When: Noon today
Where: Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, R.I.
Records: No. 21 Notre Dame 20-5, 8-4 Big East; Providence 13-11, 5-7
TV: Big East Network
Radio: 1480 AM, 106.7 FM
Notre Dame leaders: Jack Cooley (14.7 ppg); Cooley (11.2 rpg); Eric Atkins (6.1 apg)
Providence leaders: Bryce Cotton (20.5 ppg); LaDontae Henton (8 rpg); Vince Council (7.1 apg)
Key matchup: The Irish will need to contain the Friars’ Cotton. The 6-foot-1 junior guard leads the Big East in scoring and is the league’s top three-point shooter, averaging 3.2 from behind the arc. Providence will need to hold its own against Notre Dame’s Cooley. The 6-9 senior forward is the conference’s top rebounder and is No. 13 in scoring.
The skinny: Notre Dame has won its last two games in overtime, beating Louisville last Saturday 104-101 in five overtimes and defeating DePaul 79-71 in overtime Wednesday. Both games were at home. … Providence is on a three-game winning streak after defeating South Florida 76-66 Wednesday on the road. … The Irish connect on a Big East-leading 38.6 percent of their three-pointers, while the Friars are the conference’s top three-point defenders, limiting opponents to 28.8 percent three-point shooting.
