Indiana @ No.10 Wisconsin - Wisconsin