Notre Dame Tops Butler in Overtime 67-64 to Earn First Trip to Sweet 16 Since 2003
Mike Brey coached the game, unbeknownst to his team, after losing his mother Betty to a heart attack Saturday morning
The emotions that the Notre Dame players went through in the final moments of regulation and overtime ran the gambit. The pain and disappointment in Zach Auguste after his double-dribble violation. The inspiration from Pat Connaughton on his sensational block, to the elation of defeating Butler 67-64 to advance to the Sweet 16.
And Irish coach Mike Brey did it all after losing his mother early Saturday morning to a heart attack. He chose to keep it to himself. His players didn’t find out about the news until AD Jack Swarbrick informed them in the locker room following the win.
"“The strength he has to go through something like that without mentioning it or acting like it, he hasn’t skipped a beat,” senior Pat Connaughton said. “He’s been here for us countless times, and I hope he knows that this team is with him.”"
The rollercoaster of emotions carried over into their second round game.
The Irish (31-5) couldn’t get their up-tempo offense going, and the Bulldogs continued to make in a grinding style of game. Demetrius Jackson continued his solid play, keying the Notre Dame offense early. But it was a career-high 20 points from Steve Vasturia that would lead the way.
On top of his solid offensive performance, Vasturia was matched up with Kellen Dunham often, Butler’s leading scorer. He was held to eight points on the night.
For Butler (23-11), it was the Roosevelt Jones show. Playing with a sprained knee, Jones did what he always does. Produces solid numbers, even if it isn’t pretty while doing it. Off-balance, scooping layups from his shins, teardrop floaters. All were falling as he had 15 of the teams 29 at the half.
The Irish held a 10-point at one time in the first half, the largest of the game–but Butler pushed pack, taking a five-point lead late in the game.
After a sloppy turnover by Auguste gave the ball back to Butler with the shot clock off, Notre Dame would once again turn to their defense–just as they had in the ACC Tournament.
The defense held, and Auguste grabbed the rebound with time on the clock, and two players on the wings–and double-dribbled, giving the ball back to the Bulldogs with two seconds on the clock, setting the stage for one of the plays of the season for the Irish.
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As Dunham rolled off a screen for a good look at the winning basket, Connaughton closed the gap and made a game saving block–and somehow didn’t foul. Afterwards he shouted, “not tonight”.
And he was right.
Butler would fail to connect on an alley-oop after the block, and the Irish stopped the Bulldogs on three different occasions in the final minute to force the game into overtime. A place they don’t mind being, and they were 3-0 in OT periods coming in.
Connaughton would hit a big three-pointer to break a 59-all tie, and Vasturia would hit a three from the same spot shortly after. It was Grant’s dribble drive as the shot clock ticked down on Jones that was the dagger.
The two Indiana team’s used to play regularly, but had met only once in the last 20 years–a 2006 preseason NIT win for Butler.
The Irish will now await the winner of the Wichita State/Kansas game in the Sweet 16.