Virginia Tech, missing star Tobi Lawal, faces Notre Dame, hampered by turnovers and injury, in a pivotal game to salvage their seasons.

Virginia Tech enters its game against Notre Dame reeling after losing three of its last four by a combined five points, including a last-second loss at SMU and a collapse against Stanford despite a 12-point lead. The Hokies are hopeful with the return of top scorer Tobi Lawal after a nine-game absence due to injury. Notre Dame, meanwhile, is struggling with 66 turnovers in its last five games and missing leading scorer Markus Burton, who injured his ankle in December. Jalen Haralson has stepped up in the backcourt, and Carson Towt leads in rebounding. Both teams seek to turn around their seasons in a matchup marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities.