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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame is rolling as it closes its home schedule Wednesday against last-place Boston College.
The No. 19 Fighting Irish (22-7, 11-5 ACC), who are tied for second in the ACC at 11-5, won five in a row in conference play for the second time this season. They haven't lost since Feb. 5 against North Carolina, a game moved to Greensboro and postponed one day because of a water main break.
With a victory Wednesday at home and Saturday at No. 8 Louisville -- coupled with a loss by North Carolina to Duke, Notre Dame earns a share of the ACC regular-season title.
Who saw that coming three weeks ago? Certainly not the Irish, who delivered big of late with a small lineup featuring four guards.
"We're playing really well right now," said junior power forward Bonzie Colson, a likely first team All-ACC lock when awards go out next week. "We just need to keep playing well and doing what we're doing. Just stick to what we do."
It helps to have the Eagles in town. Notre Dame won the last eight matchups, including seven straight as ACC colleagues. The Boston College hasn't won in South Bend since 1997.
A win Wednesday all but locks down a top-four seed in the ACC tournament for a third straight season for Notre Dame. Two years ago, that double bye helped Notre Dame win its first tournament championship.
"We really want the double bye," Colson said.
It's been another rough run through the ACC for the Eagles (9-20, 2-14), who went winless in 18 ACC contests a year ago. Everything seemingly started well for Boston College after it won its first ACC game New Year's Day. But it's since been a steady slide back to the conference basement.
The Eagles lost 12 straight since its last win Jan. 11 against North Carolina State. Boston College showed flashes of being really good. Fifteen days earlier at home against Notre Dame, the Eagles scored 49 points in a first half that they led by as many as 13 points.
But the final 20 minutes were a different story. Boston College couldn't make a big shot at a big moment, couldn't get a stop, couldn't do enough of the tough stuff needed to win a league game. Notre Dame wound up running away and winning by eight.
On Saturday, the Eagles allowed Virginia Tech to score a staggering 53 points in the second half. At home. Now Boston College finishes ACC play on the road, where it is 0-7.
With guards Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson, the Eagles have some pieces to play well. But it's often not been enough. It reaches a point where other teams have a gear that the Eagles simply don't have. For myriad reasons.
"We're in control of games and giving them away," coach Jim Christian said. "You want to be going into the (league) tournament with a positive feeling and playing well for 40 minutes so your kids know they have an opportunity to win.
"That's what's important now."
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