Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Picks and Predictions March 1st 2025

Wake Forest Faces Must-Win Showdown Against Notre Dame as March Madness Hopes Hang in Balance

With March Madness fast approaching, teams across the country are scrambling to strengthen their NCAA Tournament résumés. One such team in desperate need of a victory is Wake Forest (19-9, 11-6 ACC), which faces Notre Dame (12-16, 6-11 ACC) on Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Recent setbacks have left Wake Forest on the tournament bubble, and with a daunting trip to No. 2 Duke looming on Monday, Saturday’s game becomes a must-win scenario. The Demon Deacons cannot afford another slip-up if they want to hear their name called on Selection Sunday.

Wake Forest’s Tournament Hopes Are Fading

Wake Forest’s postseason outlook has taken a hit due to costly losses against Florida State, NC State, and Virginia in February. Currently sitting in the 70s in the NCAA NET and KenPom rankings, the team isn’t in a strong position for an at-large bid. A loss to Notre Dame would likely push them even further out of contention.

Head coach Steve Forbes understands the gravity of the situation.

“It’s not the way you want it to be,” Forbes admitted. “But here it is. Like anything in life, you have to face adversity and overcome it. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us.”

That sense of urgency will need to translate onto the court, particularly on the defensive end, where the Demon Deacons have struggled in recent outings.

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Defensive Concerns Loom Large

Despite ranking fourth in the ACC in defensive efficiency (allowing 98.7 points per 100 possessions per KenPom), Wake Forest’s recent performances have been concerning:

• NC State dropped 85 points, shooting 50% from the field.
• Virginia scored 83 points, hitting a staggering 55.8% of its shots.

Wake Forest’s defense must improve if it wants to avoid another disappointing loss.

Key Players for Wake Forest

On offense, Wake Forest has weapons, but they need help from the defense to close out games.

• Hunter Sallis (18.6 PPG) – The team’s leading scorer and an explosive offensive threat.
• Cameron Hildreth (15.0 PPG) – A key secondary option who provides scoring depth.

If Wake Forest can tighten its defense while maintaining its offensive rhythm, it should be in a strong position to take care of business against Notre Dame.

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Notre Dame’s Motivation and Key Challenges

While Wake Forest is playing for a potential NCAA Tournament bid, Notre Dame is fighting for its ACC Tournament positioning. Tied for 13th in the standings, a win over Wake Forest would help solidify the Irish’s spot in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte.

However, Notre Dame enters this matchup shorthanded, having lost two key starters:

• Braeden Shrewsberry (14.0 PPG, 72 3-pointers) is out for the season with an abdominal injury.
• Matt Allocco (9.0 PPG, 3.0 APG) has missed six of the last seven games due to a wrist injury.

The injuries have left Notre Dame heavily reliant on one player: Markus Burton (20.8 PPG), the ACC’s leading scorer. He scored 30 points in a loss to Clemson on Wednesday, but he needs more help from his teammates if the Irish want to pull off an upset.

Head coach Micah Shrewsberry acknowledged Burton’s burden.

“Right now, (Markus) is driving the ball and there’s a dude on him and four other (defenders) standing around him. And he continues to keep scoring, keep going, keep playing. He’s doing his part, right? We just need more.”

Notre Dame’s lack of offensive balance plays into Wake Forest’s hands—if the Demon Deacons can focus their defensive energy on slowing Burton, they should be able to control the game.

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Prediction and Final Thoughts

With Wake Forest fighting for its NCAA Tournament life and Notre Dame missing key players, the Demon Deacons should be considered favorites in this matchup. However, recent defensive lapses could leave the door open for an upset.

Keys to a Wake Forest Victory:
✅ Contain Markus Burton and force other Notre Dame players to step up.
✅ Improve defensive execution, especially against mid-range and three-point shooting.
✅ Continue strong offensive play from Hunter Sallis and Cameron Hildreth.

If Wake Forest executes well, it should secure the win and keep its March Madness dream alive. However, another slip-up could spell disaster for its tournament hopes.