Notre Dame falls to Kentucky 68-66 in an Instant Tournament Classic
When this season began, if you would have told me that Notre Dame would make the Elite Eight, and go toe to toe with an undefeated Kentucky team for a shot at the Final Four–but would lose? I would have taken that in a heartbeat. But it doesn’t feel that way now.
Notre Dame (32-6) almost found a way to beat the unbeatable. Undersized. Overmatched in most people’s opinion. How could it be possible to compete with the size and length of the Wildcats? It was, and the Irish did just that for 39 minutes and 54 seconds. As was the case for the game, Kentucky won this game at the free-throw line, surviving the Irish 68-66.
It was a game that had the expectancy to be decided on the inside. But it was the Irish who were doing the scoring from the paint early on. Executing their game plan, the Irish used quick cuts and back door screen to get to the basket and score on easy layups against the Kentucky bigs.
Where most believed Notre Dame would need to spread the defense out and hit threes, the Irish instead went to the inside. A perfectly executed first half by all accounts, including a spectacular first half from Zach Auguste showed they weren’t intimidated by Kentucky’s size, or their record.
But the Wildcats (38-0) did a large part of their scoring in the first half from the line, and in the end, it was Andrew Harrison‘s final two free throws that would help the Wildcats survive. Jerian Grant’s corner three as time expired wouldn’t fall, and the Irish hopes of an upset had run out of time.
Demetrius Jackson was never able to find his rhythm, after being a key cog against Wichita State. The size proved to be difficult for Jackson to score over, as he shot 1-for-7 on the night with only two points. The seniors Grant and Pat Connaughton did their part, but neither played the game that they needed to pull out the win. The two combined to shoot 7-for-24 from the field, 2-for-10 from beyond the arc–but Connaughton was big on the glass (nine rebounds), while Grant led the team in assists with six.
Steve Vasturia and Auguste played undoubtedly two of the best games of their careers on the biggest stage, with Vasturia scoring 16 on 6-of-8, while Auguste led the Irish with 20 points.
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But Kentucky repeatedly went at Auguste on the defensive end with Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 25 to lead the Wildcats. The Irish chose to let the Wildcats get their two’s inside, similar to how they played it against Duke in the ACC Tournament.
These seniors–and this team, have been a joy to watch. And I don’t believe Notre Dame is going to fall off with the graduation of Connaughton and Grant. But they can’t simply be replaced. They each made their mark on this program, and I’m a proud fan to be able not only watch them, but to have covered them all season.
The bracket they were in was irrelevant. The Irish–who believed they could win it just as much as the next team, would have played Kentucky at some point. This is a talented team, but the Irish took them to the brink. This March was different. It sets the tone for different expectations from here on out.
Congratulations to this team, and the amazing season they had. Irish Nation should have nothing but pride in this team.