Loyola of Maryland took a much slower route to the NCAA lacrosse championship game than the Greyhounds are accustomed to.Records: Irish 10-6, 2-1 Big East; Bulls 9-7, 2-1
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: Purcell Pavilion, South Bend
TV: Big East Network
Radio: None
Notre Dame leaders: Eric Atkins (13.6 ppg), Jerian Grant (4.6 apg), Jack Cooley (8.5 rpg)
South Florida leaders: Jawanza Poland (11 ppg), Anthony Collins (5.1 apg), Toarlyn Fitzpatrick (6.7 rpg)
Key matchup: Collins, the Bulls’ starting point guard, suffered a head injury in Thursday’s 74-57 win at Villanova but tweeted that he was “feeling much better” Friday and could play today. South Florida will need the freshman to help offset Atkins, the Irish’s sophomore point guard. Atkins averages 3.5 assists to go along with his team-high 13.6 points and 37.5 minutes per game.
The skinny: Notre Dame is coming off a 67-65 double-overtime upset of then-No. 11. Louisville on Saturday in the KFC Yum! Center. … The Irish started conference play with a 72-59 home win over then-No. 22 Pittsburgh and are riding a 28-game winning streak in Purcell Pavilion. … Notre Dame holds a 14-7 advantage over South Florida in the series and has won the last five games between the teams. The Irish defeated the Bulls 78-55 last season in Tampa, Fla.
