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Notre Dame Rises To The Challenge; Beats North Carolina 71-70

By Nicholas D. Blazek

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They’ve had an easy schedule. They haven’t really beat anyone. They haven’t even played an away game yet. Well, now that we have all that out of the way. ACC, please meet the real Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

After what can only be called a disappointing 2013 season, the No. 13 Irish (15-1, 3-0 ACC) have risen up early this year, and now have a “quality win” on their résumé that wasn’t thought that highly of. And if you thought it was all about Jerian Grant and three-pointers? There’s plenty more than that to this squad, as coach Mike Brey has the best start for his Irish team in 15 years.

Grant finished 1-of-8 shooting and only eight points before fouling out with 2:07 to play. And while it wasn’t pretty, the Irish were able to pull together to get the job done, holding off the Tar Heels (11-4, 1-1) for over a minute as they clung to the one-point lead following the strong put back by Zach Auguste with 1:07 to play.

Marcus Paige had two chances to give the Heels the lead, but missed a contested lay-up that was rebounded by Notre Dame. Steve Vasturia missed the ensuing free-throws, and UNC still had life. So with 1.6 seconds left, Brey told the Irish to double Paige if he came off the screen. That was exactly the play coach Roy Williams drew up,  as Paige had to force a tough fall away jumper that was off the mark, securing the Notre Dame victory.

The Irish got 18 points from Auguste, Connaughton tallied 16 and Demetrius Jackson added 15 as the only players in double-digit scoring. One of the biggest sparks for the Irish came in the shooting performance of sophomore V.J. Beachem, who connected on 3-of-4 from three-point range to help them fend off several Tar Heel rally’s.

After finishing 15-17 last season – with a dismal 6-12 record in the ACC – the Irish tallied their 11th consecutive win Monday night, and moved to 3-0 in the conference. Just as it once was in the Big East, the Irish weren’t picked highly, seventh in the ACC to be exact. Still plenty of season left to play, but the Irish are going to be a deciding factor in the ACC this season.